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A new study has found that a single mysterious event about 19 million years ago wiped nearly the entire population of sharks. Scientists behind the new research say that studying the shark teeth buried in deep-sea sediment, revealed that the current diversity among sharks is only a tiny remnant of a much larger variety that existed back then. They say this unidentified major ocean extinction caused the reduction in the shark diversity by over 70 percent and nearly a complete loss in total abundance. The cause of this event remains a mystery, scientists said.

Researchers say that this single event led to the virtual disappearance of sharks from open-ocean sediments, declining in abundance by almost 90 percent. They added that the abrupt extinction was independent of any known global climate event.

According to the research report published in the journal Science, modern shark forms began to diversify within two to five million years after the near extinction, but they represent only a sliver of what sharks once were.

A report in Life Science quoted Elizabeth Sibert, a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University’s Institute for Biospheric Studies and co-author of the study, as saying, “Sharks have been around for 400 million years; they’ve weathered a lot of mass extinctions.”

The study into the ichthyolites, microscopic fossils of shark scales, found in most types of sediments but are tiny and relatively rare when compared to other microfossils, led to the discovery, Sibert told Live Science.

While scientists in the 1970s and ’80s studied ichthyolites, only a few researchers examined them before Sibert, who investigated them for her doctorate, which she completed in 2016. “A lot of what I’ve done in my early career as a scientist was figuring out how to work with these fossils, what kinds of questions we can ask about them,” Sibert said.

For their new study, Sibert and Leah Rubin, a co-author who was an undergraduate student at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine at the time of the research, studied sediment cores extracted many years ago by deep-sea drilling projects from two different sites: one in the middle of the North Pacific, and the other in the middle of the South Pacific.

“We picked those sites particularly because they are far away from land and they’re far away from any influences of changing ocean circulation or ocean currents,” Sibert said.

Rubin, who is now going to be a doctoral student at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, said that the extreme nature of this decline in the diversity of sharks was the most surprising aspect of the study to them as well. The million-dollar question, Rubin says, is what caused it?

The paper is just the beginning, Sibert says, and hopes it’s going to be a really interesting next decade to figure out more about what happened at the time that caused the extinction among sharks.

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NASA, General Atomics Test Nuclear Fuel for Faster Mars Missions

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February 10, 2025

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NASA, General Atomics Test Nuclear Fuel for Faster Mars Missions

Efforts to develop nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) for future space missions have taken a significant step forward. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS), in collaboration with NASA, has conducted tests on nuclear reactor fuel designed for space travel. The trials, held at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, assessed the fuel’s ability to withstand extreme conditions that would be encountered during deep space missions. The successful results could accelerate plans for faster, more efficient space travel, reducing transit times for crewed missions to Mars.

Successful Testing at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center

As reported by space.com, according to the tests conducted at NASA’s facility, the reactor fuel was subjected to six thermal cycles using hot hydrogen, rapidly heating it to 2326.6 degree Celsius. The objective was to evaluate the fuel’s resilience under extreme temperature fluctuations and exposure to hot hydrogen gas, conditions necessary for nuclear thermal propulsion. GA-EMS President Scott Forney stated in a company release that the fuel demonstrated the ability to endure these conditions, reinforcing confidence in its potential for safe and reliable space propulsion.

First-of-Its-Kind Testing of Nuclear Fuel

GA-EMS Vice President of Nuclear Technologies and Materials, Christina Back, highlighted the uniqueness of these tests in the company release. The company was reported to be the first to utilise the compact fuel element environmental test (CFEET) facility at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center for such trials. Fuel performance was tested at temperatures reaching 2,727 degree Celsius, with findings indicating a significant efficiency boost over conventional propulsion systems.

Potential Impact on Space Exploration

As per sources, NASA has prioritised the development of nuclear propulsion due to its potential to significantly reduce travel time to Mars. Shorter missions could lower the risks associated with long-duration spaceflight, including radiation exposure and the need for extensive life-support resources. In 2023, NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced joint efforts to develop an NTP system, with a planned demonstration by 2027. The latest advancements in nuclear propulsion technology could play a crucial role in achieving that goal, bringing human missions to Mars closer to reality.

