On Tuesday, Mumbai hosted a special screening of the highly anticipated film Ramayana: Rise of a Legend. The film's cast and crew were present at the event along with other guests. Ramayana Part 1 will be releasing in theatres worldwide on November 5.&nbsp;

Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Sunny Deol and others attend the special screening of Ramayana: Rise of a Legend

Millions of Americans headed to polling stations as the 2026 midterms unfolded, with campaign rallies, voter queues and election-day scenes across the country

US midterms 2026: America votes! Election day pictures from across the country

Directed by Nitesh Tiwati and produced by Namit Malhotra, the movie stars Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The movie will release on Nov 5.&nbsp;

Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana:  Blockbuster or biggest risk?

From Virat Kohli to Kane Williamson, here's a look at the top five batters with most runs in IND vs NZ ODIs. This list also includes Sachin Tendulkar, Ross Taylor and Nathan Astle

Meet top 5 batters with most runs in IND vs NZ ODIs

The Diwali week brings a fresh lineup of exciting movies and web series on OTT platforms. From family dramas and romantic stories to action thrillers, here are the latest releases to add to your watchlist.

New OTT releases this week (November 2-8, 2026): I'm Game, Meesaya Murukku 2, Blind Game- 8 latest titles to watch this Diwali on OTT platforms

All images: Pexels, Shutterstock (Representative images)

Sixty-six million years ago, dinosaurs were killed by an asteroid, which ended their reign of 180 million years. So what did the last day for dinosaurs on Earth look like?

On the last day, a bright light in the sky kept getting closer and closer. The asteroid was flying towards the Gulf of Mexico. 

An Explosion Way Powerful than Atomic Bombs

The asteroid caused an explosion more powerful than 10 billion atomic bombs. According to astronomy YouTuber Astrokobi, Earth was superhot and molten debris rained down on the planet.

Everything within 250 miles of the impact spot was instantly vapourised. 

What Happened the Day Dinosaurs Died?

Things to Know about NASA's Twin Polar Satellites

NASA recently announced that twin shoebox-size climate satellites will soon be studying two of the most remote regions on Earth: the Arctic and Antarctic. The mission will measure the amount of heat the planet emits into space from these polar regions.

The mission will boost our understanding of how much heat Earth’s polar regions radiate out to space and how that influences our climate, NASA said.

Each of PREFIRE’s cube satellites, or CubeSats, will use a thermal infrared spectrometer to measure the heat, in the form of far-infrared energy, radiated into space by Earth’s surface and atmosphere.

Data Would Help Improve Polar, Global Climate Models

The CubeSats would provide new details on how Earth’s atmosphere and ice influence the amount of heat being radiated out to space from the Arctic and Antarctic. The data from the twin satellites would also help improve polar and global climate models.

Scientists Discover Planets Made Entirely of Oceans

Our planet is made of around 71 per cent ocean, but scientists have found several planets in the Milky Way galaxy that are made entirely of oceans.

Scientists have called these planets water worlds, which are quite bigger than the Earth. Some of these are ten times bigger than our planet.

According to prominent astronomy YouTuber Astrokobi, water worlds have thick hydrogen atmospheres and extreme pressures.

The presence of thick hydrogen atmospheres and extreme pressures have led scientists to believe that life could have evolved in water worlds.

Despite significant advancements in physics, several fundamental questions remain unresolved.

These mysterious components make up about 95% of the universe, yet their exact nature remains unknown. Dark matter is inferred from gravitational effects on visible matter, while dark energy is hypothesised to be driving the accelerated expansion of the universe.

The universe appears to be composed predominantly of matter rather than an equal mixture of matter and antimatter. The mechanisms leading to this imbalance are not fully understood.

The Big Bang theory describes the evolution of the universe from a very early stage, but the actual origin of the universe, the conditions at the singularity, and what (if anything) came before it remains open questions.

How and why conscious experiences arise from physical processes in the brain is a profound mystery. This is a major interdisciplinary question involving physics, neuroscience, and philosophy.

How information about the material that falls into a black hole is preserved and whether it can be retrieved after the black hole evaporates via Hawking radiation remains a debated issue.

