Friday, December 20News That Matters

Learning & Developments

Volcanic Activity Unveiled on Moon’s Far Side: Chang’e-6 Mission Breakthrough

Volcanic Activity Unveiled on Moon’s Far Side: Chang’e-6 Mission Breakthrough

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space
A groundbreaking collaborative study by U.S. and Chinese scientists has uncovered evidence of ancient volcanic activity on the Moon's far side, a region often shrouded in mystery. The analysis of basalt fragments collected during China's Chang'e-6 mission reveals volcanic eruptions dating back over 4.2 billion years, with some surprisingly recent activity around 2.83 billion years ago. The findings, published in prestigious journals Nature and Science, shed new light on the Moon's lesser-explored far side, offering insights into its unique geological history compared to the near side visible from Earth. Chang'e-6 made history as the first mission to retrieve samples from the Moon's far side, braving significant challenges during its nearly two-month operation. Using advanced radiomet...
Milky Way Strips Large Magellanic Cloud’s Gas Halo Like a ‘Giant Hairdryer’: Hubble

Milky Way Strips Large Magellanic Cloud’s Gas Halo Like a ‘Giant Hairdryer’: Hubble

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured a dramatic cosmic event as the Milky Way galaxy interacts with the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a dwarf galaxy passing through its outer regions. Dubbed a "giant hairdryer" by scientists, the Milky Way’s immense gravitational and environmental forces have stripped much of the LMC’s gaseous halo, leaving behind a compact remnant. Andrew Fox, the principal investigator from the European Space Agency, explained: "The Milky Way is pushing back so forcefully that the ram pressure has stripped off most of the original mass of the LMC's halo. There's only a little bit left, and it's this small, compact leftover that we're seeing now." Science Behind the Stripping The phenomenon, known as ram pressure, occurs as the dense environment of the M...
Scientists Suggest That Octopus Could Rule Earth if Humans Disappear

Scientists Suggest That Octopus Could Rule Earth if Humans Disappear

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments
As humanity grapples with existential threats like climate change and technological advancements, scientists have pondered a thought-provoking question: which species might dominate the Earth if humans were to vanish? One intriguing answer has emerged the octopus. Renowned for their intelligence and adaptability, octopuses possess a unique combination of traits that could position them as Earth’s future rulers in a post-human world. Their advanced nervous system, problem-solving abilities, and capacity for learning make them unlike most other animals. "Octopuses are among the most intelligent, adaptable, and resourceful creatures on Earth," said Professor Tim Coulson of the University of Oxford. "With their dexterity, curiosity, and ability to communicate, they are in pole position t...
Time Travel: New Research Suggests It’s Possible Without Paradoxes

Time Travel: New Research Suggests It’s Possible Without Paradoxes

Breaking News, Idea & Innovations, Learning & Developments, Space
The concept of time travel has long captivated the human imagination, inspiring countless films and theories. But a 2020 study led by Germain Tobar, a physics student at the University of Queensland, suggests that time travel could theoretically work without creating the infamous "grandfather paradox." This paradox challenges the logic of time travel: if someone went back in time and prevented their grandparents from meeting, their own existence and thus the possibility of time travel would be erased. However, Tobar's calculations indicate that the universe might naturally adapt to prevent such contradictions. For example, if a time traveler attempted to stop a disease from spreading, Tobar's research suggests the disease would still emerge through a different route, ensuring history...
Strengthening Social Protection: An Urgent Economic and Climate Necessity

Strengthening Social Protection: An Urgent Economic and Climate Necessity

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments
As climate change intensifies and economic uncertainties mount, robust social protection systems have become essential for resilience and inclusive development. A new report by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) underscores the critical need to address financing gaps to strengthen these systems and safeguard vulnerable populations. Far from being a mere expense, social protection is an investment in people that yields significant socioeconomic returns. Research highlights its role as an economic stabilizer, particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when cash assistance programs and unemployment benefits supported incomes and stabilized aggregate demand. Such measures demonstrate how social protection systems enhance resilience and foster social c...
ESCAP Says Robust Social Protection Systems Vital Amid Climate Challenges

