Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
Going where no art has gone before: Singapore is now the first country to have an #art installation 7,000 metres beneath the ocean. This groundbreaking project, made possible by NuStar Technologies in collaboration with the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology… pic.twitter.com/U9GhShTdFf
— NTU Singapore (@NTUsg) March 19, 2025
(Credit: X/@NTUsg)
Singapore has made history as the first country to install an art installation 7,000 meters beneath the ocean, featuring three metal cubes designed by local artist Lakshmi Mohanbabu. This new project, which is both an artistic expression and a tribute to those affected by natural disasters, was deployed near the Mariana Trench off the coast of Japan in December 2024. The installation was executed by NuStar Technologies in collaboration with Japan’s Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). The cubes are part of a specially designed early warning seismic sensor system that monitors undersea earthquakes and tsunamis. Each cube, measuring 10 cm on each side and made from corrosion-resistant stainless steel, showcases five designs inspired by the “Universal Language of Symbols.”
Glaciers around the world are disappearing faster than ever, claims new UN report. The biggest glacier in the Alps could yet be partially saved if global warming is capped below two degrees Celsius, Swiss scientists said on Friday, although significant ice loss is now inevitable. More than half of the glaciers in the Alps are in Switzerland, where temperatures are rising by around twice the global average due to climate change. Already, their volume has fallen by almost 40 percent since 2000. Without climate action, the glacier's tributaries would vanish, leaving a barren valley.
Ever since being launched over two years ago, ChatGPT has become a phenomenon with over 400 million people using it every week. While the platform is not designed or marketed as an AI companion, a subset of users engage emotionally with ChatGPT, which prompted the study. ChatGPT might be making its most frequent users more lonely, a joint study conducted by OpenAI and MIT Media Lab has revealed. “Overall, higher daily usage-across all modalities and conversation types-correlated with higher loneliness, dependence, and problematic use, and lower socialization," the study highlighted.
A new study has revealed that humans are not the only living being prone to road rage, owing to excessive traffic noises. Scientists have found that certain birds in the Galapagos behave aggressively around traffic noise as it drowns out their warning calls. The anger often results in some of the birds engaging in fights with their rivals. The study findings showed that birds living in territories adjacent to roads increased their aggression levels with experimental noise compared to control, while birds living farther away from roads decreased their aggression levels. The researchers said the findings show the importance of species adaptability in conservation efforts and developing strategies to mitigate the effects of noise pollution on wildlife.