The fundamental nature of time, including why it seems to flow in one direction (the arrow of time), is not fully understood. This ties into thermodynamics, cosmology, and quantum mechanics.

6 Things Physics Still Can't Explain

We’re Close to Finding a Ninth Planet in Solar System

The solar system has eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. There are five officially recognised dwarf planets in our solar system: Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris. However, there could be a ninth planet which is the size of Neptune.

Mysterious Planet on Edges of Solar System

This Neptune-sized planet could be lurking out at the edges of the solar system. According to astronomy YouTuber Astrokobi, this planet orbits way out past Pluto.

How Many Years Does the Planet Take to Complete an Orbit?

This mysterious planet takes 10,000-20,000 years to complete one full orbit, and scientists could be quite close to finding it.

Recently, astronomers noticed several small objects out in the Kuiper Belt that appeared to be gravitationally affected by this planet. But the planet find it hard to detect as it is way too far from the Sun.

Dinosaurs Roamed Earth on The Other Side of the Milky Way

All images: NASA, Representative images (Pexels)

Roamed Earth When It Was on the Other Side of the Milky Way

When dinosaurs ruled the Earth, the planet was on a completely different side of the Milky Way galaxy. This was revealed by NASA a few years back through an animation.

In November 2019, an animation by NASA scientist Dr Jessie Christiansen showed just how long the dinosaurs’ reign lasted, and how short the era of humans has been in comparison, by tracing the solar system’s movement through the galaxy.

The sun orbits the Milky Way’s centre, completing its rotation every 250 million years or so. And, the animation by Dr Christiansen showed that last time the solar system was at its current point in the galaxy, the Triassic period was in full swing and dinosaurs were just beginning to emerge.

Christiansen got the idea to develop this animation when she was leading a stargazing party at California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

Uranus Was Originally Named after a British Emperor

Uranus, an ice giant, is the seventh planet from the Sun in the solar system. Most of the planet is made up of water, ammonia, and methane. The planet was discovered way back in 1781. However, it was not given the name Uranus.

Uranus was first named George for around 30 years. After discovering the planet on March 13, 1781, German-British astronomer Sir William Herschel decided to name the planet King George III. However, people outside Great Britain were not satisfied with the name George and different names were suggested.

Herschel, Astraea, Minerva, and Nepute Great Britain, were some of the names suggested for the ice giant.

In 1782, German astronomer Johann Elert Bode proposed that the planet should be named Uranus, the Latinised version of Ouranos - the Greek god of the sky. 

5 Facts about Black Holes We Bet You Didn't Know

Black Hole week started on May 6 and will go on till May 10. During this period, scientists and astronomy enthusiasts across the world have been sharing news, videos, and social media posts about black holes. According to NASA, a black hole is the most mysterious cosmic object which has been vastly studied but never fully understood. Here are five facts about black holes that will blow your mind.

Fact 1: Millions, Quintillions of Black Holes

There are millions of black holes in our Milky Way galaxy and around 40 quintillion in the entire universe. Till now, scientists have only discovered a few black holes. These objects are millions, perhaps billions of light years away from us. The closest known black hole to Earth is Gaia BH1- around 1,600 light years away. But this is still a humongous distance.

Black holes have extreme gravity and nothing can escape them, not even light.

Fact 3: What Happens if You Fall into a Black Hole?

This scenario is not realistic and only happens in space movies or shows. But if it were to happen, you would get sucked into a black hole and never escape it.

Black holes are categorised into four types - Primordial, Stellar-mass, Intermediate-mass, and Supermassive black holes.

Scientists have said that TON-618 is the biggest black hole in the universe with a mass of 66 billion solar masses. However, unverified claims by astronomy enthusiasts suggest that Phoenix-A is the largest black hole with a mass of 100 billion suns.

Venus has an extremely thick atmosphere, primarily composed of carbon dioxide, leading to a runaway greenhouse effect.



Venus’ surface is relatively young and dominated by vast plains, volcanic constructs, and a few highland regions. However, the exact mechanisms behind its unique surface features remain uncertain.





Venus appears to have undergone significant volcanic activity in the past. The question of whether this activity is ongoing or when it ceased remains unanswered.



