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Tech

Satellite Data Uncovers Years of Warning Signs Before Anak Krakatau’s Devastating 2018 Eruption and Tsunami

Satellite Data Uncovers Years of Warning Signs Before Anak Krakatau’s Devastating 2018 Eruption and Tsunami

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Tech
A groundbreaking analysis of satellite data has revealed that the catastrophic 2018 eruption and collapse of Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano which triggered a deadly tsunami was preceded by years of subtle but accelerating movements along its mountainside. Researchers at Penn State University found that the volcano's flank had been slipping for over a decade, showing signs that could have potentially served as an early warning if monitored in real time. The study, recently published in Geophysical Research Letters, highlights how advanced radar satellites can detect minute ground deformations, helping scientists track unstable ocean volcanoes and predict possible collapses before they occur. "Ocean volcanoes, when unstable, can collapse catastrophically and generate tsunamis," expl...
Drones Poised to Revolutionize Weather Forecasting, Study Finds

Drones Poised to Revolutionize Weather Forecasting, Study Finds

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Tech
As the climate crisis intensifies, accurate weather forecasting has never been more critical. From predicting devastating hurricanes to preparing for record-breaking heatwaves, numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems have become vital in safeguarding lives and livelihoods. However, these systems rely heavily on costly and complex data collection methods, including weather balloons and ground-based stations. A groundbreaking study from Japan has now demonstrated that drones equipped with meteorological sensors could provide a practical and affordable alternative, revolutionizing the way atmospheric data is gathered. Led by Professor Jun Inoue from the National Institute of Polar Research, the research team conducted a two-month field campaign in Tsukuba City to test the feasibility of...
Kerala Unveils KaWaCHaM Advanced Weather Alert System to Combat Climate Disasters

Kerala Unveils KaWaCHaM Advanced Weather Alert System to Combat Climate Disasters

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Tech
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has launched KaWaCHaM, a state-of-the-art weather alert system aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and response in the face of increasing climate emergencies. The system, introduced on January 21, 2025, is considered one of the fastest weather alert mechanisms globally, designed to enhance rescue and rehabilitation efforts during extreme weather events. The system, officially named Kerala Warnings Crisis and Hazards Management System, carries symbolic significance, as the word "KaWaCHaM" translates to "shield" in Malayalam, signifying protection. Developed by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), the project is part of the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project, funded by the National Disaster Management Authority and t...
Drones Combat Bushfires Australia’s High-Tech Plan to Tame Flames Before They Rage

Drones Combat Bushfires Australia’s High-Tech Plan to Tame Flames Before They Rage

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Tech
On a typical summer evening in Australia, a dry lightning storm rolls across parched bushland. With hot, windy conditions forecast for the next day, a single lightning strike could ignite a catastrophic blaze. But thanks to cutting-edge drone technology, such threats may soon be contained before they escalate. This innovative vision, outlined in the federal government's latest roadmap, leverages drones to detect and suppress bushfires early. Equipped with thermal detectors and cameras, drones can spot smouldering roots or smoke trails in remote areas, operating tirelessly through the night. Larger drones armed with fire retardants join the effort, slowing flames until human fire crews take over at dawn. The result? What could have become a devastating megablaze is contained to a few hec...
Shocking Discovery revel Supermassive Black Hole Targets Earth with Giant Energy Beam

Shocking Discovery revel Supermassive Black Hole Targets Earth with Giant Energy Beam

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space, Tech
Astronomers have discovered a supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy shooting a powerful energy beam directly toward Earth. Dubbed J0410−0139, this rare cosmic phenomenon belongs to a category of black holes known as blazars. With a mass approximately 700 million times that of the Sun, the black hole dates back to the early universe, about 800 million years ago. The discovery was made using data from leading observatories, including the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, the Magellan Telescopes, and the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile, along with NASA’s Chandra Observatory in orbit around Earth. “The alignment of J0410−0139’s jet with Earth gives us a rare opportunity to study the inner workings of a supermassive black hole,” said Emmanuel Momjian, co-...
Revolutionizing Rainfall Predictions: Japanese Researchers Develop Advanced Climate Modeling Technique

