Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
The largest sample of galaxy groups ever detected has been observed using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in an area of the sky called COSMOS Web. The study marks a major milestone in extragalactic astronomy, providing unprecedented insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies and the large-scale structure of the universe. Peering back in time to when the universe was younger than the Earth is now, the images span the period from around twelve billion years ago until one billion years ago. By uncovering a more complete history of these cosmic structures, we can better understand how these processes have influenced the formation and growth of both massive galaxies and the largest structures in the universe.
Jupiter is considered the largest planet in our Solar System, so big that it can fit 1,300 Earths inside. But that's now, there was a time when Jupiter was twice as big as it is today. The gravity of the planet is so strong that astronomers consider it as one of the most influential factors in the evolution and creation of our Solar System. The scientists call it the architect as it played a critical role in shaping the orbital paths of other planets and sculpting the disk of gas and dust from which they formed. The study suggests that Jupiter and other giant planets around other stars formed via core accretion, a process by which a rocky and icy core rapidly gathers gas.
#WATCH | Gusty winds and heavy rainfall hit Delhi, as it experiences a change in weather.
— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2025
Visuals from T3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport. pic.twitter.com/eOlVDelNZr
(Credit: X/@ANI)
Delhi experienced dramatic weather recently as a powerful cyclonic circulation triggered a hailstorm, dust storm, and rain across the city and its neighboring areas, including Noida, Gurgaon, and Ghaziabad. The sudden storm brought strong winds and a sharp drop in temperature. The system is receiving moisture from both the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. This weather change occurred after Delhi experienced intense heat earlier in the day, with the heat index - or the "feels like" temperature - reaching 50.2 degrees Celsius, due to combined high humidity and strong sunshine. IMD reported that a cyclonic circulation over Haryana and adjacent areas, within an east-west trough stretching from Punjab to Bangladesh in lower tropospheric levels, is affecting the weather patterns.
Pune, one of India’s fastest-growing urban centers, has witnessed a dramatic 34% decline in its carbon sequestration capacity over the past decade, according to a new study. The researchers highlighted the environmental cost of the city’s rapid expansion, with built-up areas increasing by 12% between 2013 and 2022. This surge in urban development has come at the expense of Pune’s green cover, significantly reducing the city’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas driving climate change. The study found a 13% drop in Pune’s flood mitigation potential, attributed to the disruption of natural drainage systems and unchecked construction along riversides and floodplains. These changes have heightened the city’s vulnerability to flooding, especially as erratic monsoon patterns become more frequent.