The atmosphere of Venus shows complex and rapid circulation patterns, including super-rotating winds that whip around the planet much faster than its rotation period. Understanding the dynamics driving these atmospheric phenomena is still a mystery.



The thick clouds of Venus consist mainly of sulfuric acid droplets. However, the exact mechanisms of cloud formation and the role they play in the planet’s climate system are not fully understood.



Despite being similar in size and composition to Earth, Venus lacks surface water. What happened to its water is still a matter of investigation.

Here are six mysteries about the planet which is called Earth's twin.

6 Mysteries About Venus Planet



Eta Aquariids: The Meteor Shower Linked To Halley's Comet 

May's first meteor shower is all set to grace the night skies in the first week of the new month. The peak of the Eta Aquariids is around the time of the new moon, hence, moonlight will provide minimal interference to meteor watchers.

According to the American Meteor Society, the Eta Aquariid meteor shower 2024 is active between April 15 and May 27 and this year peaks on the nights of May 5 and May 6. However, the shower can even be seen several days after the peak.

Meteor showers originate from comets. The Eta Aquariids come from a celestial icon: Halley's Comet. This comet is in a retrograde orbit around the sun, which means it runs around the sun in the opposite direction from Earth and all the other planets.

The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is categorised as a strong shower. It is best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere or close to the equator, although folks in some northern latitudes can also observe it.

To maximise your viewing experience, NASA recommends lying on your back with your feet facing east to observe the Eta Aquariids. This position allows for an unobstructed view of the radiant point in the constellation Aquarius where the meteor shower originates.

Eta Aquariids: The Meteor Shower Linked To Halley's Comet

Tottenham Hotspur top goal scorers of all time

Mars has two moons, called Phobos and Deimos.


One day on the Red Planet is 24 hours and 37 minutes and the year is 687 Earth days long.


Mars is home to Olympus Mons, the highest mountain in our solar system. It is also a large shield volcano and is a whopping 24 kilometres high.


The Red Planet is also home to the largest canyon in the entire Solar System, Valles Marineris. It is 4,000 kilometres long, 200 km wide and 10 km deep.


Mars is much colder than Earth. The temperatures near the equator can be around 20 degrees Celsius, but near the poles, the temperature plummet to as low as -140 degrees Celsius.


Mars is the second smallest planet in the solar system after Mercury.


Mars has one-third of Earth’s gravity, so you would be able to jump nearly three times as high as here.


8 Interesting Facts About Mars

What Happens if Humans on Earth Disappear Tomorrow?

All images: NASA, Pexels (Representative images)

Have you ever wondered what the world would look like if all human beings disappeared? Here's a look at the scenarios listed by popular astronomy YouTuber Astrokobi.

After a week, all domesticated pets would die due to starvation.


All lights across Earth would turn off. And after a month, all nuclear power plants would have experienced a meltdown due to overloading.

After half a century, nature would have reclaimed most of the cities.

After 100,000 years, all the satellites would have burnt up in the atmosphere.

Sprouts are low in calories but high in nutrients and fibre, making them an excellent addition to a weight loss or weight management plan. 

All images: NASA, Pexels, Shutterstock (Representative images)

Astronomers Fight to Save Chandra Space Telescope


Last month, NASA announced that it would be slashing the budget for the Chandra X-Ray Observatory significantly. The budget cut layoffs for half of the observatory’s staff in the near future.

From $41 Million in 2025 to Only $5 Million in 2029

The observatory's budget goes from a proposed $41.1 million next year to $26.6 million in 2026. That second figure sticks for 2027 and 2028, but then, in 2029, the budget allocates only $5.2 million for Chandra.

On March 14, a group of astronomers said in an open letter that Chandra, which was launched in 1999, was capable of many more years of operation and scientific discovery. A cut in the budget could have an outsized impact on American high-energy astrophysics research and the larger astronomy and astrophysics community.

A Look at a Few Achievements of the Telescope

The Chandra Observatory has helped scientists glimpse the universe in action. Chandra was responsible for the first observation of sound waves from supermassive black holes, helping scientists understand dark matter, and even helping in observing the most distant black holes ever discovered.

