Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
For the first time ever, astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, have detected far-ultraviolet emissions from novae’s sudden, bright explosions on stars during their outbursts in the Andromeda galaxy, our closest large galactic neighbour. Using data from the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) aboard ISRO’s AstroSat satellite, the scientists observed ultraviolet emissions from 42 novae, including four detected in the act of erupting. The findings emphasise the importance of future ultraviolet and X-ray missions to unravel the mysteries of novae, advancing our understanding of stellar evolution and galactic chemistry.
Researchers from the Raman Research Institute (RRI) have detected optimal locations in India for beaming quantum signals into space. The research highlights the potential for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to improve global communication security. A quantum signal refers to information transmitted using the principles of quantum mechanics, which governs the behaviour of particles at extremely small scales, such as photons, electrons, or atoms. Quantum signals are primarily associated with quantum communication and quantum computing systems. The findings indicate that Hanle, situated in the high-altitude desert of Ladakh, is the prime candidate for this revolutionary technology due to its dry climate and low atmospheric water vapor levels. It will mark as a significant advancement in satellite-based quantum communications.
He's just a dog, sitting next to his human, asking him to pet him. pic.twitter.com/2L91eTxyns
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 8, 2021
(Credit - X/@USATODAY)
A new study led by a University of Arizona scientist took us one step closer to an answer on how the bonding between human and dogs started. The new study revealed the timeline for human-dog relationships in the Americas to approximately 12,000 years ago. The researchers unearthed a tibia, or lower leg bone, from an adult canine at Swan Point, an archaeological site located about 70 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. Radiocarbon dating revealed that this canine lived around 12,000 years ago, near the end of the last Ice Age. Further excavations in June 2023 at Hollembaek Hill uncovered an 8,100-year-old canine jawbone that also showed signs of potential domestication.
Taking inspiration from Harry Potter movies, a group of international scientists have created the 'Cloak of Invisibility', that could make us disappear in plain sight. The newly devised camouflage material adjusts its molecular composition to blend into the background making the wearer imperceptible to the naked eye. The researchers said they managed to achieve the 'invisibility' through a process called Self-adaptive Photochromism (SAP) in which molecules rearrange themselves when exposed to certain wavelengths of light. This causes the substance to change colour and effectively become unseeable. Notably, in nature, both chameleons and octopuses rely on active camouflage to change their appearance by blending into the surroundings.