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ISRO Successfully Conducts CE20 Cryogenic Engine Vacuum Test for LVM-3

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February 10, 2025

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ISRO Successfully Conducts CE20 Cryogenic Engine Vacuum Test for LVM-3

A key milestone in India’s space technology development has been reached with the successful vacuum ignition test of the CE20 cryogenic engine. Conducted on February 7 at the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, the test simulated real space conditions for engine restart. The CE20 engine, designed for the upper stage of the LVM-3 rocket, is a critical component of future ISRO missions, including the human spaceflight programme. The test focused on evaluating the ignition process under vacuum conditions, ensuring operational reliability in space.

Engine restart capabilities under evaluation

As reported by The Times Of India, according to ISRO, the vacuum test assessed the ignition of the engine’s thrust chamber using a multi-element igniter while maintaining the required tank pressure for restart. The CE20 engine has been developed by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) and has already demonstrated thrust levels ranging from 19 to 22 tonnes with a single-start capability. The latest trials are aimed at enabling multiple restarts, a feature that enhances mission flexibility.

Alternative turbopump initiation under consideration

ISRO is examining the possibility of using a bootstrap mode for turbopump initiation, replacing conventional stored gas systems. This approach, if successfully implemented, could improve engine restart efficiency. Previous ground-based trials of the CE20 engine have been completed, and this latest vacuum test marks another step toward full qualification for advanced missions.

Significance for the Gaganyaan mission

With the CE20 engine cleared for use in India’s maiden human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, these tests are crucial to validating performance under real conditions. ISRO has emphasised that both the engine and testing facility performed as expected during the trial, reinforcing confidence in the system’s reliability for upcoming space missions.

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Romania’s ‘Living’ Rocks Expand and Multiply in a Strange Natural Process



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Romania’s ‘Living’ Rocks Expand and Multiply in a Strange Natural Process

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February 10, 2025

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Romania’s ‘Living’ Rocks Expand and Multiply in a Strange Natural Process

A cluster of unusual geological formations known as trovants has been drawing attention in Romania. These rock-like structures, which appear to grow and even reproduce, are primarily found near the village of Costești in central Romania. Trovants, which resemble smooth, bulbous stones, are unique in their ability to absorb minerals from rainwater, allowing them to expand over time. Myths and folklore surrounding these formations have led to comparisons with dinosaur eggs, alien artifacts, and plant fossils. Despite their peculiar nature, geologists have identified trovants as a natural geological phenomenon resulting from specific mineral and environmental conditions.

Scientific Explanation Behind Trovants

According to reports from geological studies published by Geology In, trovants consist of a hard stone core encased in a porous sandstone shell. This shell absorbs rainwater rich in minerals like calcium carbonate, which, when combined with other elements, forms a cement-like substance that gradually increases the rock’s size. This process is believed to add approximately 5 centimeters to a trovant’s circumference every 1,000 years. Over time, lumps can form on the surface, eventually detaching and growing into separate trovants. This unique characteristic has contributed to their reputation as “living” rocks.

Origins and Geological Theories

The formation of trovants has been linked to seismic activity that took place more than 5 million years ago. As per geological sources cited by BBC Science Focus, ancient earthquake activity may have compacted sedimentary deposits in an aquatic environment, leading to the creation of these spherical structures. The presence of fossils such as bivalves and gastropods within the trovants further supports this theory. Although similar formations have been observed in Russia, Turkey, and the U.S., Romania remains home to the most well-known trovant deposits.

Cultural Significance and Myths

Folklore surrounding trovants has long fueled theories beyond scientific explanations. Some local myths suggest that the formations are remnants of ancient creatures, while others attribute their origin to extraterrestrial influences. The unusual ability of trovants to expand and multiply has contributed to their enigmatic status. Despite the myths, experts maintain that trovants are entirely natural geological formations shaped by environmental processes over millions of years.

Conservation and Public Interest

The Trovants Museum Natural Reserve was established to protect and study these rare formations. Located near Costești, the reserve aims to preserve the trovants while educating visitors about their geological significance. The site continues to attract tourists, researchers, and enthusiasts fascinated by these mysterious stones. While trovants remain a subject of intrigue, scientific findings confirm that their growth and multiplication are the results of natural geological processes rather than supernatural or extraterrestrial phenomena.

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