On June 5 near Pusch Ridge in the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, a lightning-sparked the bighorn fore that has resulted in evacuations and hundreds of wildfire fighters are fighting with. The fire erupts in Tucson close to overtaking the No. 7 spot Thursday for the largest wildfire in Arizona history and has claimed 118,710 acres in the Catalina Mountains and is 58% contained.
Mount Lemmon brightened after fire sparked, evacuations are under way
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA has released some satellite images of Bighorn fire that show the Devastation from the #BighornFire burning north of Tucson, Arizona as seen from space by the ASTER instrument on the Terra @NASAEarth satellite. The blaze spans more than 114,000 acres and is at 45% containment: http://go.nasa.gov/3dL9DN2
Satellite image of the area covered bighorn fire
The fire burning on the Northside of Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson this afternoon at about 4:30 pm. Mt Lemmon Fire station in the foreground is about 1/2 mile from the middle of the village of Summerhaven, which burned earlier in 2003.
A shot from my backyard near Grant and Swan. It’s got a lot of people’s attention in Tucson tonight.
The residents of Arizona are praying for the intermittent Rains
A new discovery of collision between a black hole and a mystery object has recently been made. The object in question is speculated to be a neutron star but its size is not big enough to be considered a black hole.
This discovery was made last year on August 14 by the gravitational wave detectors LIGO and Virgo. It was first thought to be a collision between a black hole and a neutron star but new research and study on the gravitational waves suggest that the case might be different. A report published on June 23 shows that the black hole was 23 times as massive as the sun and it hit a dense body of about 2.6 solar masses. This means that it is heavier than a neutron star but also smaller than the lightweight black hole. What it really is, is still in speculation.
Usually, when stellar explosions occur, neutron stars form as the residues. But there is a limit to their size. The cap is placed at 2.5 solar masses because stars bigger than this limit can breakdown under their own weight. And theoretically, black holes of sizes less than five solar masses are possible, but no such observation has been made yet.
There are not enough clues and traces for astronomers in this collision to identify the object and its more intimate features. The observation made by U.S.-based Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO, and its sister experiment in Italy, Advanced Virgo prompted other telescopes to hunt for more data, but they were not successful.
The lack of data may push towards the idea of considering this object to be a black hole because such collisions do not give off any light. At the same time, the neutron star hypothesis can also be an agreeable notion. The black hole may have devoured it in a way to be lost without a speck. According to Cole Miller, an astrophysicist at the University of Maryland in College Park, if the last sketch is true, “this means that [the pair of objects] had its moment of gravitational wave glory,” and bigger black hole forged in the collision is “doomed to wander the vast emptiness of space, probably never emitting another peep.”
In these troublesome days, one thing that we all have to understand and make a strong effort toward solving is knowledge accessibility. There’s no second opinion on the inefficacy of our education system, which has led to an immense social and economic disparity. It requires intervention on the scale of infrastructure, governance, and execution, but most importantly, it requires empathy.
The situation is quite unsure that even the World Health Organization has taken several U-Turns over its previous statements, and governments around the globe are struggling hard to save their people from the deadly Coronavirus. The Federal Government of Pakistan is having a hard time due to the severe lack of a plan and strategy for the pandemic. Baluchistan is one of these areas of the country, which is highly neglected in these days of trouble. But NGOs with their limited resources and collaboration of the Government of Baluchistan are working diligently for educating local people, especially of remote areas.
Balochistan Rural Support Program (BRSP) a non-profit organization working in Balochistan, is one of the largest organizations in the province. The organization was first evolved from the “Pak-German self-help project” in 1983, as a collaboration between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of Pakistan. Its main objective is to harness the potential of the rural low-income people by social mobilization strategy, helping them in their respective communities and to raise them up to their feet by improving their standards of living and also a sense of ownership for the local development. Currently, the organization has a presence in 26 districts of the province, focusing education, health, wash, capacity building & human resource, livelihood, and humanitarian relief.
The proud team of BRSP
On 10th March 2020, when coronavirus cases started ticking in Balochistan, Pakistan via Taftan border, and the first case confirmed in Quetta, the patient was a 12-year old boy, who had returned from neighboring country Iran with his family. As a result, on 20th March 2020, the government of Balochistan imposed complete lockdown in the province via issuing an official notification. Since then the organization carried its assessment and emergency response activities at 27 districts with the government of Balochistan by the support of international donors on the following six components.
Conducted awareness of COVID-19.
