Representational image
(IANS)
Here are the top stories from the week.
Russia-Ukraine Crisis
Russia-Ukraine Crisis – Understanding the Implications Of A Potential War From An Environmental Perspective
The events that took place in Ukraine this week have already affected the world’s economy and claimed innocent lives. If the situation escalates into a full-blown conflict, it could have devastating consequences for the environment in the region and the biodiversity. Learn more about the potential disastrous effects on nature.
Russia-Ukraine War – Chernobyls’ Fall Raised Concerns Among Experts
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian forces quickly occupied the Chernobyl nuclear plant. This prompted warnings from Ukrainian officials about an “ecological catastrophe” similar to that which occurred nearly forty years ago. Here are the opinions of experts on this worrying situation.
Health
A Study shows that having dogs as pets can reduce the risk of disability in old age by half
As if dogs weren’t perfect pets, a new study found that being a dog-owner or having owned a dog in your past can cut down on a person’s chances of developing a disability later in life. This Japanese study is available here.
Travel
As International Travel Resumes, Herere a Few Picks for GlobetrottersSwitzerland, Dubai, Singapore, Morocco, Vietnam
Many countries have relaxed their travel restrictions and allowed people to enter after almost two years of the pandemic. India is also expected back to regular international flights by March 15. We’ve put together a travel guide for those who are planning to go on a grand globetrotting adventure. It’s available here.
Wildlife
Chester Zoo’s First Baby Aardvark
(Chester Zoo)
Meet DobbyUK Zoo Chester’s First Baby Aardvark In Its 90-year History
Aardvark calf was born at Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom recently. This is the first time the calf has been seen in over 90 years. The staff named it “Dobby”, after a fictional elf from Harry Potter who had hairless, wrinkled skin, and dangling eyes. Learn all about it here.
Physics Helps Young Elephant Fall Into a Deep Pit In West Bengals Midnapore (VIDEO).
A young elephant from West Bengal’s Midnapore fell into a ditch earlier this week. The forest officers from the region raced to the scene, took a look at the situation and decided to use physics to rescue the animal. You can see how they accomplished the rescue.
Mosquitoes – How to Avoid Pesticides After a Single, Not-Lethal Exposure
Although the phrase “What doesn’t kill you makes it stronger” is meant to motivate us, it can be frustrating when applied to pests. Unfortunately, it does not apply to disease-spreading moths. A new study found that they are capable of learning how to avoid pesticides after a single, non-lethal exposure. You can read the full article here.
Science and History
Iberospinus Natarioi: Life reconstruction
(Paleoart by Victor Feij de Carvalho. Credit: Mateus, Estraviz-Lpez et al., 2022, PLOS ONE)
New Species of Spinosaurus, the Monster from Third Jurassic Park Movie, Discovered Using Fossils Located in Portugal
Remember the crazy scene in Jurassic Park 3 where a spinosaurus crashes an aeroplane, destroys it, then fights a T-Rex? Scientists have now discovered a new species of dinosaur that belonged to the spinosaurus family. It’s all here.
Evidence of the Earliest Ear Surgery in Human History Found on a 5,300-Year Old Skull
Researchers have found evidence of the earliest human ear surgery. This discovery was made with a 5,300 year-old skull. It contained evidence of cranial surgery that was meant to heal an ear problem. You can read the entire story here.
Climate Change
Climate Catastrophe – Scientists Find New Factor in Rapid Melting at GreenlandHeat From Meltwater Drain
Glaciers, which act as global freezes and store excessive amounts of water, are already melting because of rising mercury levels and other factors. Researchers have now discovered a factor that could accelerate the melting process, which is more than previously thought. It is heat from the draining of meltwater. Find out more.
Sci-Simplified. Here’s How Mysterious The Blue Blob Could Slow down Glacial Melting Up to 2050
Scientists have discovered something unusual in the North Atlantic Ocean. Researchers from Utrecht University discovered what is known as a Blue Blob in that region of the ocean. This could help to combat climate change and protect Earth’s precious glaciers. Continue reading.
Space
A long filament of solar material hovering above the Sun’s atmosphere.
(NASA Goddard)
ISROs Chandrayaan-2 Finds Large Solar Proton Events Undetected By Most Global Satellites
The Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer aboard ISROs Chandrayaan-2 orbiter recently recorded powerful solar proton events from Sun. This feat is even more remarkable because most global missions couldn’t detect such strong energy output. Learn more about this amazing find here.
Wide-Eyed Parker Solar Probe Captures Stunning Images of Venus’ Surface in Visible Light
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is not only revolutionizing our understanding of the Sun through its missions, but it also does so much more. It has also captured stunning, detailed images of Venus. These are the first visible-light images ever taken of the Venusian surface. These images can be viewed here.
Astronomers from Thailand Discover the First Quadruple Asteroid System
It is very common for asteroids, just like planets to have moons. Some space rocks even have more than one! Astronomers have now discovered an asteroid that has not one, but three moonlet companions. This makes it the first quadruple system ever to be discovered. More details here.
Galactic trio. (ESA/Hubble & NASA W. Keel Dark Energy Survey, Department of Energy Fermilab Dark Energy Survey Camera
(DECam), Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory; NoirLab/National Science Foundation/AURA Sloan Digital Sky Survey; Acknowledgment by J. Schmidt
Three Galaxies Combine Millions of Light-Years Away, and Hubble Telescope Captures These in Great Detail
The Hubble space telescope captured an amazing trio of galaxies at the edge of a massive merging in incredible detail. The image shows a triple galaxy merger, which will eventually merge to form one massive galaxy millions of years later. You can see it here.
Scientists Find Signs of Changes in Astronauts Brains after Long Spaceflights: Cosmic Rewiring
Space travel sounds fascinating, but the long and difficult journey can be very challenging, especially for the human body. Although the list of long-lasting impacts on the human organism is long, a new study now shows that long-duration space missions may even be able to rewire the brain. More details here.
Astronomers Find Largest Radio Galaxy Ever – 3 Billion Light-Years Away
It’s luck, or maybe it’s just luck that astronomers have discovered the largest radio galaxy in history while studying a blackhole. This radio galaxy, which lies 3 billion light-years from us, is the most mysterious and mysterious of its kind. Learn all about it.
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