Connect with us

Published

on

NASA has shared a stunning view of the Earth’s largest desert, the Sahara Desert, in its latest post on Instagram. The image was captured by NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough from the International Space Station and could very well be confused for the Red Planet, the American space agency said. The caption, which starts off with “Too hot to handle” seems befitting given that it is one of the harshest terrains on Earth. The note attached to the image reads, “You might be surprised to find this is in fact not a picture of our neighbouring Red Planet – it’s the Sahara Desert.”

The note from NASA further says that the Sahara Desert “is one of the harshest environments on our planet: the largest hot desert on Earth.”

Sharing more information on the ecosystem, the space agency says that data from their satellites revealed that “wind and weather in the Sahara pick up on average 182 million tons of dust from the deserts of Africa and carries it 1,600 miles across the Atlantic Ocean each year.” To put this into perspective, NASA says: “This volume is equivalent to 689,290 semi-trucks filled with dust.”

So, what does this dust do? According to NASA, “this dust helps build beaches in the Caribbean and fertilizes soils in the Amazon. It affects air quality in North and South America.” It may also play a hand in the “suppression of hurricanes and the decline of coral reefs” the note added.

The image evoked a range of emotions among viewers, many of whom expressed the same in the comments section.

Thanking the agency, one user said, “Thank you NASA for everything you do for scientific exploration,” while another wrote, “Such an informative post.”

“And knowing this is on earth, just incredible,” said another.

The Sahara Desert is 3,600,000 square miles (9,200,000 square kilometres) of arid land located in the northern part of Africa. In terms of size, it is only “slightly smaller than the continental United States”, says NASA.

In a recent study conducted by NASA, it was estimated that there would be less Saharan dust carried in the winds in future. As per a report released in April 2021, NASA said that “scientists, using a combination of satellite data and computer models, predict that Africa’s annual dust plumes will actually shrink to a 20,000-year minimum over the next century as a result of climate change and ocean warming.” The study was made in the aftermath of the June 2020 dust plume dubbed “Godzilla” that travelled from the Sahara to North America, across the Atlantic Ocean.

On its journey across the Atlantic, Saharan dust sprinkles into the ocean, “feeding the marine life, and similarly plant life once it makes landfall,” the report said. Not just that, the dust also contains minerals such as iron and phosphorus, which serve as a fertilizer for the Amazon rainforest.


Can Nothing Ear 1 — the first product from OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei’s new outfit — be an AirPods killer? We discussed this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Continue Reading

Science

James Webb Space Telescope Reveals a Stunning Einstein Ring in Hydrus

Published

on

By

James Webb Space Telescope Reveals a Stunning Einstein Ring in Hydrus

James Webb Space Telescope has recently captured a detailed image of an unusual cosmic occurrence. The latest images released by European Space Agency shows a glowing ring in the depths of space. It also reveals an effect that is caused by a massive galaxy bending light from another galaxy hidden behind it. The phenomenon has been recorded in the constellation Hydrus. It has been observed that light from the background galaxy forms a ring due to gravitational bending.

Formation of the Einstein Ring

According to the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency the sight captured is known as an Einstein ring. It was reported that the effect is caused when a massive object bends light from another galaxy located behind it. The report further highlights that the foreground galaxy shown in the images belongs to a cluster known as SMACSJ0028.2-7537. The light from a distant spiral galaxy is being curved by the gravitational pull of the elliptical galaxy in front.

As per the official statement from ESA, the effect is a classic case of Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity. The agency highlighted that the large objects in space can warp space-time, which in turn, forces light to travel around them in curved paths. The report further mentioned that when the observer, the light source and the massive object align perfectly, the light appears as a full ring.

Significance of Gravitational Lensing

The image was shared as part of the March picture of the month initiative by the space agencies. The images were capture using the Near Infrared Camera instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope with the help of Hubble Space Telescope’s Wide Field Camera 3 and Advanced Camera for Surveys.

It is also reported that such lensing phenomena assist astronomers in studying distant galaxies that would otherwise be too faint to observe. The ESA further noted that the magnification effect helps reveal the structure and composition of galaxies that existed shortly after the Big Bang

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


Scientists Spot a Key Difference in Matter and Antimatter Decay



Two New Exoplanets Found Orbiting a Star in Draco Constellation

Related Stories

Continue Reading

Science

NASA Astronaut Zena Cardman Appointed to Lead SpaceX Crew-11 Mission to ISS

Published

on

By

NASA Astronaut Zena Cardman Appointed to Lead SpaceX Crew-11 Mission to ISS

NASA astronaut Zena Cardman has been appointed to lead the upcoming SpaceX Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission is scheduled for launch in July. Cardman will take command of the four-member crew following her removal from a previous mission last year. She will be accompanied by Pilot Mike Fincke from NASA, Mission Specialist Kimiya Yui from Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mission Specialist Oleg Platonov from the Russian space agency Roscosmos. Crew-11 will transport the team to the orbiting laboratory for an extended stay.