Strengthen capacity on COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC)
Adopted a resilient approach for its citizen, communities, government department staff, law enforcement personnel, and health care facilities through provision of PPE (personal protective equipment).
Increased WASH & Hygiene facilities specially hand washing units at public places.
Strengthened coordination with government officials and stakeholders for timely response on COVID-19.
According to Organization’s CEO Nadir Gull Barech, till now BRSP has reached about 6.76 million people of 940,263 households in 425 towns with rural councils of 27 districts (Barkhan, Chaghi, Dera Bugti, Duki, Harnai, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Kachhi, Kalat, Kharan, Khuzdar, Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah, Kohlu, Loralai, Mastung, Musa Khail, Naseerabad, Noshki, Pishin, Quetta, Sherani, Sibi, Sohbat Pur, Washuk, and Zhob) consisting an area of 243,576 km2 which becomes total 70% population of the province. He told dawn staff that when the COVID-19 disease first entered in Balochistan in March, the organization launched its mass awareness campaign for COVID-19 in district Quetta and other districts simultaneously through loudspeakers, masjid announcements, awareness signboards, orientation sessions, dissemination of IEC material & installation of handwashing facilities at public places. While showing the campaign individuals awareness data separately, he explained & recorded the following data;
Mobile loudspeakers announcements delivered messages in 3,983 hamlets of 425 UCs.
1,115 Masajid in 260 UCS recorded COVID-19 announcements via loudspeakers.
380,000 brochures/IEC distributed among citizens.
Awareness messages delivered by religious scholars through Eid Sermons at 23 locations in 7 targeted districts.
In addition, 1,893 CRPs (community resource persons) were Oriented and trained, who further reached out to 43,124 households in 199 UC of 15 districts.
On the other hands, 660 banners and 400 visibility boards including the large billboards installed on public locations and entrance of Quetta city.
Similarly,400 awareness-raising boards installed at the entrance of mosques in 7 districts.
Apart of this, COVID-19 awareness messages are being aired on FM 89 and local cable channels in Urdu and all local languages across the province.
Shortly, 1,000 copies of booklets written on “COVID-19 – Islamic Perspective on Pandemics” by BRSP distributed in 124 Madaris and Masajid in district Quetta.
Hygiene Kit distribution ceremony organized by BRSP
For strengthening capacity on COVID-19 infection prevention and control (IPC)
BRSP has trained and built capacity building of 61 health officials staff on COVID-19, said by the organization’s focal person on communication. He added that we have orientated 1,893 volunteers on COVID-19 Infection prevention and control (IPC) for their respective communities. Apart from this, 222 janitorial staff has been trained by BRSP on environment cleaning and disinfection principles for care facilities.
Adopting a resilient approach for its citizen and communities
BRSP has distributed 166,700 surgical masksamong its citizens., public & private health workers with the support of Indus Health Network. Similarly, the organization distributed 45,997 Sanitizers, 26,280 gloves, 40,964 soaps, and 2,911 protective suits. In addition, BRSP has also provided 1,320 hygiene kits to Metropolitan Corporation Quetta for its janitorial staff.
Installation of Hand Washing Units at Public locations
For fighting against the pandemic, the organization also joined hands with law enforcement forces for behavior change communication and installed 404 handwashing units at different public places of the province.
Coordination meetings with the government officials and stakeholders on COVID-19
For a rapid response, BRSP participated in 166 coordination meetingsat the provincial and district levels. Similarly, the organization developed a real-time data management software (4W) for the COVID-19 activities. In addition, BRSP also provided technical support to the Health department and PDMA.
The BRSP emergency and prevention activities on COVID-19 are being accomplished with the cooperation of the government of Balochistan, Indus Health Network, Al-khidmat Foundation, Metropolitan Quetta and with the financial support of international & national donors including European Union, PATRIP Foundation, Indus Health Network, UNICEF, GIZ, NRSP, and RSPN under different projects including BRACE Program, Mainstreaming Madaris Education into the mainstreaming education, and Malaria Control Program. Scientia Pakistan is proudly sharing the accomplishments of BRSP as their media partner. We are standing side by side in their efforts and working on the translation of COVID-19 precaution data and material in the regional languages of Baluchistan.
Earthquakes and the earth’s internal dynamics have long been the focus of geologists and researchers. Although humankind has achieved thousands of technological milestones, we have never been able to find a way to predict earthquakes. Geologists from the University of Maryland observed seismograph waves from earthquakes in different parts of the world over a period of about 20 years from 1990 to 2018. The number of these waves is in the thousands. This study led to some startling revelations about the Earth’s internal structure.
