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, blac
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 mov
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 �
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 s
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 art
"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 perf
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 ext
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 ar
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–
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