New research has presented compelling evidence for the existence of a hypothetical 'Planet Nine' in the outer regions of our solar system, challenging previous skepticism. This potential planet, initially proposed in 2016 by Caltech researchers Konstantin Batygin and Michael Brown, is believed to exert gravitational influence on the orbits of distant icy bodies that intersect Neptune's path.
Ahead of the monsoon season, the Union Health ministry announced on Monday its vigilant monitoring of seasonal influenza across different States/Union Territories. This surveillance is conducted in real-time through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network. "As of now, there has been no abnormal, alarming rise in cases of seasonal flu in any part of the country," the Union Health Ministry said.
In a long-standing debate, experts discuss varied depression sub-types and genetic influences on stress reactions, challenging the reactive vs endogenous classification. Genetic risk impacts environment sensitivity, potentially affecting stress management strategies.
Climate change threatens biodiversity decline globally by mid-century, as land-use and climate changes lead to 2-11% biodiversity loss. Conservation, restoration, and natural solutions are crucial for safeguarding ecosystems.
A group of genes could be common to both depression and heart disease, a finding that researchers said could explain why having one of them increases risk of developing the other. The "puzzling" link between the diseases has been known to exist since the 1990s, they said. Studies have found that people with depression run a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, with early and effective treatment of the mental illness lowering the risk of developing heart-related conditions.
Doctors successfully implanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman, Lisa Pisano, who was teetering on the brink of death. This marked the culmination of a dramatic series of surgeries aimed at stabilizing her failing heart. Lisa Pisano faced a dire situation with both heart and kidney failure, rendering her ineligible for a conventional transplant and devoid of viable alternatives.
Nasa granted awards for the human exploration rover challenge on Monday to two Indian student teams from Delhi-NCR and Mumbai. The "Crash and Burn" award went to the KIET Group of Institutions in Delhi-NCR, while the "Rookie of the Year" went to Kanakia International School in Mumbai. The annual engineering competition concluded on April 19 and 20.
NASA's Voyager 1 probe, the farthest man-made object in the universe, has resumed transmitting meaningful data to ground control after a period of transmitting nonsensical information, the US space agency revealed on Monday. The spaceship stopped sending readable data back to Earth on November 14, 2023, even though controllers could tell it was still receiving their commands.
Nasa's Artemis program faces challenges due to budget constraints, reduced political will, infrastructure decisions, complex goals, and a vision for a lasting lunar legacy. Overcoming these hurdles is crucial for Nasa's modern space exploration efforts.
Isro's S Somnath discusses Aditya L1 solar mission's ongoing Sun data transmission and instrument observations. The 5-year mission includes solar eclipse data collection and collaboration with Nasa on the Nisar project for Earth mapping.
Lyrid Meteor shower peaks Sunday, best seen from Northern Hemisphere. NASA notes 2,700-year-old Lyrids. Moon's brightness may affect visibility. EarthSky mentions surges up to 100 meteors per hour.
Nasa's TIMED spacecraft and the defunct Russian spy satellite Cosmos 2221 experienced an alarmingly close encounter in orbit, space.com reported. Initial estimates suggested that the two satellites passed within 65 feet (20 meters) of each other. Currently, there are approximately 11,500 satellites orbiting Earth, with 9,000 of them being operational, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).
Plastic production's rapid growth threatens the global carbon budget for limiting global warming. Reductions in primary plastic production are crucial to align with climate targets and prevent exceeding the carbon budget, as highlighted by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study.
Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope collaborates with ESA on a mission targeting small main belt asteroids to deepen understanding of early solar system mysteries. Managed by Nasa's Goddard Center and Lockheed Martin, the mission explores asteroid composition, dynamics, and impact risks.
Bengaluru is now home to a state-of-the-art command and control centre dedicated to monitoring and managing space traffic. The facility, located at the global headquarters of Digantara, aims to ensure the safety and sustainability of satellite operations worldwide.
China's major cities experience elevation loss due to subsidence. In 100 years, a quarter of urban coastal land may be below sea level. Robert Nicholls and researchers emphasize the significance. Manoochehr Shirzaei criticizes inadequate adaptation strategies. Zurui Ao, Xiaomei Hu, and Shengli Tao led the study.
The World Health Organization voiced alarm Thursday at the growing spread of H5N1 bird flu to new species, including humans, who face an "extraordinarily high" mortality rate. But in the hundreds of cases where humans have been infected through contact with animals, "the mortality rate is extraordinarily high", Farrar said.
A remarkable astronomical event is expected to happen this year, offering what NASA calls a 'once-in-a-lifetime viewing opportunity.' The nova explosion is set to occur in a star system situated 3,000 light years away from Earth and should be visible to the naked eye at some point in 2024. Bill Cooke discussed the phenomenon in a conversation with Fox News Digital.
Research unlocked the genome of Coffea arabica, revealing its ancient Ethiopian forest origins. Led by experts like Victor Albert and Patrick Descombes, the study emphasized the importance of disease-resistant breeding for Arabica coffee varieties.
Nasa reevaluates Mars mission due to budget cuts, seeking cost-effective approach. Administrator highlights urgency for solutions. Perseverance rover collects 24 core samples at Jezero Crater. Independent review criticizes mission. China advances Mars sample return.
An object that crashed from the sky into an American man's home was a hunk of debris ejected from the International Space Station, Nasa confirmed Monday. Nasa, which subsequently collected the object from Otero for analysis, confirmed in a new blog post that the predictions were true.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has uncovered a significant finding, pinpointing the origin of the most powerful cosmic explosion since the Big Bang, dubbed the "BOAT" or "brightest of all time." This gamma-ray burst (GRB) was initially spotted on October 9, 2022, emanating from 2.4 billion light-years away in the Sagitta constellation. Scientists, through meticulous investigation, have linked the BOAT to a massive supernova resulting from the collapse of a giant star.
Nasa is confronting a major hurdle in lunar and Martian exploration: the pervasive and abrasive nature of dust. The Moon's surface, covered in jagged, glassy regolith, and Martian dust posing a threat to various equipment and astronaut health, present significant challenges. In response, Nasa researchers are working on an inventive electrodynamic dust shield (EDS) aimed at maintaining extraterrestrial conditions.
During the extraordinary total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, spectators were treated to a breathtaking celestial phenomenon featuring striking ruby-colored prominences encircling the moon's shadow. Lisa Upton, a solar scientist in Colorado said, “There was a very impressive prominence visible during eclipse. Stunning to behold!! This was a magnificent eclipse for anyone who was fortunate enough to see totality.”
A study by Columbia University reveals that relying on willpower over commitment strategies makes individuals more trustworthy. Commitment strategies, like apps, may raise doubts about a person's character. Over 2,800 participants evaluated goals using willpower or commitment strategies, with the latter judged less trustworthy. Public use of commitment strategies faces hesitance due to perceived weaknesses.
The most frequent type of pulmonary fibrosis scarring of the lungs is idiopathic, which means that the cause is unclear. Researchers are working quickly to develop treatments to prevent or reduce idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and associated lung disorders, which can cause severe shortness of breath, dry cough, and intense exhaustion.
US space scientists unveil Nasa's mission to investigate Jupiter's moon Europa for signs of alien life. The spacecraft Clipper, set for launch in October, aims to study Europa's icy surface and assess habitable conditions. Despite challenges, scientists are optimistic about discovering potential life beyond Earth.
A small comet named SOHO-5008 was discovered and disintegrated within 24 hours during the recent total solar eclipse across North America, mesmerizing viewers with a totality duration of up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds. Ground-based observations of sungrazing comets are rare, highlighting the dynamic nature of the cosmos.