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The search for alien life just got more interesting as a team of scientists recently discovered new evidence suggesting that Saturn’s moon Enceladus has oceans that have all the basic requirements and materials needed for life to survive. According to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers believe that the ocean of Enceladus is filled with dissolved phosphorus, which is an essential ingredient for life. 

“Enceladus is one of the prime targets in humanity’s search for life in our solar system,” said Southwest Research Institute’s Dr Christopher Glein, the co-author of the paper. 

“What we have learned is that the plume contains almost all the basic requirements of life as we know it. While the bioessential element phosphorus has yet to be identified directly, our team discovered evidence for its availability in the ocean beneath the moon’s icy crust,” he added. 

Running models with data on the ocean-seafloor system on Enceladus, the research team predicted that there should be as much or more phosphorus than in seawater on Earth. “What this means for astrobiology is that we can be more confident than before that the ocean of Enceladus is habitable,” Mr Glein added.  

The researchers noted that it was previously Enceladus might not have adequate levels of phosphorus to support life. However, with their new study, Mr Glein suggested that a new probe be sent to Enceladus in a bid to investigate the habitable ocean. 

“We need to get back to Enceladus to see if a habitable ocean is actually inhabited,” he said as per the study. 

Meanwhile, as per The Independent, Saturn is not the only planet that might have life in its vicinity. The presence of ammonia on Venus has also led some researchers to suggest that the planet could have alien life in its sulfuric atmosphere. They have said that while the planet itself is too hot to have life, there could be microscopic organisms in the clouds, producing ammonia to neutralise the acidity in the same way that animals on Earth do. 

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Indian Ocean Anomaly Challenges Ekman’s Ocean Current Theory

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Indian Ocean Anomaly Challenges Ekman’s Ocean Current Theory

A study published in Science Advances has identified a significant anomaly to Vagn Walfrid Ekman’s widely-accepted theory on wind-driven ocean currents. Conducted by a team of researchers from NOAA, the Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services and the University of Zagreb, the study focused on the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean. Data spanning several years from a buoy stationed off India’s eastern coast was examined, revealing that ocean currents in this region deflect leftward, contradicting the theory’s predictions for the Northern Hemisphere.

Ekman’s Theory and Its Longstanding Influence

The Ekman theory, developed in 1905 by Swedish oceanographer Vagn Walfrid Ekman, asserts that surface ocean currents are deflected 45 degrees to the right of wind direction in the Northern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis force. Successive layers beneath the surface exhibit similar patterns, forming the Ekman spiral. This mechanism, though robust, assumes idealised conditions, including uniform ocean depth and density. Variations such as those observed in the Bay of Bengal highlight its limitations.

Findings from the Bay of Bengal

As per the study, according to data collected over several years, currents in the Bay of Bengal were found to veer leftward despite prevailing winds, defying Ekman’s predictions. This anomaly underscores the need to reassess assumptions about global oceanic patterns. The researchers suggested that local factors, including unique regional wind patterns and oceanic dynamics, could play a significant role.

Implications for Climate Models

It was noted in a statement by the researchers that the findings could influence future climate modelling efforts. If exceptions to Ekman’s theory exist in the Bay of Bengal, others might also occur globally, underscoring the need for more detailed oceanographic studies. Discussions have also highlighted the potential deployment of a NASA satellite system to monitor wind and surface currents comprehensively.

This study has brought attention to gaps in understanding wind-driven currents, stressing the importance of revisiting established models as global warming continues to impact ocean behaviour.

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ISRO’s PSLV-C59 to Launch ESA’s Proba-3 Mission for Sun Corona Study

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ISRO's PSLV-C59 to Launch ESA's Proba-3 Mission for Sun Corona Study

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has scheduled the launch of the PSLV-C59 rocket carrying the Proba-3 spacecraft for December 4, 2024, at 4:08 PM IST, as per reports. The mission, a dedicated commercial venture of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), will take off from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. According to reports, this will mark the 61st mission of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the 21st use of its XL configuration.

Mission Overview

As per sources, Proba-3, a project developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), is an In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission aimed at showcasing precision formation flying. The spacecraft consists of two components: the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC) and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC). These satellites, launched in a stacked arrangement, will operate in tandem, maintaining a precise distance of 150 meters. The innovative configuration will enable the creation of artificial solar eclipses, allowing extended observation of the Sun’s corona.

Scientific Objectives

Reports indicate that the mission’s primary objective is to explore the Sun’s corona, the outermost layer of its atmosphere, to enhance understanding of solar dynamics and space weather. Instruments aboard the spacecraft have been designed to block the Sun’s intense light, facilitating detailed study of solar phenomena that are otherwise difficult to observe. Proba-3’s ability to continuously monitor the corona for up to six hours is expected to yield valuable scientific data.

Collaboration and Technology

The mission highlights significant collaboration between ISRO and ESA. Reportedly, the PSLV-XL rocket, equipped with additional strap-on boosters, will carry a payload weighing approximately 550 kg. The precision formation flying technology demonstrated by Proba-3 is expected to pave the way for advanced techniques in space exploration. The launch preparations at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre are underway, and all systems are reportedly on track for the scheduled liftoff.

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Meet Homo juluensis: A newly discovered ancient human species

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Meet Homo juluensis: A newly discovered ancient human species

A new ancient human species, Homo juluensis, has been identified by researchers, marking a significant step in understanding human evolution in the Middle Pleistocene epoch. According to findings published in PaleoAnthropology in May 2024, the discovery is based on fossil evidence unearthed in China, with specimens dating between 220,000 and 100,000 years ago. The species, known as “big head people,” is characterised by large skulls, blending features seen in modern humans, Neanderthals and Denisovans.

Fossil Evidence and Characteristics

The fossils forming the basis of this new classification were recovered from sites in Xujiayao and Xuchang in northern and central China, as per reports. Excavations at Xujiayao in the 1970s yielded over 10,000 stone tools and 21 fossil fragments, representing at least 10 individuals. These fossils display large, wide crania with Neanderthal-like characteristics, yet also share traits with modern humans and Denisovans. Four additional ancient skulls discovered at Xuchang exhibit similar features.

The research team, led by Christopher Bae, an anthropologist at the University of Hawai’i and Xiujie Wu, a paleoanthropologist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, concluded that these fossils represent a distinct hominin population. The findings indicate a likely continuity of hybridisation among Middle Pleistocene hominins, which shaped human evolution in eastern Asia.

Naming and Expert Perspectives

In a statement to Nature Communications, published in November 2024, the researchers advocated for using Homo juluensis to clarify eastern Asia’s complex fossil record. While some experts, such as Chris Stringer of the Natural History Museum in London, have suggested the fossils might align more closely with Homo longi, the designation of Homo juluensis has gained traction.

The name, according to Bae, in a statement, was introduced to improve scientific communication. Paleoanthropologist John Hawks of the University of Wisconsin–Madison noted in a blog post that such terminology allows clearer reference to this population’s place in the human evolutionary narrative. The discovery underscores the intricate relationships within ancient hominin groups and their evolutionary significance.

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