7 Stunning Images Of The Moon Shared By NASA

This image was clicked in 1996 and obtained by the Galileo Solid States imaging system as it neared the Earth.


This image was clicked in 2011 by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter named MESSENGER. 


The recently clicked image shows the Moon in its waning crescent phase, where most of the sunlight is illuminating its far side. It is the last phase before the lunar cycle repeats with a "new moon."


Pictured from the International Space Station a few weeks ago, the image shows the waning gibbous Moon as it orbited 262 miles above the Swiss Alps. 

The round, grey surface of the Moon has craters of all sizes across its surface. This image of the Moon's far side is made up of 15,000 images captured by NASA's LOR between 2009 and 2011. 


The image shows a bright supermoon at the centre. Most craters are on the left side of the Moon, appearing to be a darker shade of grey. This image was clicked in 2014 in Washington. 


Clicked in 2016 by Astronaut Jeff Williams from the International Space Station, the Moon hangs near the top-right corner of the image. The lunar seas and other features are visible on the Moon.


This image was clicked in 1996 and obtained by the Galileo Solid States imaging system as it neared the Earth

Scientists Find Massive Black Hole Lurking Near Earth, 6 Key Points


Scientists have discovered what they call “Milky Way's most massive" black hole yet. To put its size into perspective, it’s at least 33 times bigger than the Sun and located 2,000 light years away from us.


The black hole has been named Gaia BH3. It’s the second-closest black hole to Earth and sits in the Aquila constellation. Gaia is a Latin word which means “the eagle”.

Black holes are formed when stars reach the end of their lives.

Most of these stars inflate, lose mass and cool down to become “white dwarfs” but others lose less mass that don’t contain heavy elements. These stars are called ‘metal-poor stars’ and instead of becoming white dwarfs, they collapse in on themselves and form a black hole.

Scientists at NASA believe there are more than 50 stellar black holes in the Milky Way galaxy.


Earlier in January, astronomers said they had discovered the oldest black hole ever, dating back to the early universe more than 13 billion years ago.


Scientists have discovered what they call “Milky Way's most massive" black hole yet.

7 Solar Eclipse Images That Were NASA's Astronomy Picture Of The Day

Only those along the narrow track of the Moon's shadow on April 8 saw a total solar eclipse. These criss-crossing fronds in the shade of the palm tree project recognisable eclipse images on the ground. (Photo Credits: Lori Haffelt)


The series of images follow the Moon's edge from the start of the solar eclipse through the end of totality from Durango, Mexico on April 8, 2024. It also showcases the pinkish prominences of plasma arcing high above the edge of the Sun. (Photo Credits: Daniel Korona/NASA)


The image series depicts the progress of the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, which lasted about three minutes and 26 seconds. (Photo Credits: Xiafeng Tan/NASA)


Venus and Jupiter were easily visible right in line with the eclipsed Sun during the day on April 8, 2024. (Photo Credits: Stephane Vetter/NASA)


In 2017, Wyoming was one of the few locations which did not see predominant clouds during the solar eclipse. The image shows the corona of the Sun extending out past the central dark Moon. (Photo Credits: Ben Cooper/NASA)


Clicked on April 20, 2023, the image shows intricate layers and glowing caustics of an ever-changing mixture of hot gas and magnetic field with bright looping prominences appearing pink just around the Sun's limb. (Photo Credits: Phil Hart/NASA)


The One with Ross's Wedding: Part 2 (Season 4, Episode 24)

The fourth season finale was the biggest cliffhanger of the show. The group goes to London for Ross's wedding. Rachel decides to confess her true feelings. Monica and Chandler 'get together'.

Check seven solar eclipse images from NASA's 'Astronomy Picture Of The Day' archives.

All You Need To Know About The First Space Shuttle Launch

43 years ago on April 12, 1981, NASA launched the first space shuttle, Columbia, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Director, U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC): Currently leads the URSC to meet the national requirements in the areas like communication, navigation, remote sensing, meteorology and inter-planetary exploration.

It ushered in a new era of flying in which humans may travel to space several times in the same spacecraft.

