Category: Life & Style

Sagittarius A*, a supermassive black hole four million times the mass of our sun, is a quiescent gigantic black hole at the centre of the Milky Way. On the other hand, scientists have recorded the first-ever astronomical observation of a supermassive black hole awakening and consuming neighbouring material in real-time—a stunning brightening of the core of another galaxy.

Scientists monitored events at the core of the Virgo galaxy, SDSS1335+0728, 360 million light-years away, using Earth-based and orbiting telescopes. From single-star masses to millions and billions of solar masses, black holes have masses so great that not even light can escape. With a mass of almost one million times that of the sun, SDSS1335+0728 contains a supermassive black hole.

An accretion disk, a spinning disk of diffuse material, has developed around this black hole. It emits radiation at tremendous temperatures, frequently outshining the entire galaxy. These areas, known as active galactic nuclei, are among the universe’s brightest objects, releasing energy in the radio and gamma ranges.

The principal author of the study published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, astronomer Paula Sanchez Saez of the European Southern Observatory, stresses the importance of researching these nuclei to comprehend black hole physics and galaxy evolution.

On June 20, at 4:51 p.m., the summer solstice arrived at its earliest time since 1796. Boston had 97 degrees, narrowly missing the 1953 high of 98 degrees, which was recorded on June 20th, and this year’s solstice ended a brief heatwave in New England.

According to astronomy, summer officially starts on June 1st, and the summer solstice marks the longest day and shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Latin words “sol,” meaning “sun,” and “sistere,” meaning “to stand still,” give rise to the English word “solstice,” which describes the period when the sun seems to pause as it moves slowly from its farthest point north to its slowest position south. Boston experienced its longest day of the year with 15 hours, 17 minutes, and 12 seconds of daylight.

Due to minor calendar alterations brought about by 2024’s status as a leap year, this early solstice has been observed. Since 365.24 days make up a year, leap years ensure that our calendar remains in harmony with the Earth’s orbit.

Despite the bright sunshine, mid-July is usually when it gets the warmest because of “seasonal lag,” the phenomenon wherein ocean temperatures rise more slowly than land temperatures. On September 22, we will see the autumnal equinox, which signifies the end of astronomical summer.

The two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir by Prime Minister Narendra Modi began on June 20, with his arrival in Srinagar. While he is there, he will take part in events celebrating International Yoga Day and inaugurate projects worth ₹ 1,500 crore.

The Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), situated on the banks of Dal Lake, was graced with traditional Kashmiri melodies and floral arrangements as Modi and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha were welcomed.

On X, the prime minister conveyed his excitement by saying, “Foundation stones will be laid or key projects worth over ₹ 1,500 crores, covering infrastructure, water supply, education, and more, will be inaugurated.”

The 10th International Day of Yoga will be held at SKICC on June 21st, and PM Modi will address the crowd and do some yoga himself at about 6:30 in the morning. Since assuming office for a third term, this is his first trip to the Union Territory.

Furthermore, he is set to initiate the ₹ 1,800 crore Competitiveness Improvement in Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP). The PM’s visit highlights the government’s dedication to the development of the region and the empowerment of young people.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced the Indian astronauts will be trained for the International Space Station (ISS) mission as part of efforts to improve US-India space cooperation. ISRO astronauts will start their advanced training in the US after talks between National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan.

Nelson brought attention to the initiative on X and said that the collaboration would facilitate future human spaceflight and be beneficial to humanity. Although the details of the mission are still being worked out, he stressed that this relationship is a big deal for space research between the two countries.

While in New Delhi, Sullivan and Doval finalised the Human Spaceflight Cooperation Strategic Framework and spoke about finding a carrier for the NASA-ISRO ISS mission.

To further address global concerns like climate change, the two nations intend to deploy the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite, which will survey the Earth’s surface. Advancements in cooperation in vital minerals, defence space, AI, semiconductors, and telecommunications were part of the larger strategic conversation.

US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi established the iCET project in May 2022. In the wake of PM Modi’s re-election, Sullivan held his first high-level meeting with Indian officials and business leaders in Delhi.

Zara Shatavari of India is one of the top ten finalists in “Miss AI,” Fanvue’s first beauty pageant specifically for AI-generated models. In addition to her work as a digital developer and self-described “PCOS and depression warrior,” Shatavari enjoys cooking, travelling, and shopping. Through her blog and social media, she hopes to inspire people by discussing health, professional growth, and the latest fashion trends.

Rahul Choudhry, a specialist in digital media, established Shatavari, which has been constantly active online, absorbing analytics and strategies for social media driven by artificial intelligence from a variety of sources. She started working as a spokesperson for PMH Biocare in June 2023 and then moved on to become the Influencer Marketing Talent Manager at Digimozo eServices LLP in August of the same year.

She is an expert in influencer marketing, content creation, and strategic planning, with over 7,500 Instagram followers. She is based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

On LinkedIn, Choudhry shared his enthusiasm, praising Shatavari for becoming the sole Indian finalist out of 1500 worldwide contestants. A $5,000 cash prize, mentorship programmes, and PR services are up for grabs for the winner of Miss AI, which is judged by two human experts and two AI-generated judges.

“The Outsiders” was Angelina Jolie’s first Tony, and she won for Best Musical for her work on the production. Best director (Danya Taymor), lighting design, and sound design were other accolades bestowed upon the production based on the 1967 novel by S.E. Hinton. Vivienne, Jolie’s daughter and a producer assistant on the popular show, was in attendance.