Courtesy; Physics. Org
Experts noticed some unusual dynamics (echos) between the molten core of the Earth’s crust and the mantle of the inner layer of the Earth’s crust, which, upon further observation, revealed a much larger and more diverse structure. This structure consists of solid and dense rocks that geologists did not know about before. The echoes revealed more widespread, heterogenous structures—areas of unusually dense, hot rock—at the core-mantle boundary than previously known. This structure is consisting of unusually dense, hot rock—deep inside the Earth below the Pacific Ocean.
For this discovery, researchers used machine learning algorithms to collect data by observing seismic waves over the next 20 years. Researchers hope that not only this discovery but also such computer-based systems will be beneficial in research on earthquakes.
“By looking at thousands of core-mantle boundary echoes at once, instead of focusing on a few at a time, as is usually done, we have gotten a totally new perspective,” said Doyeon Kim, a postdoctoral fellow in the UMD Department of Geology and the lead author of the paper. “This is showing us that the earth’s core and the mantle boundary region has lots of structures that can produce these echoes, and that was something we didn’t realize before because we only had a narrow view.”
A partial solar eclipse was observed in South Asia and Africa on 21st June 2020. In some areas, the ring of fire was also seen that left everyone mesmerized. The eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far away from the Earth to completely cover the Sun. It results in the appearance of a brightly lit ring around the darkened Moon.
Many enthusiasts captured mind-blowing photos of the phenomenon. Here are some images of the solar eclipse for your eyes to feast on!
One ring to rule them all! Eclipse from north of Bela, Baluchistan. Credit: Mehdi Hasaan
A very thin ring of fire. Credit: Zain Ahmed
Solar Eclipse as seen from Madyan Swat Khyber Pukhtoonkhowa. Credit: Imran_ullah_Miraj
A breathtaking image of the Solar eclipse shot at Karachi at 11:05am. Credit: Sayed Kawish Ali
“Ring of fire” solar eclipse pictured in China’s Tibet, Zhengzhou City and Beijing. Credit: CGTN
The dramatic ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse as seen from Yunlin County in Taiwan on Sunday, June 21. Credit: Sam Yeh/AFP
A breathtaking picture of the phenomenon captured in Sukkur. Credit: Shaheryar Hasan
Upcoming Astronomy Events
In 2020, there are many astronomy events expected to occur. Here are a few that you should mark on your calendars.
Planet Parade: On July 11, skywatchers and stargazers will have a special treat as there will be a planet parade. Several planets like Venus, Jupiter, etc. will be in conjunction appearing to perform a parade in the skies, hence the name. It is a not to be missed event.
Perseids Meteor Shower: This is without a doubt, one of the best showers to observe as it lights up the skies beautifully. They are known for the bright meteors and are produced by the comet Swift-Tuttle. This shower runs annually from July 17 to August 24. This year, it will peak on the night of August 12 and the morning of August 13.
Mars Opposition: On October 13, Mars will be at the closest opposition to Earth and will be well lit. Astronomy lovers will have the opportunity to take beautiful snaps of the red planet. Telescopes can also be used to see the details on its surface.
Geminid Meteor Shower: Geminids is the best of meteor showers and is able to produce approximately 120 multicolored meteors per hour when it is at its peak. he shower runs annually from December 7-17. It peaks this year on the night of the 13th and morning of the 14th.
Jupiter and Saturn Conjunction: On December 21, a rare conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will take place. It very unusual to see these two celestial giants together.
Scientia Pakistan Magazine interviewed Dr. Michael Gale, Jr., Ph.D. Director of the Centre for Innate Immunity and Immune Disease (C.I.I.I.D.), in the U.S. The C.I.I.I.D. is a research center for immune responses, and viruses and infectious diseases, including coronaviruses. In this interview, Dr. Micheal discussed how the pandemic has catalyzed the development of novel coronavirus vaccines across the biotech industry, both by pharmaceutical companies and research organizations.
Watch the video to know more about development in Coronavirus vaccine development.
According to a study done recently, the illegal jaguar trade is on an ever-increasing rise and the main reason seems to be Chinese investment in the Central and Southern parts of America. Jaguars are already on the verge of extinction because of threats like deforestation, habitat loss, and farmers shooting them by labeling them as a threat to their cattle. As if these weren’t enough, illegal trade has left only a population of 173000 of these wild cats.
Jaguars have been killed for the past years mainly to smuggle their teeth, skins, and skulls to China. A staggering 800 jaguars suffered this disgusting fate, and it is not known how many shipments may have gone unreported. Conservationists have noticed that the trade has increased steeply only in recent years, and they conclude that new Chinese immigrants, rather than the old settled communities, have a hand in this.