The shuttle flew into space for over 20 years, circling Earth about 5,000 times and spending more than 300 days outside of Earth's gravity.

Columbia transported 160 astronauts away from Earth; the vessel holds the record for the shortest and longest space shuttle flights of 2 days, 6 hours, 13 minutes, and 12 seconds and 17 days, 15 hours, 53 minutes, and 18 seconds, respectively.


Space Shuttle Columbia's final mission ended in catastrophe. The shuttle and its seven crew including Indian-origin astronaut Kalpana Chawla were lost over Texas when Columbia burnt up during reentry on February 1, 2003.


Why Voyager 1 Talked Gibberish from Far Away in Space?

Scientists finally found out what's happening to NASA's pioneering Voyager 1 spacecraft, which was launched in 1977 to study the outer Solar System, the interstellar space beyond the Sun's heliosphere. It is the most distant spacecraft to Earth. 

It talked gibberish on the interplanetary "radio". 


The spacecraft receives and executes commands sent from Earth. However, the flight data system (FDS) was not communicating properly with one telecommunications unit. 

Hence, data was reaching Earth, but it was disrupted in the form of ones and zeros. 

Finally, the spacecraft revealed the issue when it was asked about it in March in the form of a poke command. 

Scientists have found out that three per cent of its memory is corrupted. 

Gaia BH1: The Closest Known Black Hole to Earth

All images: NASA/ESA (Representative images)

Black holes are the most mysterious cosmic objects. They have been studied for years but still haven’t been fully understood. They’re huge concentrations of matter packed into very tiny spaces. A black hole is so dense that gravity just beneath its surface, the event horizon, is strong enough that nothing – not even light – can escape.

Around 40 Quintillion Black Holes in the Universe

Astronomers have estimated that there are around 40 quintillion black holes in our universe. Which black hole is closest to the solar system and our planet Earth? Let’s take a look:

Gaia BH1 has been dubbed as the closest-yet blackhole to Earth. It was discovered by astronomers on November 2, 2022, using the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii.

Gaia BH1 is around 1,560 light years away from Earth, in the direction of the constellation Ophiuchus. Now even, 1,560 light years is surely an astronomical distance. But it is nothing when it comes to the size of the universe - 93 billion light years.

Gaia BH1 is approximately 10 times more massive than our Sun, making it a stellar-mass black hole.

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. It is 11 times wider than Earth.

Around 1,300 Earths can fit inside Jupiter. So what happens if Earth was the size of Jupiter?

Prominent astronomy YouTuber Astro Kobi has said that if Earth were the size of Jupiter, there would be a massive increase in our body weight due to an 11 times increase in gravity. For example, if you weigh 80 kilogrammes currently on Earth, you would weigh nearly a tonne on the massively-sized Earth.

If the Earth’s rotation speed was to be the same, a day on this newly-sized planet would last 269 hours.

Our Moon would likely be torn apart and form rings around Earth similar to Saturn.

What if Earth was the Size of Jupiter?

Methane's Secret Origins: Unexpected Sources of Dangerous Greenhouse Gas revealed

Methane, while often overshadowed by CO2, has a significant impact on global temperatures. Here are some unexpected sources of methane emissions.

Hydroelectric dams and their reservoirs release nearly one billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent each year due to methane emissions from decomposing matter at the bottom of reservoirs. Efforts are underway to capture this methane for energy generation and heating.

Freshwater ecosystems like rivers and lakes contribute almost half of global methane emissions. Pesticide run-off and other pollutants lead to high concentrations of methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide in rivers, especially in polluted areas.


Cows, primarily their burps, are a major source of methane emissions. Agriculture, including livestock farming, is the largest human source of methane emissions globally, with cattle being significant contributors.


Natural wetlands are the largest natural source of methane. Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall due to climate change are causing wetlands to release methane more rapidly.

Waste decomposition in landfills emits significant amounts of methane. Composting organic waste instead of sending it to landfills can help reduce methane emissions.

Wildfires are a major source of methane emissions, especially as they grow in frequency and intensity due to climate change. Methane continues to be emitted from scorched areas long after the fires are extinguished.

