Science/Tech / The Times of India
Scientists hunting for the hypothetical Planet Nine have discovered a potential new dwarf planet, 2017 OF201, in the outer solar system. This object, roughly 700km across, boasts an extremely elongated 25,000-year orbit that takes it far into the Oort cloud.
NASA sleep experts reveal social jet lag, a misalignment between internal body clocks and daily schedules, affects millions. Inconsistent sleep habits disrupt natural rhythms, leading to fatigue and health issues. Combat it with consistent sleep schedules, morning light exposure, and optimized sleep environments to improve overall well-being and reclaim lost energy.
Swiss authorities were on Thursday monitoring for possible flood risk in a southern valley, following a massive glacier collapse that created a huge pile of debris after destroying a small village. On Thursday authorities declared a local state of emergency as they monitor the situation after the huge pile of glacier debris, stretching some two kilometres (1.25 miles), blocked the river Lonza.
The UK government said Wednesday it will step in to fast-track the building of two new reservoirs, amid drought fears as England was on track to record its driest start to spring in more than century. The Environment Agency (EA) announced England had experienced its driest start to spring in 69 years, with reservoirs falling to exceptionally low levels.
SpaceX's Starlink is poised to launch in India, armed with a Letter of Intent from the Department of Telecommunications. The initial phase targets urban areas with 600-700 Gbps bandwidth, serving 30,000-50,000 customers. Plans may start at $10 per month, offering high-speed internet, especially benefiting underserved regions, with aims to expand to 3 Tbps by 2027.
A NASA study reveals that increased solar activity, particularly during solar maximum, accelerates satellite re-entry due to heightened atmospheric drag. This phenomenon, impacting constellations like Starlink, poses operational challenges and environmental concerns as more satellites burn up, releasing materials into the atmosphere. The situation necessitates improved space traffic management and consideration of space weather in planning.
A groundbreaking study reveals that a combination of rapamycin and trametinib extends the lifespan of mice by up to 30%, while also improving their health in old age. The drug cocktail reduced inflammation, delayed tumor growth, and enhanced physical function. This discovery offers hope for developing anti-ageing treatments for humans, potentially slowing or reversing ageing-related decline.
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after spending over nine months aboard the International Space Station, their mission extended due to technical problems with Boeings Starliner capsule. Both astronauts are currently undergoing intensive rehabilitation to readjust to Earths gravity and rebuild muscle strength. They are also contributing to NASA and Boeings efforts to improve future space missions.
The UN warns of a high probability that average global warming will surpass the 1.5 degrees Celsius benchmark between 2025 and 2029, following record-breaking temperatures in recent years. The report highlights the increasing negative impacts on economies, daily lives, and ecosystems, emphasizing the urgent need to cut fossil fuel emissions and transition to clean energy to mitigate dangerous levels of warming.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced a recruitment drive for 320 scientists and engineers across various technical departments. Applications are being accepted online until June 16, 2025. The recruitment focuses on filling positions in electronics, mechanical engineering, and computer science, offering opportunities to contribute to India's space missions. The selection process involves a written exam and an interview.
Indonesia is hoping going nuclear can help it meet soaring energy demand while taming emissions, but faces serious challenges to its goal of a first small modular reactor by 2032. It hopes to kickstart capacity with a reactor on Borneo y 2030 or 2032, according to Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.
Asteroid 2025 JR, about the size of a 25-story building, is set to pass Earth on May 28 at a distance of 4.6 million kilometers. Though not considered a hazardous asteroid, its size and speed highlight the potential devastation of an impact. Scientists worldwide are tracking NEOs like 2025 JR to improve planetary defense.
A recent Virginia Tech study reveals that the Pacific Northwest faces a heightened risk of catastrophic flooding and mega-tsunamis, potentially reaching 1,000 feet. The Cascadia Subduction Zone's inactivity since 1700, coupled with climate change, intensifies the threat. Coastal land subsidence and rising sea levels could overwhelm communities, impacting thousands and vital infrastructure.
Astronaut Nichole Ayers, aboard the International Space Station, captured a stunning display of the Northern Lights over North America. While photographing severe storms, Ayers unexpectedly witnessed the vibrant green and purple aurora, triggered by heightened geomagnetic activity. The NOAA reported a Kp index of 6, enhancing visibility from space and Earth.
Chinese scientists have engineered a laser-based imaging system capable of reading millimetre-sized text from 1.4 kilometres away, overcoming atmospheric distortion through active intensity interferometry. This breakthrough, achieving a 14-fold resolution improvement, could revolutionise archaeology, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure inspection. Researchers are now focused on enhancing usability and integrating AI for real-time image rendering.
The salty wind blows across the ruins of Ghana's Fort Prinzenstein, where thick walls once held thousands of enslaved Africans before their journey across the Atlantic. - Modern economy at risk - Ghana's castles and forts -- particularly Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle -- attract thousands of visitors each year, mostly African Americans seeking to reconnect with their ancestral past.
Rice University scientists discovered bacteria thriving without oxygen by releasing electricity. These microorganisms use extracellular respiration, transferring electrons to external surfaces via naphthoquinones. This groundbreaking finding, confirmed through computer models and lab experiments, holds immense potential for clean energy, bioelectronic sensors, and sustainable technologies, reshaping our understanding of life in extreme environments.