ESCAP Says Robust Social Protection Systems Vital Amid Climate Challenges

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments
New Delhi: As climate change and economic uncertainties intensify, robust social protection systems are becoming a necessity, not a choice, warns the Social Outlook 2024 report by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The report highlights a dire need to close financing gaps to safeguard vulnerable populations and build resilience. The Asia-Pacific region currently spends only 8.2% of its GDP on social protection, significantly below the global average of 12.9%. ESCAP cautions that without increased investment, rising poverty driven by climate change, digital disparities, and aging populations could become unavoidable. Social protection is more than a safety net; it’s an investment that stabilizes economies during crises. This was evident during the COV...
Breakthrough Stem Cell Transplant Restores Vision in Patients with Severe Corneal Damage

Breakthrough Stem Cell Transplant Restores Vision in Patients with Severe Corneal Damage

Breaking News, Learning & Developments
Osaka, Japan – A revolutionary stem cell transplant has significantly improved vision for three patients suffering from severe corneal damage due to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). This first-of-its-kind clinical trial, conducted in Japan, marks a major advancement in stem cell research and offers new hope for millions affected by corneal vision loss. Two years post-operation, no major safety concerns have arisen, and all three patients’ corneas appear noticeably clearer. LSCD, the disorder affecting these patients, leads to scar tissue buildup on the cornea, impairing vision. While current treatments for LSCD in a single eye involve transplanting healthy corneal tissue from the other eye, patients with damage in both eyes require scarce donor transplants. Globally, only one in s...
Kenyan Lesser Mealworm Larvae Show Promise in Plastic Degradation, Offering New Hope for Pollution Control

Kenyan Lesser Mealworm Larvae Show Promise in Plastic Degradation, Offering New Hope for Pollution Control

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments
In an innovative approach to tackling plastic pollution, a team of scientists from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology has discovered that Kenyan lesser mealworm larvae can consume polystyrene a common yet hard-to-recycle plastic. This is the first time an insect species native to Africa has been found to break down polystyrene, adding it to a small but promising group of plastic-degrading insects. How Do They Do It? Polystyrene, often known as Styrofoam, is widely used in packaging and is notoriously difficult to recycle due to its durable nature. While traditional recycling methods are costly and polluting, the Kenyan lesser mealworm has a unique ability to chew through polystyrene with the help of gut bacteria that aid in breaking down the plastic. These larv...
Navigating the Challenges of Climate Disclosure: How Companies Can Prepare for the Future of Sustainability Reporting

Navigating the Challenges of Climate Disclosure: How Companies Can Prepare for the Future of Sustainability Reporting

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments
As global climate commitments continue to grow, the importance of accurate and comprehensive climate disclosure has become increasingly critical for companies worldwide. Despite the significant strides made in climate actions and pledges to scale up climate finance, the necessary investments and measures to manage the physical risks associated with climate-related events have yet to materialize. Companies, both large and small, have a pivotal role to play in this global effort, particularly in enhancing transparency and accountability through high-quality sustainability reporting. Imperative for Climate Disclosure To effectively scale up private climate finance, investors must have access to reliable information that identifies corporations serious about climate action. High-quality ...
Antarctic Polar Vortex Faces Unprecedented Instability, Raising Global Weather Concerns

Antarctic Polar Vortex Faces Unprecedented Instability, Raising Global Weather Concerns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments
The Antarctic polar vortex, a typically stable mass of cold air swirling above Antarctica, is showing alarming signs of instability, with the potential to split for the first time in over two decades. This unprecedented situation could lead to significant warming in Antarctica and trigger extreme weather patterns, including unusually hot and dry summers in Australia and South America, according to recent reports from the New Scientist. This year, the polar vortex has weakened dramatically, with wind speeds plummeting to unprecedented levels. This weakening has allowed cold air to escape from Antarctica while warmer air has moved in, causing the vortex to shift from its usual position. As a result, regions in Australia, New Zealand, and South America have experienced unusually cold weath...