Published By: Sayan Paul

Science & Space Roundup: Top News of the Day (Dec 17)

Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.

A Historic First: Indian Scientists Discover Hidden Secrets of the Southern Indian Ocean

A team of researchers from the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) successfully conducted high-resolution deep-sea exploration and imaging at a hydrothermal sulphide field. The deep sea field was located at a depth of 4,500 meters in the Central and South West Indian Ridges of the Southern Indian Ocean. Using the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) known as the Ocean Mineral Explorer (OMe 6000), developed by NIOT, the team was able to capture detailed images and gather critical data from the hydrothermal vents. These vents are known for their unique ecosystems and mineral deposits, which have significant implications for both scientific research and potential resource extraction.

Deep Space Mystery: Unexplained Signal Pulses Every 2.9 Hours

Astronomers have identified a highly unusual celestial object, named GLEAM-X J0704-37, that emits regular bursts of radio waves every 2.9 hours, the longest interval ever observed for this type of source. The discovery was made using older data from the Murchison Widefield Array, a low-frequency radio telescope in Australia, and further analysed with high-resolution observations from the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa. Interestingly, the bursts are not only periodic but also highly organised and polarised, resembling the emissions seen from pulsars rapidly spinning, highly magnetic neutron stars. What makes GLEAM-X J0704-37 different is its long period and its optical counterpart: a cool, faint star of the M-dwarf type, smaller and less luminous than the Sun.

Meet the Microbe That Inspired the Next Big Thing in Antioxidants: 'Conan the Bacterium'

New insight about how unique bacteria resist damage from radiation could potentially lead to better protection for humans. Deinococcus radiodurans, an extremophile, a bacterium is capable of withstanding conditions that would kill off most life-forms. The ability of this microbe to resist radiation thousands of times stronger than the lethal dose for humans has earned the nickname “Conan the Bacterium.” The secret behind this impressive resistance is the presence of a collection of simple metabolites, which combine with manganese to form a powerful antioxidant. Now, chemists at Northwestern University and the Uniformed Services University (USU) have discovered how this antioxidant works. The researchers characterized the synthetic designer antioxidant and named MDP.

Deadly Bird Flu Threatens Humans Through Cats, Alarming Study Finds

A new study has warned that pet cats can become unexpected carriers of bird flu that has ravaged poultry farms in the US for the last two and a half years. The deadly strain of avian influenza or H5N1 has been the cause of death of more than 100 million birds and although it does not spread easily among humans, scientists have rung the warning bell. The study revealed that one or two mutations in cats would allow the virus strain to easily hop onto humans. The presence of bird feathers near the bodies of cats indicated that they may have eaten the wild birds, who had carried the virus off the farm. The scientists warned that urgent surveillance was necessary to keep the situation in check.