From his roof, Sidi Mohamed Lemine Sidiya scans the mediaeval town of Oualata, a treasure that is disappearing under the sands of the Mauritanian desert. Oualata is covered in sand everywhere, Sidiya said.
Scientists have engineered innovative contact lenses that grant humans the ability to see in the dark by converting infrared light into visible images. These nanoparticle-infused lenses offer potential applications in rescue operations, security, and medicine, eliminating the need for bulky, powered goggles.
Scientists have made a surprising discovery: penguin droppings in Antarctica may contribute to cooling the continent. Ammonia released from penguin guano combines with compounds from phytoplankton, boosting the formation of cloud-seeding aerosols. These aerosols then create low-lying clouds that reflect sunlight, potentially offsetting some warming effects, highlighting the intricate link between ecosystems and climate.
Ramdas Hemraj Marbade, hailing from a small village in Maharashtra, transitioned from selling golgappas to becoming an ISRO technician through sheer determination. Overcoming financial constraints, he pursued vocational training at ITI, acquiring crucial skills. His hard work culminated in securing a position at ISRO's Space Centre in Sriharikota, where he now contributes to India's space missions.
Iraq's water reserves are at their lowest in 80 years after a dry rainy season, a government official said Sunday, as its share from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers shrinks. We haven't seen such a low reserve in 80 years, he added, saying this was mostly due to the reduced flow from the two rivers.
Powerful windstorms, following a severe heatwave with temperatures exceeding 45C, have devastated central and northern Pakistan, resulting in at least 14 deaths and over 100 injuries. The destructive storms, characterized by high winds and reduced visibility due to dust, caused widespread damage to infrastructure, uprooted trees, and collapsed buildings. Pakistan's Meteorological Department forecasts more storms, raising concerns about further casualties.
The United Arab Emirates recorded a sweltering 50.4 degrees Celsius on Friday, its highest temperature for May since it began documenting them in 2003, according to the National Center of Meteorology. The highest temperature recorded over the country today is 50.4C (122.7 Fahrenheit) in Al Shawamekh (Abu Dhabi)30 UAE Local time, it said in a post on X. This is the highest temperature we've ever recorded (for May) since we started keeping records in 2003, the NCM told AFP. That topped the highest
Turtles are among the longest-living animals on Earth, and some species go much beyond the average lifespans. While most turtles live between 10 to 80 years, certain land tortoises and sea turtles are capable of surviving well beyond a century. Their slow-paced lives, strong bodies, and peaceful lifestyles may hold the secret to their exceptionally long life.Determining a turtles exact age isnt easy, especially when they have outlived generations of humans. For the oldest among them, age estimat
Despite a G7 pledge, Japan remains a major public financier of oil and gas projects, investing $93 billion between 2013 and 2024. Through initiatives like AZEC, Japan promotes LNG as a transitional fuel, raising concerns about 'greenwashing' and hindering renewable energy transitions in countries like Indonesia. Critics argue Japan's LNG investments lock nations into fossil fuel dependency.
that is the record extent of tropical rainforest destroyed last year due in large measure to fires fuelled by climate change, researchers reported Wednesday. Neighbouring Bolivia's forest loss -- 1.5 million hectares -- skyrocketed by 200 percent last year, with a record 3.6 percent of primary forests destroyed in a single year, mostly due to fires set to clear land for industrial-scale farms, according to the report.
A widespread blackout struck Spain and Portugal on April 28, disrupting essential services and sparking an investigation into its cause. While power was largely restored by the next day, the incident has ignited debate about Spain's reliance on renewable energy sources.
Europe faces escalating wildfire risks due to climate change, land use, and urbanization, with potential for severe events every two years. While the number of fires may decrease, they're projected to become larger and more devastating, particularly impacting Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece. Experts advocate for controlled burning, ecosystem restoration, and increased public awareness to mitigate the growing threat.
Swiss firm Climeworks, which has pioneered the direct capture of CO2 using huge industrial fans in Iceland, is holding talks with staff representatives to cut jobs, Swiss television said Friday. It has been operating a facility in Iceland for several years that uses huge industrial fans to suck CO2 from the air and bury it underground.
In Zimbabwe, a GPS-triggered alert system is helping to mitigate human-elephant conflict near Hwange National Park. Local volunteers, like Capon Sibanda, use real-time tracking data to warn communities of approaching herds, reducing crop damage and potential harm. While the initiative shows promise, villagers express frustration over continued losses and advocate for elephant population control measures like culling to balance conservation with community needs.
China's emissions fell in the first quarter of 2025 despite rapidly growing power demand thanks to soaring renewable and nuclear energy, a key milestone for world's top emitter, analysis showed Thursday. Renewable energy is now beginning to not only meet China's growing demand but also reduce emissions, said Li Shuo, head of the Asia Society Policy Institute's China Climate Hub.
Indian Institute of Astrophysics researchers have revisited the ultra-diffuse galaxy, NGC 1052-DF2, challenging previous assumptions about its dark matter deficiency. The study suggests the galaxy possesses a 'cored' dark matter halo, unlike earlier 'cuspy' models. This new model indicates a more evenly spread dark matter distribution, potentially aligning NGC 1052-DF2 with standard galaxy formation theories.