Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, which touched down on the Moon's Mare Crisium region on March 2, has clicked the first beautiful sunrise on the lunar surface. The photo, posted by Firefly on X on Monday, captures the sunrise with the Sun's rays shining bright with deep craters shown on the uneven lunar surface. The mission, launched on January 15, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, landed on the Moon's Mare Crisium (Sea of Crises) in the northeastern region of the near side of the lunar surface. Carrying 10 NASA payloads as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programme, the Blue Ghost mission aims to enhance our understanding of the lunar environment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first-ever comprehensive report on riverine dolphin estimation in India, revealing a total of 6,327 dolphins across the country. River dolphins are crucial indicators of a healthy river ecosystem, and their dwindling numbers have raised concerns about pollution and habitat destruction. This effort involved surveying 28 rivers across eight states, covering over 8,500 kilometers and requiring 3,150 mandays. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of dolphins, followed by Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam. The Ganges River dolphin, in particular, is listed as endangered and is found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system.
Researchers have now proposed that astronauts fall sick and face several health issue on the flying laboratory due to the extreme clean environment maintained aboard the ISS. The recent study suggests that the immune dysfunction and inflammatory conditions experienced by astronauts in space may be exacerbated by the overly sterile nature of the International Space Station (ISS). The research indicates that the ISS has a significantly lower diversity of microbes compared to human-built environments on Earth, with most microbes being species carried by humans onto the station. Researchers propose that intentionally fostering diverse microbial communities in space stations could improve astronaut health.
European Space Agency’s Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission has captured stunning images of the Mahakumbh, the world's largest human gathering, held in Prayagraj. This year's event, which took place from January 13 to February 26, was particularly significant as it marked a Mahakumbh, occurring only every 144 years. The satellite images have revealed satellite images showing how Prayaagraj changed over a month to host the largest congregation. The area along the Ganges river was converted into a sprawling tent city, covering over 40 square kilometers. The temporary structures included housing, electricity, drinking water, around 150,000 toilets, and 11 hospitals. Floating bridges connecting the riverbanks were also visible.
