Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has addressed recent speculation about her health, reassuring the public that she is in good condition aboard the International Space Station (ISS). In a video interview, the Space Station commander said: "I'm the same weight that I was when I got up here," firmly countering the claims of deteriorating health conditions in recent images. She explained that her physical appearance has changed due to the rigorous exercise regimen astronauts follow to combat the effects of microgravity on muscle and bone density. Due to technical glitches with Starliner, the stay of Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore was prolonged. Now, they will return now in February 2025 alongside SpaceX's Crew-9 astronauts.
Stargazers in India are in for an exciting treat as the final supermoon of 2024 or "Beaver Moon". Supermoons occur when a full moon coincides with perigee or the point in the moon's elliptical orbit when it is situated closest to the Earth. The supermoon will be full at 2:58 AM IST on November 16. The best viewing opportunity from Indian will occur on the evening of November 16, shortly after sunset. As the moon rises around 20-30 minutes after sunset, it will appear large and luminous against the twilight sky, creating a mesmerizing visual spectacle.
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Scientists Norway’s University of Bergen have discovered a new species of marine invertebrate that breaks the traditional cycle of birth, ageing, and death. The adult Comb jellies named Mnemiopsis leidyi can regress and reach a larval stage if they are subjected to extreme stress. “The work challenges our understanding of early animal development and body plans, opening new avenues for the study of life cycle plasticity and rejuvenation. The fact that we have found a new species that uses this peculiar ‘time-travel machine’ raises fascinating questions about how spread this capacity is across the animal tree of life,” said researcher Soto-Angel. As per research, comb jellies could also be one of the first animals to have existed as their origin can be traced back to an estimated 700 million years ago.
MBARI researchers have discovered a remarkable new species of sea slug in the deep sea. Nicknamed the "mystery mollusc," the nudibranch Bathydevius caudactylus swims through the midnight zone and lights up with brilliant bioluminescence.
— MBARI (@MBARI_News) November 12, 2024
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(Credit - X/@MBARI_News)
A team of scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has discovered a glowing “mystery mollusk” at the ocean's midnight zone. The species, named Bathydevius caudactylus, is similar to the size of an apple. The midnight zone is regarded as the deep waters existing between 1,000-4,000 meters below the ocean's surface, which accounts for almost 70% of seawater. First detected in February 2000 during a deep-water dive expedition offshore of Monterey Bay, the species has fooled scientists for at least 20 years. Thus it was named “Bathydevius” for its “devious” nature for fooled the scientists at first.
