Science – Bhartiyanews24x7

20Nov

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What is cloud seeding? A proposed solution to Delhi’s severe air pollution crisis | – Times of India

As Delhi faces an escalating air pollution crisis, the idea of cloud seeding, or artificial rain, has been proposed as a potential short-term solution to improve the city's hazardous air quality. The air quality index (AQI) in Delhi has remained in the "severe plus" category for several days, with AQI readings consistently surpassing 450, signalling extreme pollution levels.In response to this, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called on the Central government for assistance, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to facilitate the use of cloud seeding to help mitigate the growing pollution problem. The Delhi government has been exploring cloud seeding as a possible method to reduce the harmful effects of air pollution.What is cloud seeding or artificial rain?Cloud seeding is a weather...

20Nov

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Watch: Elon Musk’s SpaceX unable to repeat Starship booster catch, ends with dramatic splashdown – Times of India

Successful splashdown of Starship in Indian Ocean SpaceX conducted its latest test flight of the Starship rocket system on Tuesday, showcasing both challenges and milestones for the most powerful launch vehicle ever built. The nearly 400-foot-tall (121-meter) rocket, which took off from SpaceX's Starbase facility near Brownsville, Texas, faced difficulties recovering its enormous booster stage but achieved a successful splashdown of the Starship’s upper stage in the Indian Ocean.Booster recovery falls shortThe Super Heavy booster, powered by 33 Raptor engines, successfully propelled the Starship spacecraft into space before detaching and beginning its return to Earth. SpaceX had planned for the booster to execute a precision landing into the mechanical arms of the launch tower — nicknamed ...

20Nov

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The dark energy pushing our universe apart may not be what it seems, scientists say – Times of India

The dark energy pushing our universe apart may not be what it seems, scientists say (Picture credit: AP) NEW YORK: Distant, ancient galaxies are giving scientists more hints that a mysterious force called dark energy may not be what they thought. Astronomers know that the universe is being pushed apart at an accelerating rate and they have puzzled for decades over what could possibly be speeding everything up. They theorize that a powerful, constant force is at play, one that fits nicely with the main mathematical model that describes how the universe behaves. But they can't see it and they don't know where it comes from, so they call it dark energy. It is so vast it is thought to make up nearly 70% of the universe - while ordinary matter like all the stars and planets and people make up ...

20Nov

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India’s Gsat-20 satellite becomes part of SpaceX’s global launch record – Times of India

SpaceX's Falcon-9 carrying Gsat-20 being lifted off (L) and Isro's Gsat-20 satellite being released into space (R) Elon Musk-owned SpaceX has set a global record and India has become part of that historic achievement. In just 20 hours, SpaceX on Tuesday became the first space agency in the world to successfully launch three Falcon 9 rocket missions, completing its 112th, 113th, and 114th launches of the year. One of these rockets launched India’s most advanced heavyweight communication satellite Gsat-20 or Gsat-N2 weighing 4,700kg.SpaceX went on a launching spree with its Falcon-9 rocket first sending an Australian communications company’s satellite TD7 into space from Florida spaceport. Then another Falcon-9 rocket launched 20 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Califo...

19Nov

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Isro depended on SpaceX to launch GSAT-N2 as its existing capability was not sufficient: Ex-chiefs – Times of India

SpaceX’s Falcon-9 lifts off with India’s Gsat-20 Bengaluru: India is depended on billionaire Elon Musk founded SpaceX to launch its latest communication satellite, GSAT-N2, from US soil as its existing launch vehicles lack the capacity to take off more than 4,000 tonne of payloads, former Isro chiefs said on Tuesday. SpaceX placed the 4,700 kg GSAT-N2 High-throughput (HTS) satellite onboard a Falcon 9 rocket into the desired orbit. GSAT-N2 weighing 4,700 kg is a Ka-band High throughput communication satellite that will enhance broadband services and in-flight connectivity across the Indian region, Isro's commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) said. Speaking to PTI, former Isro chairperson K Sivan said, "The satellite (launched by SpaceX) was a heavier one beyond the capability of Isr...

19Nov

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NASA-German satellites reveal alarming 290 cubic miles loss in Earth’s freshwater resources since 2014 | – Times of India

A groundbreaking study using data from NASA and German satellites has uncovered a dramatic decline in Earth's freshwater resources since 2014. Published in Surveys in Geophysics, this research warns that the planet is entering an extended dry period, posing serious risks to global water security.From 2015 to 2023, the average amount of freshwater stored on land—including surface water like lakes and rivers, as well as groundwater in aquifers—was 290 cubic miles (1,200 cubic km) lower than levels observed between 2002 and 2014. This loss, equivalent to two and a half times the volume of Lake Erie, marks an alarming trend of water depletion.Researchers attribute this to climate change, extreme weather events, and an increased reliance on groundwater, creating a cycle of depletion that could ...