Crew Composition and Mission Details

According to an announcement by NASA officials, Cardman’s appointment to Crew-11 comes after her removal from SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission in August last year. That decision had been taken to accommodate NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams for their return to Earth following technical issues faced by Boeing’s Starliner capsule. These issues included thruster problems and helium leaks during its test flight to the ISS. The Starliner spacecraft had been returned without crew in September after safety concerns were raised.

Astronaut Experience and Background

As per NASA’s official statement, the Crew-11 mission will mark the first spaceflight experience for both Cardman and Platonov. Cardman had been selected by NASA in 2017. Platonov had been selected by Roscosmos in 2018. Mike Fincke, who will serve as the pilot, has already completed three space missions. He has spent a total of 382 days aboard the ISS during expeditions in 2004, 2008 and 2011. Kimiya Yui had served as a flight engineer during ISS Expeditions 44 and 45. He had remained aboard the station for 142 days from 2014 to 2015.

Changes Following Starliner Mission

According to reports, Cardman and astronaut Stephanie Wilson were removed from the Crew-9 assignment when NASA altered plans to facilitate the safe return of Starliner’s crew. Wilson’s reassignment has not been announced yet. Mike Fincke was earlier assigned to Boeing’s Starliner-1 mission. The launch date for Starliner-1 remains uncertain due to unresolved issues from previous flights. The Crew-11 mission is now expected to provide NASA with continued crew presence on the ISS. It will support ongoing research and operations.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


X-Class Solar Flare From Emerging Sunspot Causes Radio Blackouts



444-Million-Year-Old Inside-Out Fossil Without Head And Legs Found In South Africa

Related Stories

Continue Reading

Science

444-Million-Year-Old Inside-Out Fossil Without Head And Legs Found In South Africa

Published

on

By

444-Million-Year-Old Inside-Out Fossil Without Head And Legs Found In South Africa

Fossils of a 444 million-year-old marine creature, which is preserved in an unusual state, have been unearthed in South Africa. The remains belong to an extinct species of arthropod that lived long before dinosaurs, claims a new study. The fossils, which were discovered nearly 250 miles north of Cape Town in the Cederberg Mountains, shows an inside-out preservation technique. This means that the the soft tissues, such as muscles and guts, survived but the hard outer shell and limbs did not. This rare preservation offers a glimpse into ancient marine life and environments that existed during the Late Ordovician period.

Fossil Findings and Preservation

According to the study published in the journal Papers in Palaeontology, researchers have identified the specimens of the recently discovered fossils to be known as Keurbos susanae. The fossils were found in the Soom Shale, a geological formation recognised for preserving soft-bodied fossils. The researchers stated that the remains had been preserved without their shell and head while internal features like muscles and intestines remained intact. It has been reported that the species possibly lived in oxygen-deficient waters high in dissolved hydrogen sulphide which may have contributed to the unique preservation of soft tissues.

Challenges in Fossil Interpretation

Lead researcher Dr Sarah Gabbott, a Palaeontologist at the University of Leicester, told Live Science that the fossil was described as an “inside-out, legless, headless wonder”. She mentioned that muscles, tendons and even guts had been mineralised in remarkable detail while the outer shell and legs were missing due to decay. According to the report, the fossil dates back to a period when nearly 85 percent of marine life was wiped out by a mass extinction event. The absence of the exoskeleton has made it difficult for scientists to establish evolutionary links with other species from that time.

Limited Prospects of Further Discoveries

It has been reported that the fossil site where Keurbos susanae was discovered has been buried due to quarrying activity. Dr Gabbott mentioned that she had searched for additional specimens over the past two decades, but no new examples had been found. The species was named after her mother, Sue, who had encouraged her to pursue a career that brought her happiness. The research team noted that unless new specimens surface, the evolutionary significance of Keurbos susanae may remain unresolved.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.


X-Class Solar Flare From Emerging Sunspot Causes Radio Blackouts



Poco M7 Pro Review: Pro Value, Practical Performance

Continue Reading

Trending