Science Wrap: From white phosphorus bombs to NASA's Psyche mission and spider silk

This week's science headlines delve into the nature of a "phosphorus bomb," an accusation linked to Israel's actions in Gaza. Additionally, we'll cover NASA's highly anticipated Psyche mission and the breakthrough in spider silk production.

Here are a few of the top scientific developments of the week, in detail:

What exactly is a white phosphorus bomb?

Amid the recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza following a significant Hamas attack, social media videos have surfaced, alleging that the Israel Defense Force (IDF) employed banned white phosphorus bombs in a densely populated area.

• White phosphorus is a volatile, yellowish substance known for its distinctive garlic-like odor.
• It is highly flammable, with the ability to cause illumination and severe damage once ignited.
• These bombs are used globally for various military purposes, including target illumination and creating smokescreens.
• When deployed, they produce intense heat, light, and dense white smoke.

White phosphorus bombs are illegal

These incendiary weapons, condemned by the United Nations in a 1972 resolution and restricted by the 1980 Protocol III of the UN's Incendiary Weapons treaty, can cause uncontrollable ground fires and pose a severe threat to civilians.

 They have the potential to inflict long-lasting tissue and bone burns that may resist treatment.

Astronomers detect afterglow from exoplanet collision 

According to a report by Space.com, on October 11, a team of astronomers achieved a historic milestone by recording the results of a collision between two massive planets in a distant solar system.

• This event, reminiscent of clashes in our own solar system's history, provides valuable insights into the evolution of celestial neighborhoods like ours over vast periods.
• The aftermath of this collision became apparent in December 2021 when the parent star of the planetary system, 2MASS J08152329-3859234, experienced a sudden dimming.
• Further observations in visible light unveiled a lengthy eclipse lasting about 500 days.
• This eclipse occurred 2.5 years after a brightening event observed in the infrared spectrum, suggesting an orbital period of at least 2.5 years for the object responsible for the star's eclipse.

NASA’s mission Psyche 

• NASA's Psyche asteroid mission had a succesful lift-off on October 13, 2023 at 07:29 p.m. IST, after being postponed from its original launch date on October 12, 2023 due to inclement weather coming from the Gulf of Mexico.

• Originally scheduled for Thursday, this mission is set to explore the metal asteroid "Psyche" using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A. 
• The delay was prompted by a gloomy weather forecast for Thursday, with only a 20% chance of favourable conditions.

What is mission Psyche?

• Initially scheduled for Thursday, this mission is set to explore the metal asteroid "Psyche" using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A.
• The delay was prompted by a gloomy weather forecast for Thursday, with only a 20% chance of favorable conditions.

• NASA’s mission Psyche is set to journey to a distinctive, metal-rich asteroid bearing the same name, situated in orbit between Mars and Jupiter.

• This mission marks the maiden voyage to a celestial body akin to 16 Psyche, believed to be the exposed core of a long-lost planet.

• Should Psyche prove exploitable, the potential value of its iron, nickel, and gold deposits is estimated at an astonishing $10,000 quadrillion, as reported by Forbes magazine.

Genetically modified silkworms produce pure spider silk

Spider silk, known for its exceptional strength and durability, has posed a significant production challenge. Unlike silkworms, which readily produce silk, spiders are territorial and not cooperative. They tend to consume each other and quickly lose interest in silk production.

However, in a groundbreaking development, Chinese researchers have successfully extracted pure spider silk from genetically modified silkworms. This material boasts six times the toughness of Kevlar, the material used in bulletproof vests. The team's findings were published in the October 4th issue of Matter.