Category: Life & Style

In an interesting YouTube video, the British Museum revealed an astonishing artefact known as the world’s oldest map. Irving Finkel, a philologist, assyriologist, and curator in the museum’s Middle East section, unveiled this 2,900-year-old treasure. The map, made of clay in ancient Mesopotamia, offers a unique glimpse into how early civilisations portrayed their world.

Although the map was partial, as is the case with many cuneiform tablets, Finkel and his student Edith Horsley were able to locate and reintegrate a critical missing section. This discovery not only completed the map, but also allowed them to explore the mythological geography of Mesopotamia, identifying the last resting location of Noah’s Ark, or Ziusudra’s Ark, according to the Mesopotamian flood narrative.

In the video, Finkel explains why the map was made of clay and digs into its fine features, providing viewers with a thorough investigation of this historical artefact. The video has received more than 140,000 views, with opinions ranging from astonishment to humour. Viewers applauded Finkel’s captivating narration and high-quality production, with one saying, “This is one of the best videos I’ve ever seen on YouTube.”

Indian astronomers discovered 34 new giant radio sources (GRSs) utilising the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research’s Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT). This major discovery, from the TIFR GMRT Sky Survey Alternative Data Release 1 (TGSS ADR1) at 150 MHz, includes some of the most distant GRSs known and calls into question current beliefs regarding the conditions in which GRSs develop.

The GMRT, located in Khodad village, approximately 90 km north of Pune, is a cutting-edge facility managed by TIFR’s National Centre for Radio Astrophysics. From 2010 to 2012, the GMRT conducted a 150 MHz sky survey, spanning 90% of the sky, resulting in discoveries such as these 34 new GRSs.

GRSs are among the universe’s largest structures, spanning millions of light years and fuelled by supermassive black holes at their cores. They emit jets of hot plasma, forming huge radio lobes. Detecting GRSs is difficult due to their large size and weak emissions, however low-frequency surveys such as TGSS help overcome these challenges.

Two GRSs, J0843+0513 and J1138+4540, call into question the idea that GRSs exclusively occur in low-density environments, implying that other factors influence their formation. The study team, including PhD students Netai Bhukta and Souvik Manik, aims to conduct additional investigations to better understand these cosmic giants’ formation and evolution.

A new Morning Consult survey found that as of July 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the highest approval rating of any world leader at 69%. Despite a little drop from earlier highs, Modi’s effective leadership in the face of global difficulties is reflected in his consistently high ratings.

From July 8th to the 14th, 2024, researchers surveyed people all over the world to see how political environments were transforming. Following Modi in approval ratings are President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico (63%), and President Javier Milei of Argentina (60%).

Some well-known leaders, on the other hand, have witnessed a fall in their popularity ratings. Joe Biden of the United States is at 39%, Justin Trudeau of Canada is at 29%, and Emmanuel Macron of France is at a lowly 20%.

In addition, the poll shows that the newly appointed prime minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, has surpassed Rishi Sunak to become one of the top ten. The names of other prominent heads of state include the Swiss Viola Amherd, the Irish Simon Harris, and the Polish Donald Tusk.

This survey of worldwide approval ratings shows how people are becoming more politically involved and how they feel about their leaders.

The number of foreign tourists visiting Spain surged by 13% in the first half of 2024, setting the stage for a record-breaking year in tourism, despite growing concerns over the industry’s impact on local communities. The Spanish statistics office INE reports that 42.5 million foreign visitors arrived at the end of June, with a 12% increase to 9 million visitors in June alone, signalling the beginning of the busy summer season.

Following France in terms of international tourism, Spain is poised to break last year’s record of 85 million visitors, which was higher than pre-pandemic levels. On the other hand, locals in tourist hotspots like the Canary Islands, Mallorca, and Barcelona are on edge due to increasing housing costs brought on by the flood of visitors. 

Early in July, protesters in Barcelona gained worldwide attention when they sprayed visitors with water pistols while shouting, “Tourists go home.”

June tourism expenditure in Spain reached 12.3 billion euros, up 17% year-on-year. This boosted economic development but also created difficulties for the government in balancing local needs with tourism. With a 30% increase in travellers opting for leased flats rather than hotels—which witnessed an 11% increase—the boom in holiday rentals on platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb has contributed to the surge in tourism.

Tanzania dedicated a new airport in Ruaha National Park on Monday, with funding from the Six Rivers Africa Foundation (SRA). Mbarali DC Denis Mwila officially opened the 1.2-kilometre gravel runway, which includes a terminal that can handle more than 30 passengers.

The airstrip is expected to improve security in the park’s northern region by allowing increased air patrols to combat poaching and prevent cattle invasions. It is also expected to attract airlines, allowing for direct access to Ruaha and enabling timely emergency responses.

The airstrip’s completion aligns with the government’s attempts to strengthen tourism infrastructure through the Resilient Natural Resource Management for Tourism and Growth (REGROW) strategy.

Ruaha National Park’s Senior Assistant Commissioner, Godwell Meing’ataki, stated that the airstrip would boost tourism and provide economic prospects for local communities. He pushed pastoralists to work with park security and exploit new economic opportunities.

SRA-Tanzania Chairperson Glenn Turner thanked the government for its ongoing project support, stating that local populations would benefit from increased conservation efforts and tourism education tied to the new infrastructure.

