Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
Astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have estimated the physical parameters of thermal and magnetic field structures within solar coronal holes, which have a significant influence on space weather and the Indian summer monsoon rainfall. These findings are crucial, as space weather affects satellites, and there's growing evidence linking coronal holes to variations in the Indian Monsoon rainfall. Coronal holes are the dark regions observed in X-ray and extreme ultraviolet images of the Sun, which are characterised by open magnetic field lines, making them essential for understanding the interplanetary medium.
A team of scientists, looking into Earth's geological history, has detected unexpected accumulation of Beryllium-10 in samples collected from the Pacific seabed.Beryllium-10 is a rare radioactive isotope produced by cosmic rays in the atmosphere that can provide valuable insights into the Earth's geological history. Researchers suggest that such an anomaly may be attributed to shifts in ocean currents or astrophysical events that occurred approximately 10 million years ago, hinting at the possibility of finding a natural timekeeper, promising advancement in the dating of geological archives spanning millions of years.
GalaxEye, a SpaceTech startup based in Bengaluru, has achieved a new milestone with its GLX-SQ payload aboard ISRO’s PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-4). This mission marks the world’s first successful integration of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical imagery in orbit, setting a new benchmark in space technology. GalaxEye’s GLX-SQ not only completed its initial mission successfully but also ventured into one of the most challenging environments in space: the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), often referred to as the “Bermuda Triangle of Space.” This area is known for its weakened magnetic field, exposing satellites to higher radiation levels that can lead to electronic malfunctions. Despite these extreme conditions, radiation exposure and temperatures plunging below -10°C during an eclipse, the GLX-SQ payload maintained flawless functionality.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) provided the best look yet at the chaotic events unfolding around the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy, observing a steady flickering of light punctuated by occasional bright flares as material is drawn inward by its enormous gravitational pull. JWST enabled astronomers to observe the region around the black hole - called Sagittarius A*, or Sgr A* - for extended periods for the first time, allowing them to discern patterns of activity. The region around Sgr A* was seen as bubbling with activity rather than remaining in a steady state. There also were occasional flares - around one to three large ones over any 24-hour period, with smaller bursts in between. Sgr A* possesses roughly 4 million times the mass of our sun, located about 26,000 light-years from Earth.
