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Science Wrap: Chandrayaan 3's progress, alien facehugger discovery, and Bengaluru's Zero Shadow Day

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Debodinna Chakraborty
Debodinna ChakrabortyAug 19, 2023 | 08:00

Science Wrap: Chandrayaan 3's progress, alien facehugger discovery, and Bengaluru's Zero Shadow Day

Here's a look at the top science news of the week. (Photo: X)

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. 

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Here are some of the top science news of this week in further details:

Chandrayaan inches closer to the Moon

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.

"With this, the lunar-bound manoeuvres are completed. It's time for preparations as the Propulsion Module and the Lander Module gear up for their separate journeys."
- ISRO expressed contentment in a statement

Countdown to Vital Phase: Chandrayaan-3 mission update

  • In the impending days, a pivotal moment approaches for the Chandrayaan-3 mission. On August 17, a significant milestone is on the horizon as the Vikram lander is primed to disconnect from the Propulsion Module, signifying a momentous juncture in this mission's journey.
  • Following this detachment, the lander will execute a "deboost" maneuver, effectively reducing its speed. This intricate adjustment will align the lander with the lunar orbit, characterized by a nearest point (Perilune) at 30 km and a farthest point (Apolune) at 100 km from the lunar surface.
  • This precisely configured orbital arrangement lays the foundation for the highly anticipated endeavor: a gentle touchdown at the Moon's southern pole, currently scheduled for August 23, around 5:47 pm.
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Alien facehugger discovered in Antarctica

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.

This anomaly among invertebrates, formally designated as Promachocrinus fragarius, eludes simple classification. The Promachocrinus fragarius stands apart from your typical garden variety strawberry.

Zero Shadow Day returns to Bengaluru

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.

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This remarkable celestial happening, first witnessed on April 25, 2023, has reappeared on August 18 of the same year.

What is Zero Shadow Day?

  • Zero Shadow Day, also known as No Shadow Day, is an exceptional event that unfolds in specific global regions.
  • In this phenomenon, the Sun directly aligns overhead at a precise moment, leading to minimal to no casting of shadows by objects.
  • This effect is a consequence of Earth's axial tilt and its orbit around the Sun. Visualize an encircling line at Earth's midpoint, the Equator. North and south of the Equator are two lines termed the Tropics. 
  • Within this zone, instances arise when the Sun is precisely zenithal around noon. 
  • This occurrence causes objects like poles or sticks to exhibit very abbreviated or absent shadows, as sunlight descends unobstructed.

Why does this happen?

  • This remarkable phenomenon emanates from Earth's tilt, which angles the Sun's rays to hit specific regions of the Earth more directly during certain periods of the year. 
  • Bengaluru, positioned about 13 degrees north of the Equator, last observed this spectacle in April of this year. 
  • This event transpires biannually for locations situated between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

Scientists decode Pink floyd song with human brain waves

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.

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.

Last updated: August 19, 2023 | 08:00
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