Before 2010, it was tigers which had a central commercial place. There are proper farms and breeding grounds for tigers in China since they are considered an extremely valuable animal. Their bones are used to make wine, carcasses used for medicinal ointments and skin for furniture, clothing and accessorizing commodities. The possessor of such items flaunted his wealth and position in society. Hunting wild tigers is thought to be more of an extravagance because of its rareness and taboo.
According to the new study, Jaguar teeth are the most priceless parts going to China. They are not exactly a substitute for tigers, but valuable all the less. Since much attention has not been paid to this crime of illegal wildlife product shipment, it is difficult to conclude an exact figure for the crime. Researchers and conservationists are also confused about the fate of these smuggled animal products once they reach China since insight into economic data and consumer records is still under observation.
Chinese investment in Latin America is predicted to grow, so now is high time to raise voices against it. Fighting corruption and reducing the demand for jaguar products by awareness is crucial. Lessons should be learned from the tiger decline. “What difference is it filling one more container with bones?” Vincent Njiman, the co-author of the paper, says.
The full moon of June, which is the last full moon of spring or the first of summer, is traditionally called the Strawberry Moon. The full moon of 5th June 2020 brought with a penumbral eclipse, which occurs when the moon crosses through the faint outer edge of Earth’s shadow, called the penumbra, making part of the moon appear slightly darker than usual. Unlike a full lunar or solar eclipse, the visual effect of a penumbral eclipse is usually so minimal that it is hard to observe even with a telescope.
Get a tour of some fascinating photographs of this Strawberry moon captured around the globe.
The full moon captured by using multiple exposures. Credit: Raden Rauf AM
People watch the “Strawberry Moon” rise over the ocean on Narrawallee Beach on the South Coast of New South Wales on June 6, 2020. (David Gray/AFP)
In Pakistan, astronomers from various astronomers societies and local sky-gazers also captured this full moon accompanied by a penumbral lunar eclipse. Here are some photographs captured at Rawalpindi, Pakistan at 8:52 pm local time.
Full moon rise, Ghizer valley Gilgit Baltistan. Credit: Karim Shah Nizari
The Strawberry Full Moon was taken at Rawalpindi, Pakistan at 8:52 pm local time. Credit: PNA_Wildlife
For the first time in history, NASA astronauts have launched from American soil in a commercially built and operated American crew spacecraft on its way to the International Space Station. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley lifted off at 3:22 p.m. EDT Saturday on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The spacecraft successfully docked with ISS last night and made history.
Below are some exciting moments captured through the lens of camera before the launch to the successful docking.
The static fire of Falcon 9 Before Launch– targeted on Wednesday, May 27 at 4:33 p.m. EDT for Crew Dragon’s launch to the ISS with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley on board!
CREDIT: SpaceX
Credit: SpaceX
Credit: SpaceX
SpaceX and NASA completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley ahead of Crew Demo-2!
Credit: NASA
Credit: NASA
NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley before Crew Dragon flight!
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft is launched from Launch Complex 39A on NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard, Saturday, May 30, 2020, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Demo-2 mission is the first launch with astronauts of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.
Moment of historic launch. CREDIT: NASA/Bill Ingalls
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft is seen in this false-color infrared exposure as it is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard, Saturday, May 30, 2020, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
CREDIT: NASA/Bill Ingalls
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule approaches the International Space Station ahead of docking Sunday.
CREDIT: NASA TELEVISION
Crew Dragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station, just minutes before the station crossed into Earth’s shadow, on May 31, 2020.
CREDIT: NASA TELEVISION
Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, far right, joining the crew at the International Space Station, after the SpaceX Dragon capsule docked with the station on Sunday.Credit.
Amid Coronavirus crisis when everyone advises making this quarantine a quality time with your family, but not everyone is blessed to have such moments with their loved ones. One such example is Pakistani students who have been stuck in China and other European countries for months, their courage and patience for bearing such a crisis must be appreciated. Below is an exciting conversation with Ayesha khan, which not only shows how the international students managed crises without families but also tells how they spent their days staying positive. Ayesha Khan is a student at Wuhan University pursuing her M.S in economics. Currently, she is in Wuhan along with other Pakistani students, where after many months of severe lockdown, life is getting back to normal.
