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Amazon Web Services (AWS) has signed a memorandum of understanding with ISRO and IN-SPACe to support space-tech innovations through cloud computing.

The collaboration with ISRO and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) is aimed at giving space startups, research institutes and students access to cloud technologies through AWS Activate for new solutions in the space sector, AWS said in a statement on Wednesday.

The collaboration follows the approval of the Indian Space Policy, 2023 in April by the government which provides a strategic roadmap for the growth and development of India’s space programme using cloud computing, data, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

AWS India and South Asia Director and Chief Technologist, Public Sector, Shalini Kapoor said the company is committed to helping startups identify use cases accelerate solution development, and build a strong talent pool in India with expertise in cloud and space.

“Cloud computing-led innovations enable the space industry to make better decisions, faster – pushing the boundaries of possibilities. We look forward to helping customers in India build space-tech solutions to make life on Earth better,” Kapoor added.

ISRO Director for Capacity Building and Public Outreach Sudheer Kumar N said cloud computing enables the speedy management of large volumes of raw space data, besides running AI, ML and analytics workloads to achieve meaningful outcomes in a highly cost-effective manner.

Startups will also benefit from access to AWS and its global experience of building aerospace and satellite solutions through the AWS Space Accelerator programme.

“After Chandrayaan-3 moon landing and Aditya L-1 mission, it is time we leverage the limitless potential of space technology and cloud computing to propel India’s space sector to new heights. This partnership with AWS is a testament to that and through this, we aim to empower startups, students, and researchers to dream beyond the skies, drive innovation, and contribute to the global space industry,” said IN-SPACe Director, Promotion Directorate, Vinod Kumar.

The three organisations will also collaborate on a new initiative to train students and educators in cloud computing, AI, ML, analytics, and security, by leveraging AWS education programmes. 


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Ancient Ice Core from Antarctica May Reveal Climate Mysteries from 1.2 Million Years Ago

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Ancient Ice Core from Antarctica May Reveal Climate Mysteries from 1.2 Million Years Ago

A groundbreaking discovery has been made in Antarctica, where a team of scientists successfully extracted a 2.8-kilometre-long ice core believed to contain air bubbles and particles from 1.2 million years ago. This ancient ice sample, retrieved under extreme conditions with temperatures reaching -35 degree Celsius, holds the potential to reveal crucial insights about a critical period in Earth’s climate history. Researchers aim to study this ice to understand significant climatic shifts and their potential links to near-extinction events in human ancestry.

Historic Ice Recovery and Its Implications

According to reports from BBC News, the ice core was obtained from a drilling site named Little Dome C, situated on the Antarctic Plateau at an elevation of nearly 3,000 meters. The project, led by the Italian Institute of Polar Sciences and supported by scientists from ten European countries, took four Antarctic summers to complete. The extracted ice contains air bubbles, volcanic ash, and other particles, providing a snapshot of atmospheric conditions from up to 1.2 million years ago.

This ice core could shed light on the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, a period 900,000 to 1.2 million years ago when the glacial cycle lengthened from 41,000 to 100,000 years. Experts are particularly interested in whether this climatic shift correlates with a dramatic population decline in human ancestors.

Scientific Process and Goals

The core was transported in freezing conditions, cut into one-meter sections, and distributed to institutions across Europe for analysis. Scientists hope to uncover patterns in greenhouse gas emissions and temperature changes from this period, which could help refine climate models for future projections. Professor Carlo Barbante, a lead researcher at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, highlighted to BBC News, the significance of handling ancient air samples and volcanic ash embedded in the ice, emphasising its potential to expand understanding of Earth’s climatic past.

The analysis of this ice core is expected to provide pivotal data, offering scientists a clearer picture of how historical climatic changes shaped the planet and influenced early human evolution.

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This Is Why This Supermassive Black Hole Flashed Twice Causing a Rare Event

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This Is Why This Supermassive Black Hole Flashed Twice Causing a Rare Event

Astronomers recently observed a rare cosmic event where a supermassive black hole, located approximately 408 million light-years away, consumed one star from a binary system while the other narrowly escaped. This unusual phenomenon, known as a double-flash tidal disruption event (TDE), occurred in the galaxy WISEA J122045.05+493304.7. These powerful events, visible from billions of light-years away, typically involve a single flare, but the designated event ASASSN-22ci is notable for producing two flares, sparking interest in its origins and implications for black hole research.

A Unique Event Observed

According to a study published in the pre-print journal arXiv, ASASSN-22ci was first detected in February 2022, appearing as a typical TDE. However, a second flare was observed 720 days later, making it one of the few documented instances of repeated TDEs.

Researchers theorise this might have resulted from a process called Hills capture, where a supermassive black hole disrupts a binary star system. In such cases, one star is ejected at high velocity, while the other remains bound in an elongated orbit around the black hole, undergoing repeated tidal disruptions.

Investigating the Black Hole’s Activity

Data from ultraviolet and X-ray observations revealed the black hole responsible for ASASSN-22ci has an estimated mass of about three million times that of the sun. While the star involved in these flares likely has a mass similar to the Sun, it remains uncertain if it had a companion that escaped. Scientists believe the similarity between the two flares indicates that the same star might have been disrupted twice during its orbit.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Researchers predict a third flare could occur in early 2026 if the star survives another close encounter with the black hole. This anticipated event would provide astronomers with a rare opportunity to observe and study the earliest phases of a TDE in unprecedented detail, shedding light on the mechanics of black hole interactions with stars

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Satellite Images Reveal the Widespread Destruction of Los Angeles Fires from Space

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Satellite Images Reveal the Widespread Destruction of Los Angeles Fires from Space

The ongoing wildfires in Southern California have caused extensive destruction, with over 34,000 acres burned and significant damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure reported. At least 10 fatalities have been confirmed, and numerous individuals have been injured since the fires ignited earlier this week. The largest of these fires, the Palisades Fire, has ravaged nearly 20,000 acres, becoming the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history. Fire containment efforts are ongoing, with only a small percentage of the affected areas brought under control.

Massive Scale Captured by Satellite Images

According to satellite data provided by Maxar Technologies, the extent of damage caused by the fires has been captured in vivid detail. Infrared imaging has revealed active fire hotspots and burning buildings despite the dense smoke covering affected regions. The Palisades Fire has left vast portions of the Pacific Coast Highway and nearby Malibu neighbourhoods charred, with entire homes reduced to ash. A false-colour satellite image shared by Planet Labs highlights vegetation loss, with smoke plumes towering above the devastated areas.

Efforts to Protect Key Infrastructure

As reported by space.com, reports from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have confirmed that the Eaton Fire, which scorched approximately 10,600 acres, reached the base of Mount Wilson. The area houses transmitters and antennas critical to communication systems and the historic Mount Wilson Observatory. Reports indicate that firefighters successfully prevented significant damage to the observatory and restored power to the facility.

Similarly, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, was safeguarded by emergency responders. In a statement shared via social media, JPL Director Laurie Leshin acknowledged the bravery of firefighters who shielded the facility while expressing concern for over 150 JPL employees who lost their homes in the disaster.

Emergency services remain deployed across the region to contain the fires and support affected communities.

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