During the event, “it is a common sensation to be an outsider, even though society changes.” The winners of Best Play and Best Musical Revival, respectively, “Stereophonic” and “Merrily We Roll Along,” performed during the event. The performance by Pete Townshend and the rest of the “Tommy” cast was fantastic, and Eddie Redmayne’s “Cabaret” song caused quite a stir online due to its extreme intensity.

Guests at the live-streamed event from Lincoln Centre included Idina Menzel and Cynthia Erivo, who praised “Wicked” and its message of “green girl power.” Jonathan Groff (“Merrily We Roll Along”), Kara Young (“Purlie Victorious”), and Maleah Joi Moon (“Hell’s Kitchen”) all gave moving monologues in which they paid deep gratitude to their parents. During her hilarious and motivational acceptance speech, “Hell’s Kitchen” star Kecia Lewis asked the audience to refrain from texting her while she was onstage.

The biggest second-generation ethanol plant in the world was launched in São Paulo by Brazilian President Luis Ignacio da Silva in late May. Using a novel approach that decreases emissions by 30%, the new Bonfim Bioenergy Park in Guariba will generate 82 million litres of ethanol per annum.

Bagasse, a byproduct of sugar cane processing, is the raw material for second-generation ethanol, often called bioethanol. According to Raízen, the company responsible for the Bonfim factory, this innovative procedure produces 30% fewer emissions than conventional methods. The remaining sucrose is extracted from crushed sugarcane using modern technology, and the cellulose fibres are separated for simpler fermentation using a hydrolysis process that employs enzymes.

To produce 1.6 billion litres of biofuel per year, Raízen is building nine more second-generation units. Brazil is the world’s leading producer of ethanol, which finds widespread use as an additive and engine fuel. The fact that hydrous ethanol can fuel 90% of Brazil’s new gasoline-powered cars is noteworthy.

The Argonne National Laboratory found that using bioethanol as a fuel can cut emissions by 50–60%, and that’s just during the manufacturing process. “Our engineers and researchers have achieved something unparalleled globally, transforming bagasse into high-quality ethanol,” President da Silva remarked during the opening.

Former nuclear weapons facilities in the US are being transformed into solar farms as part of the Department of Energy’s Cleanup to Clean Energy effort. These locations, which were formerly reserved for nuclear activities, will power about 70,000 households.

A 2,800-acre solar farm with a 400-megawatt capacity will be located at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Spitfire will oversee 100 MW of solar power and an extra 500 MW of battery storage. North Renew Energy of Massachusetts has been granted a contract for 300 MW of solar power.

Some other possible locations for the programme are the following: the New Mexico Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, the Nevada National Security Site, the Savannah River Site, and the Hanford site in Washington. Historical records show that these sites were never truly home to nuclear weapons. Rather, these sites were utilised for training, testing, and the production of plutonium and other nuclear weapons materials, or disposal.

The US Energy Secretary, Jennifer Granholm, states, “Working closely with community leaders and private sector partners, we’re cleaning up land once used in our nuclear deterrence programmes and deploying the clean energy solutions we need to help save the planet and strengthen our energy independence.”

A 500-year-old bronze idol of Saint Tirumankai Alvar that was stolen from a Tamil Nadu temple is scheduled to be returned to India by Oxford University. The University of Oxford Council agreed to the Indian High Commission’s request to have a 16th-century bronze statue of Saint Tirumankai Alvar returned from the Ashmolean Museum on March 11, 2024.

The Ashmolean Museum declared that this decision is currently awaiting Charity Commission approval.

The Ashmolean Museum first acquired this 60 cm-tall figure in 1967 from Dr J R Belmont’s collection through Sotheby’s auction business (1886–1981). The Indian High Commission formally requested the return of the statue after an independent researcher discovered its origin in November of last year.

The museum says that when it bought the monument in 1967, it did so in “good faith.” The Ashmolean Museum, which is renowned for both its vast art collection and its archaeological artefacts, acted quickly after it was discovered that the statue had been taken.

The return of stolen Indian antiquities from the UK is part of a larger trend that includes this particular incident. The Art and Antiques Unit of Scotland Yard, along with other US and UK authorities, conducted a collaborative investigation before transferring these treasures to the Indian High Commissioner in the UK.

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams rocketed into space, making history as the first woman to test a spacecraft on its maiden mission. Williams spent the last ten years contributing to the spacecraft’s design. She launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard Boeing’s Starliner spaceship at 8:22 p.m. on an Atlas 5 rocket. It’s her third trip into space.

Starliner was successfully launched into the proper orbit on its third attempt. One day later, it will dock with the International Space Station (ISS). SpaceX Crew Dragon, ISS, and Boeing Starliner are the three US crewed spacecraft currently in orbit at the same time.

According to NASA, if everything goes according to plan, Starliner will dock at the Harmony module of the ISS, and Williams and her fellow passenger Butch Wilmore will stay for around a week to test the spacecraft and its subsystems. Completing this trip is essential to certifying the Starliner for routine NASA Commercial Crew Programme missions.

The nearly ten-day expedition aims to demonstrate Starliner’s suitability for long-duration space travel.

NASA gave Boeing a $4.2 billion contract in 2014 to create it, but compared to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which cost $2.6 billion and is currently in operation, Boeing’s project was beset with delays.