Water We Drink Might Be Older than the Sun

Our planet Earth is old. The Sun is old. But there's one thing that might be older than both- the water that we drink. How is this possible?

A prevailing theory has said that water originated on Earth from ice specks floating in a cosmic cloud before our sun was set ablaze. Calculations by astrophysicists state that as much as half of all the water on Earth may have come from that interstellar gas.

The age of water on our planet is about 4.5 billion years, as old as the Solar System itself.

Light has a mind-boggling speed of nearly 300 million metres per second. All forms of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, travel at the speed of light.

Just 0.13 Seconds are needed to Complete a Full Circle of Earth

It takes just 0.13 seconds to complete a full circle of Earth, which is ridiculously quick. 

Despite light being so quick, its speed is relatively slow when compared to the size of the universe. 

Eight Minutes to Reach the Sun, 4 Hours to Reach the nearest Star

Light would take eight minutes to reach the sun, four hours to reach the nearest star, 2.5 million years to reach the closest galaxy Andromeda, and 46.5 billion years to reach the edge of the observable universe. 

How Fast is the Speed of Light?

5 Upcoming Astronomical Events 
in April 2024

On April 6, early risers can witness a predawn conjunction of the Moon and Mars. Though they won’t be very close, but the thin crescent Moon and the bright reddish-orange Mars will be visible in the same binocular field of view.

This rare event, where the Moon completely blocks the Sun’s light, will cast a narrow path of totality across parts of North America, including Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

April 10: Conjunction of Moon and Jupiter

On April 10, the early evening twilight will feature a beautiful conjunction of Moon and Jupiter in the constellation Aries. The crescent Moon, a mere 4.3% illuminated, will be the fainter of the two.

The Lyrid meteor shower will peak on the night of April 21 into the pre-dawn hours of April 22. This shower is known for its fast, bright meteors, with rates of up to 15-20 meteors per hour at its peak.

The April full Moon, nicknamed Pink Moon or the Sprouting Grass Moon, will be visible on April 23. The Pink moon signifies the blooming of vibrant pink flowers.

5 Upcoming Astronomical Events in April 2024

How Crucial is Psychological Care for Astronauts

Being an astronaut is not easy. It’s mentally draining as astronauts spend months in space and face lack of sleep, high workload, no access to natural light, separation from loved ones, and many other stress factors.

A prolonged lack of sleep coupled with a high workload can cause depression in astronauts which further affects their performance on missions.

What Has Been Done to Provide Psychological Care?

Space agencies around the world give great importance to the psychological care of astronauts. NASA, for example, has a Behavioural Health and Performance (BHP) team that conducts research to better understand the psychological and behavioural responses to spaceflight. It develops and tests interventions that lead to better adaptation and performance.

NASA gives extensive training to astronauts to help them apply self-assessment tools and treatments for maintaining their behavioural health. In-mission support, such as care packages, teleconferences with a psychologist, and journaling, help astronauts maintain motivation and boost their morale.

What Happens in the Universe in the Blink of an Eye?

Human adults blink approximately 12 times per minute and one blink lasts about 1/3 second. Within this short time frame, a lot of things happen in the Universe. Here's a look at some of these events.

Light Travels around Earth's Circumference Twice

As per prominent astronomy YouTube AstroKobi, in the time it takes us to blink once, light travels around the Earth's circumference twice. 

Within 1/3 second, 10,000 new stars come into existence through the observable universe, Astrokobi states. Meanwhile, 300 stars die in supernova explosions within this period.


50 Black Holes formed in the Blink of an Eye

You read that right, 50 black holes are formed in the blink of an eye.

Our galaxy, the Milky Way travels 250 kilometres through space in 1/3 second. 

Nearby Star to Go Nova in 2024, Might be Visible to Unaided Eye

science

Photos

Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Sunny Deol and others attend the special screening of Ramayana: Rise of a Legend

US midterms 2026: America votes! Election day pictures from across the country

Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana: Blockbuster or biggest risk?

Meet top 5 batters with most runs in IND vs NZ ODIs

New OTT releases this week (November 2-8, 2026): I'm Game, Meesaya Murukku 2, Blind Game- 8 latest titles to watch this Diwali on OTT platforms