19Nov

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Alaska Volcano: Scientists discover large underwater volcano off Alaska coast | World News – Times of India

Scientists aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Healy have discovered a large underwater volcano approximately 1,600 meters beneath the surface off the coast of Alaska. The team, including experts from NOAA, detected a potential gas plume rising from the volcanic formation. While the discovery is significant, experts believe the volcano poses no immediate threat to nearby ecosystems or human activities due to its considerable depth. During a seafloor mapping project, scientists aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Healy discovered what they believe to be a large underwater volcano. The discovery occurred approximately 1,600 meters below the surface, off the Alaskan coast in the northwest United States.The team, comprised of Coast Guard personnel and experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admi...

19Nov

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Unveiling ‘small diver’: Tiniest penguin fossil sheds light on penguin evolution | – Times of India

Image source: LiveScience Around 24 million years ago, a pint-sized penguin waddled, swam, and dove along the coasts of southern New Zealand, and today, its fossilised remains are proving pivotal in unlocking the mysteries of penguin evolution. Recently identified as Pakudyptes hakataramea, this tiny penguin, standing just a foot tall, is shedding light on how modern penguins acquired their distinctive wing structure.First unearthed in the 1980s, the fossils remained an evolutionary enigma due to the penguin’s unique blend of ancient and modern traits. With features that resemble both living and extinct species, Pakudyptes bridges crucial evolutionary gaps. Advanced CT scans allowed researchers to examine its structure in detail, revealing adaptations ideal for swimming and diving.A tiny p...

18Nov

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NASA plans to lay oxygen pipeline at Moon’s south pole for Artemis mission | – Times of India

NASA is pushing the boundaries of lunar exploration with the proposed Lunar South Pole Oxygen Pipeline (L-SPoP), a revolutionary project designed to enhance Moon operations. This initiative aims to address the critical challenge of transporting oxygen on the Moon, a key resource for sustaining long-term human missions under the Artemis program.By utilising in-situ resources, L-SPoP seeks to reduce both the costs and risks associated with oxygen transport, which is essential for life support and rocket propulsion. The pipeline will be constructed using lunar materials, primarily aluminium, and is designed to operate autonomously with minimal power requirements. NASA's Lunar South Pole Oxygen Pipeline (L-SPoP): A game changer for lunar explorationNASA is pioneering an ambitious initiative to...

18Nov

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James Webb Telescope latest discovery revealing red monster galaxies from the early universe | – Times of India

In an astonishing new revelation, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has uncovered the existence of three enormous "red monster" galaxies, each with a mass approximately 100 billion times that of our Sun. These galaxies, which formed just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang, are forcing astronomers to rethink everything they know about early galaxy formation and cosmic evolution.The newly discovered galaxies are truly ancient, over 12.8 billion years old, dating back to a time when the universe was only 1 billion years old. This period, known as the "cosmic dawn," marks the early stages of galaxy formation and the first generations of stars.These massive galaxies challenge the current models of how galaxies should form in the early universe. According to the prevailing theori...

17Nov

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8 Fascinating outer space facts you need to know | – Times of India

Outer space has always captivated human imagination, sparking wonder, curiosity, and a sense of mystery. It’s a realm so vast and incomprehensible that it challenges the limits of our understanding. Despite remarkable advancements in space exploration, we’ve only scratched the surface of what the cosmos holds. From the sheer scale of the universe to the peculiar phenomena that exist within it, outer space is a place of endless discovery. Every year, new scientific breakthroughs reveal more about the wonders of space, yet many of its secrets remain hidden. The vast distances between stars, the bizarre behaviour of distant galaxies, and the unexplained forces like dark matter and dark energy remind us how little we truly know. As we continue to explore, each discovery only adds to the awe an...

17Nov

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Could octopuses take over Earth if humans go extinct? – Times of India

This is an AI-generated image, used for representational purposes only. In a fascinating speculation by experts, octopuses might just be the unexpected heirs to Earth's throne if humanity were ever to vanish. According to Professor Tim Coulson, a zoologist at the University of Oxford, these eight-limbed marine animals possess extraordinary intelligence and adaptability, making them prime candidates for evolving into civilisation-building creatures in a post-human world.Intelligence beyond the seaOctopuses are widely known for their problem-solving skills, advanced neural structures, and complex communication methods. Professor Coulson highlights their ability to manipulate objects, solve puzzles, and even use tools—capabilities that set them apart from other intelligent animals like birds ...

17Nov

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Future is fusion? The quest to build a star on Earth – Times of India

The quest for fusion energy - the clean, potentially limitless source that could end mankind's power woes - is at least a century old. Now, a handful of startups say we are closer than ever to making it happen. In the next few years, these companies say, their fusion machines will produce more energy than they take to run. Soon after, they will start generating electricity for factories, data centers, steel mills and more. Big-name investors, including Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Vinod Khosla and Sam Altman, have staked hundreds of millions of dollars on this. Yet, closer than ever does not necessarily mean close. Fusion's history is a graveyard of missed deadlines and thwarted milestones. The sunny view is startups moving more quickly than govt labs ever could.Creating a working star on Earth...