This week in science, India saw Chandrayaan-3 reach the final step to Moon with its final lunar-bound orbit adjustment. In other scarier section of science, an eerie alien facehugger-like creature was found in Antarctica.
The climate phenomenon of Zero Shadow Day also made its return to Bengaluru on Friday. Scientists have even come up with a way to decode songs with the help of brian waves.
Here are some of the top science news of this week in further details:
In its most recent step, Chandrayaan-3 has performed its fifth and final lunar-bound orbit adjustment, effectively drawing it nearer to its destination on the Moon. This successful action, carried out on Wednesday (August 16), positioned Chandrayaan-3 into an orbit of 153 km x 163 km, signifying the fulfillment of all necessary lunar-bound maneuvers.
Now, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is readying for the disconnection of the Lander Module, encompassing the Vikram lander and Pragyaan rover, from the Propulsion Module.
Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) August 14, 2023
Orbit circularisation phase commences
Precise maneuvre performed today has achieved a near-circular orbit of 150 km x 177 km
The next operation is planned for August 16, 2023, around 0830 Hrs. IST pic.twitter.com/LlU6oCcOOb
In the frigid, enigmatic waters encircling Antarctica, a realm shunned even by penguins, marine researchers have chanced upon a creature drawing its inspiration from the darkest corners of science fiction enthusiasts' minds.
Dubbed the "Antarctic strawberry feather star," this name may evoke thoughts of a dessert in a parallel world, yet its nature is anything but sweet. This invertebrate possesses an eerie semblance to the menacing Facehuggers that have haunted the screens in the Alien series.
Promachocrinus fragarius is a newly discovered species of crinoid with 20 arms. The team which discovered the species said it was dubbed the 'Antarctic strawberry feather star' due to "the resemblance of its body to a strawberry".
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) August 13, 2023
[read more: https://t.co/nLvooxoOdv] pic.twitter.com/Lb8wIAT23E
This anomaly among invertebrates, formally designated as Promachocrinus fragarius, eludes simple classification. The Promachocrinus fragarius stands apart from your typical garden variety strawberry.
The surreal occurrence where Bengaluru inhabitants strolled in sunlight sans their accompanying shadows, famously named Zero Shadow Day, is making its comeback. The city, often referred to as India's Silicon Valley due to its bustling IT sector, readies to rejoice in this unique phenomenon today.
This remarkable celestial happening, first witnessed on April 25, 2023, has reappeared on August 18 of the same year.
For those of you who missed it the last time August 18th is going to be a #ZeroShadowDay #Bengaluru
— Yash is hiring! 🇮🇳 (@yashodhannn) August 13, 2023
On August 18th, the Sun will remain directly overhead at a particular time resulting in objects casting no shadow for a brief period. https://t.co/blhN9K15SP
Zero Shadow Day, a celestial event where vertical objects don't cast shadows, occurred in Bengaluru, #India on April 25, 2023. It occurs between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. The next Zero Shadow Day is August 18. #ZeroShadowDay pic.twitter.com/f7C8O00MUg
— COSMIC DREAMER 🌌 (@MrCosmicDreamer) August 14, 2023
By studying brain activity while individuals were exposed to Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall," scientists replicated recognizable segments of the renowned 1979 protest track. Some clips reveal a voice reminiscent of Roger Waters, softly rendering the familiar chorus; however, in other segments, the anthem's resonance becomes notably less distinct. Nevertheless, the researchers contend that this endeavor contributes "another brick in the wall" of our comprehension regarding how the brain interprets music. Moreover, its potential extends to forthcoming applications within brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) aimed at facilitating interpersonal communication.
AI just reconstructed a Pink Floyd song from brain activity.
— Rowan Cheung (@rowancheung) August 16, 2023
And it sounds shockingly clear.
Think about the potential of this tech for people struggling with communication.
We're living in the future. pic.twitter.com/EakIp5D1Jk
In a fresh investigation reported on Tuesday (August 15) in the PLOS Biology journal, researchers aimed to gain deeper insights into the human musical processing mechanism, driven by the ambition to forge advancements in BCIs. These devices hold immense value for individuals capable of conceptualising thoughts but deprived of vocal expression due to conditions such as locked-in syndrome, effectively aiding their communicative capacities.
While BCIs currently possess frameworks translating neural activity into verbal language, the absence of frameworks capturing musical components like pitch, melody, harmony, and rhythm remains a shortcoming. This deficiency could be mitigated through models enhancing users' ability to convey the emotional essence underlying their expressions. Robert Knight, a senior author and professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley, explained that this might metamorphose a mechanized-sounding "I love you" into a more authentically human declaration, resonating with heartfelt emotions.
The research team meticulously examined brain patterns of 29 participants, all of whom were exposed to "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 1" by Pink Floyd. These individuals were afflicted by epilepsy and had undergone intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG), a procedure entailing the placement of 2,668 electrodes on the convoluted surface of their cerebral cortex.