Revolutionizing Rainfall Predictions: Japanese Researchers Develop Advanced Climate Modeling Technique

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Tech
Tokyo, Japan – With climate change amplifying the frequency and intensity of water-related disasters like floods and droughts, accurate global precipitation estimates are more crucial than ever. However, the lack of sufficient rain gauge data in many regions poses significant challenges to these predictions. In a groundbreaking study published in Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, researchers from Chiba University, Japan, have developed a cutting-edge method using the Local Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter (LETKF) to bridge this data gap. Assistant Professor Yuka Muto and Professor Shunji Kotsuki have combined advanced algorithms with real-world data to refine global precipitation estimates, promising a transformative impact on disaster preparedness and water resource management. T...
IAEA Invites Member States to Participate in High-Stakes Nuclear Emergency Exercise in Romania

IAEA Invites Member States to Participate in High-Stakes Nuclear Emergency Exercise in Romania

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments, Tech
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called on Member States to take part in its most challenging emergency exercise, ConvEx-3, scheduled for May 14-15, 2025. Hosted by Romania, the exercise will simulate a severe nuclear emergency at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, testing and enhancing global preparedness and response mechanisms. “ConvEx-3 is not just an exercise it is a call to action,” said Lydie Evrard, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. “By participating, Member States and international organizations reaffirm their commitment to global nuclear safety and security, ensuring readiness to respond to emergencies anywhere, regardless of the cause.” What is ConvEx-3? ConvEx-3, the IAEA’s highest-level emergency e...
Scientists Warn Undersea Volcano Off U.S. Coast Likely to Erupt by 2025

Scientists Warn Undersea Volcano Off U.S. Coast Likely to Erupt by 2025

Breaking News, Disasters, Tech
A team of researchers has issued a striking forecast: Axial Seamount, an underwater volcano located 300 miles off the coast of Oregon, is primed for an eruption by the end of 2025. This prediction has made waves in the scientific community, as it brings humanity closer to understanding and forecasting submarine volcanic activity. Axial Seamount, situated along the Juan de Fuca Ridge in the northeast Pacific, is the region’s most active submarine volcano. Its frequent activity has made it a prime site for research, housing the world’s first underwater volcano observatory since 1997. Over the years, scientists have meticulously studied its behavior, uncovering patterns that hint at impending eruptions. Key to predicting Axial’s eruptions is the inflation of its surface, caused by magma...
Winter Storm Paralyzes Mid-Atlantic as NOAA Satellites Prove Vital

Winter Storm Paralyzes Mid-Atlantic as NOAA Satellites Prove Vital

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Space, Tech
On January 6, 2025, a ferocious winter storm swept through Washington, D.C., and the Mid-Atlantic region, bringing life to a halt with heavy snowfall, icy winds, and widespread disruptions. As the storm wreaked havoc across states, NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) played a critical role in forecasting and mitigating its impact, proving indispensable in the face of extreme weather. The storm began its journey across the Central Plains, leaving a trail of heavy snow and plunging temperatures in states like Missouri, Kansas, and Ohio. By the time it reached the Mid-Atlantic, it had gathered strength, blanketing Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia in thick layers of snow. In the nation’s capital, over five inches of snow accumulated by eve...
ISRO’s SpaDeX Mission: India’s First Step Towards Its Own Space Station

ISRO’s SpaDeX Mission: India’s First Step Towards Its Own Space Station

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space, Tech
New Delhi: India is poised to achieve a historic milestone in space exploration with the launch of ISRO’s Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission. Scheduled to lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 10:00 PM IST on December 30, SpaDeX marks the final and most ambitious mission of 2024 for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This pioneering mission is a critical step toward India establishing its own space station, the Bharatiya Antriksh Station, by 2035. If successful, India will join an elite group of nations  the United States, Russia, and China that possess the capability to dock spacecraft in space. What is the SpaDeX Mission? SpaDeX, or Space Docking Experiment, is designed to test and demonstrate the complex docking p...