Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), which flows across Antarctica from west to east plays a crucial role in regulating global climate and ocean circulation. As per recent study, the world's strongest ocean current is slowing down and scientists are blaming it on the unchecked melting Antarctic ice sheet. As Antarctic ice melts, vast amounts of freshwater flow into the Southern Ocean, altering its salinity and density. These changes affect the movement of ocean currents, including the ACC, which acts as a crucial driver of the global ocean conveyor belt that distributes heat, nutrients, and carbon dioxide across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
India is set to experience one of its warmest Marches on record, with above-average temperatures forecasted across most regions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that both maximum and minimum temperatures will remain above average throughout the month. The heatwave conditions are particularly concerning for India's wheat production. As the world's second-largest wheat producer, India is relying on a bumper harvest in 2025 to avoid costly imports after three consecutive years of poor yields. The country previously banned wheat exports in 2022 due to a sharp rise in temperatures that severely impacted the crop. Recently, Indian wheat prices have surged to record highs due to dwindling supplies.
Scientists have long tried to understand what lies beneath, and a new study reveals how two continent-sized regions in Earth’s deep mantle are different from each other when they had long been suspected to be similar. Deep inside the mantle, there are vast areas beneath the Pacific Ocean and the African continent where seismic waves travel much slower than average. These are called “Large-Low-Velocity-Provinces” (LLVPs), which are bigger than continents, up to 900 kilometres in height and thousands of kilometres wide. They influence volcanic activities, the magnetic field, the formation of new islands, and the origin of new rocks.
A recent study has found that giving up your smartphone for just three days can significantly impact your brain activity. The research, conducted by scientists from Heidelberg University and the University of Cologne in Germany, showed surprising before and after results of the phone "diet". The MRI scans and psychological tests of the participants indicated changes in brain activation related to addiction-related neurotransmitter systems. The study suggests that even short-term smartphone restriction can alter brain activity, shedding light on how digital devices influence our neural patterns.