The newly crowned Miss Global India 2024, Sweezal Furtado will represent India in the international Miss Global competition next year. She made India proud in June 2023 when she won the title of Miss Teen Universal 2023 in the Miss Teen International Pageant in Peru. She also earned the titles of Miss Teen Universal Asia and Best National Costume, demonstrating her international appeal and adaptability.

Sweezal, also known as ‘South India’s Supermodel,’ has talents that go beyond her stunning appearance. She was a skilled dancer who got the notice of legendary vocalist Guru Randhawa with her performance of ‘Nach Meri Rani.’ Her poetry recitation abilities also helped her move to the national stage in the Kavita Trust Poem Recitation Competition in 2019.

Sweezal, a third-year BBA student in entrepreneurship at St Joseph’s College of Commerce in Bengaluru, combines her schoolwork with her modelling career. Her diligence has greatly contributed to her pageant success.

Sweezal’s accomplishments reflect her hard work and the persistent support of her family, particularly her mother, Savitha Furtado. Her outstanding track record and numerous talents position her to make a huge influence on the global stage, carrying the dreams and good wishes of millions of Indians.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh revealed in the Lok Sabha that one of the four astronauts training for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) in collaboration with NASA.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has entered into a Space Flight Agreement with Axiom Space, a private organisation that NASA identified for the joint mission.

President Joe Biden announced the collaboration during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States last year. The selected astronaut will join the ISS mission in 2024. The four Indian Air Force test pilots selected for Gaganyaan have finished spaceflight training in Russia and are now training at ISRO’s Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru.

The Gaganyaan mission, India’s first human space journey, is planned for next year.

Singh also mentioned key developments, including the completion of ground testing for propulsion systems and the crew escape mechanism. Critical facilities like the Orbital Module Preparation Facility and Astronaut Training Facility are operating, while the Mission Control Center and Ground Station networks are nearly finished.

Flight integration activities for the crew and service modules are underway, with the solid and liquid propulsion stages of the human-rated launch vehicle prepared for integration.

Indonesia has launched a “Golden Visa” programme to attract foreign investors with long-term visas lasting up to ten years. Individual investors can receive a five-year visa by founding a $2.5 million firm, or a ten-year visa by investing $5 million. Additionally, they can also invest $350,000 for a five-year permit or $700,000 for a ten-year permit in government bonds, publicly traded equities, or savings.

Corporate investors must contribute $25 million to obtain five-year visas for directors and commissioners or $50 million for ten-year visas. Investment restrictions are reduced if the funds are directed towards Indonesia’s new capital in Borneo: $5 million for a five-year visa and $10 million for a ten-year visa.

President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, indicated that the visa intends to encourage “good quality travellers.” Silmy Karim, the chief of Indonesia’s immigration service, stated that roughly 300 golden visas had been given during last year’s trial period, totalling $123 million.

Meanwhile, Indonesia is also considering providing special status to foreign nationals of Indonesian heritage, comparable to India’s Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) programme. This effort responds to calls for dual citizenship, increasing global mobility and linkages for Indonesians living abroad.

According to a National Gas trial, the UK’s natural gas network is ready to support hydrogen as a fuel for families and enterprises. Natural gas is currently the UK’s greatest energy source, accounting for one-third of electricity generation and a significant portion of home heating.

National Gas has established a “Hydrogen Focus Area” to investigate the integration of hydrogen into the UK’s energy mix, which will help the country achieve its objective of reaching net zero emissions and a cleaner power grid.

A prior Conservative government proposal advocated incorporating up to 20% hydrogen by volume into Britain’s gas networks. National Gas’ trial indicated “no issues” when blending hydrogen at concentrations ranging from 2% to 100%, implying that there are no significant barriers to repurposing the natural gas network for hydrogen.

The trial has now moved on to the second phase, which will look into hydrogen compression and the repurposing of gas turbines at compressor stations.

National Gas CEO Jon Butterwork remarked that the analysis indicates promise for hydrogen blending, which will help the UK government achieve its objective of becoming a sustainable energy superpower while utilising existing infrastructure. Despite the encouraging preliminary results, obstacles remain, particularly the high costs of green hydrogen production, which impedes wider adoption and deployment of hydrogen projects.

Researchers discovered a surprising source of oxygen production 13,000 feet below the Pacific Ocean’s surface. Andrew Sweetman and his colleagues discovered oxygen on the ocean floor, challenging the belief that oxygen is primarily produced by photosynthetic organisms such as plants and algae.

Initially sceptical of their findings, the researchers spent ten years tuning its sensors, expecting a malfunction. However, constant oxygen readings prompted them to examine deeper.

Sweetman’s team, which was doing research in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone between Hawaii and Mexico, utilised optical sensors to test the hypothesis that natural mineral deposits that generate electricity could be responsible for oxygen production. Their findings revealed that polymetallic nodules comprising cobalt, nickel, copper, lithium, and manganese release electrical currents, acting as “geobatteries” that could explain the oxygen presence.

These nodules generate energy, which most likely leads to seawater electrolysis, a process in which an electric current splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. This discovery raises concerns that deep-sea mining may disrupt these natural oxygen sources, reducing ocean biodiversity. The International Seabed Authority has declared portions of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone as mining-free zones. While the researchers are enthusiastic by their discovery, they emphasise the importance of more research and careful consideration of the impact of deep-sea mining.