Ayesha, a Pakistani student in Wuhan during lockdown
Faryal: It’s been months now that Pakistani students have been stranded in China when the lockdown was imposed in Wuhan. How did Students manage the crisis and survived in such a strict quarantine?
Ayesha: The word quarantine was entirely unfamiliar to me when we were locked in our dormitories. At first, we thought that it would be no more than a week, but later on, we came to know more about the epidemic many students were panic and their families were worried about their safety. To stay under one roof for more than two months without seeing the sky was very disturbing. Then students started playing, cooking together, and do some indoor fun activities, but somewhere inside, everyone was afraid of being affected.
It was the time when everyone was mentally disturbed so many were gone through anxiety and depression and other psychological issues even many students were afraid to express their normal fever or headache for not being panic to others. But we were told to take strict health precautions like wear masks, use disinfectants in our rooms and wash hands with sanitizer frequently and immediately after coming in contact with anything out of our dorms, and drink more water and inform the hostel management about daily body temperature.
I have some friends, so many other students who were already graduated but still stuck here even their visas were expired flights canceled. Universities didn’t allow anyone to go out form hostels.so many people had many issues that were delayed because of lockdown .hence still the lockdown is not wholly lifted for international students. They can just get out to play daily for two hours but even cannot go out from the university campus. It is strict, but it is safe.
Faryal: How much life changed in Wuhan after lockdown has been lifted? Do you feel like a new life or a new beginning?
Ayesha: Officially lockdown is lifted on 8th April 2020, but not entirely, and international students are still not allowed to go out from the campus. People with written permission and health code can go out for their duties and even only they can take public transport and enter any public place that has health cards. Now the Chinese Government has also started this health code service for foreigners. I already get my health code, but many students still didn’t get health code, so overall, we don’t have any experience now of the outer life in Wuhan.
Faryal: How did the Chinese government help you and what assistance did the Pakistani Embassy provide during a lockdown?
Ayesha: During the lockdown, our university and Chinese government support us in a very positive and helping way by providing necessities Such as vegetable fruit, oil, rice, and sanitizer. Anything halal like chicken and meat, there was a delivery service to the room of every student, which was a great relief to stay safe in quarantine in our hostels. Meanwhile, the Pakistani embassy gave us a helping hand and transferred 3500 RMB to each student account who was stuck here in Wuhan. Some focal persons were sent from the Pakistan embassy to Wuhan to meet with Almost every university student group and listen and try to solve their problem and assured all students to assist whenever they need. Besides, the embassy also provided 750 RMB to each student as a package for Ramadan.
Faryal: What do you advise to other overseas Pakistani, how to manage the Crisis during Quarantine?
Ayesha: This crisis is not the same in all countries; the situation is worst in other countries as compared to Pakistan, so don’t be panic. It is an art to live a balanced life and consumption of goods in low resources, which will enhance more creativity, productivity, and polish the will power of individuals. For example, on regular days if we eat food from a restaurant which costs pretty high but if we make the same food at home, it will cost much lower and also can learn the art of healthy cooking. So stay positive and have proper rest at home; spend some precious time with the family together with its an opportunity to know each other intimately.
Faryal: What would you like to suggest /advise to your countrymen who are still facing Lockdown in Pakistan? How can they manage the stress of complete isolation and work-at-home peacefully?
Ayesha: I would like to suggest, take good care of your health and follow precautions and the instructions of WHO and local governments which can help them stay safe. They should wear masks, avoid social gatherings, keep social distances, and wash hands frequently, don’t go outside if not necessary. Pakistan has an entirely dependent family system like an extended nuclear system, that can result in a disaster. You can spend your time with your family members, watch good movies, do some indoor fun activities like cooking, reading books preparing kids lessons in a fun way to teach them at home. It’s a break from a busy, stressed life enjoy it calmly.
Faryal: What are the greatest challenges you are facing now in Wuhan especially for education?
Ayesha: Now the situation is better in Wuhan, but there are restrictions on people’s movements yet, and there are no such problems related to education, they are delivering online lectures and providing everything to students online. Yes, those students who have to complete their research work in labs as a requirement for their graduation till June, are facing research issue, they need to do experiments in labs with all equipment for they can be able to write their thesis. The government gives some relaxation to them sometime later.
Faryal: How did Students among help each other to cope up with the crisis during quarantine?
Ayesha: Here in Wuhan, we students are here as a family; they shared good bonding during the lockdown. They all are away from our homes and experiencing the same situation so they can help each other in studies, especially related majors. Moreover, they can share good ideas for social well-being. Positive counseling is a better way to cope with all kinds of stress and panic situations.
