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The immortal “Tardigrades”

Aniqa Mazhar
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The immortal “Tardigrades”

No matter how much science advances and thinks it has conquered all, new and more perplexing discoveries are made with each passing day. The diversity of living organisms and their unique features never cease to amaze us. Stumbled upon by a team of Japanese scientists in 1983, Tardigrades were found in a pile of moss in Antarctica. They are a millimeter long and resemble teddy bears and caterpillars. Weird enough, huh?

The tardigrades, along with the moss, were collected and preserved by the scientists at a temperature of -4 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, there they lay, pretty much forgotten.

In 2014, they were thawed and placed on an agar plate, where they started moving around as though nothing had happened and reproduced.

Scientists studied these ‘water bears’, quite mesmerized by their ability to survive in almost any condition. These little guys can resist heat because they produce heat-shock proteins and can also form bubbly cysts around themselves in harsh environments. Tardigrades have proven themselves to be one of the toughest animals on Earth due to their extreme resilience to every climate and latitude. They are found in the oceans and in the soil of every continent. There are many species of tardigrades found across different regions.

Tardigrades are one of the toughest beings on the planet
Tardigrades were found in a pile of moss in Antarctica in 1983 by a team of Japanese scientists

Tardigrades, also known as moss piglets, are microscopic creatures measuring between 0.002 and 0.05 inches (0.05 to 1.2 millimeters) long. They have endearingly tubby bodies and eight legs tipped with tiny “hands.”

How did Tardigrades end up on the Moon?

That’s right. These little hydrobears have reached the moon! In April, the Israeli lunar lander, Beresheet crashed on the moon due to a computer error. Beresheet, a robotic lander, had carried human DNA samples, along with the tardigrades and 30 million small digitized pages of information about human society and culture. This was carried out in case if ever the human race goes extinct, so aliens and extraterrestrial life could get to know about life on Earth.

 Tardigrades were chosen along because they can survive vacuum as well. And they survived the crash as well, so every time you look at the moon, you are looking at a population of tardigrades as well.

Tardigrades can survive conditions that would be deadly to any other form of life, weathering temperature extremes of minus-328 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-200 degrees Celsius) to more than 300 F (149 C). They also handily survive exposure to the radiation and vacuum of space. Research has also shown that they can survive pressures up to 87,022.6 pounds per square inch — six times what you’d find in the deepest part of the ocean. (Around 43,00 PSI, “most bacteria and multicellular organisms die,” Nature reported.) They’re that tough.

Another tardigrade superpower is their ability to dehydrate their bodies into a state known as a “tun.” They retract their heads and legs, expel the water from their bodies and shrivel up into a tiny ball — and scientists have found that tardigrades can revive from this dehydrated state after 10 years or more. As tuns, the tardigrades produce glycerol (antifreeze) and secrete trehalose, a simple sugar that mummifies them in a glass suit of armor. This process is called vitrification, and scientists have studied it for use in protecting other delicate cellular tissues like sperm and eggs. As a tun, the tardigrade reduces its metabolism by 99.99 percent as it waits for a more suitable environment. If a cataclysm wipes out most of life on the planet — including humans — it’s likely that tardigrades will survive.

Importance of Tardigrades on the Moon

The moon formed more than 4 billion years ago. And for the entirety of its existence, it has been a completely sterile place. Humans first brought life to the moon — in the form of microbes hiding in feces and other human waste — 50 years ago, with the Apollo missions. And now, it has tardigrades too.

It will be fascinating if, one day, astronauts decide to go back and collect them. Because if they can survive on the surface of the moon — an incredibly harsh, irradiated environment — it helps us understand the resiliency of life.

Tardigrades under a microscope
Tardigrades under a microscope

It could also help us investigate the hypothesis that life didn’t start on Earth at all. Rather, perhaps it was seeded by microbes from another world. If life can survive on the moon, even in a dormant state, it could mean that life can survive long stretches of time in the deep reaches of space, traveling between worlds, propagating life along the way.

“Can simple life spread through the cosmos like radio waves, or does it need to wait billions of years until there are technological species with spaceships to spread it?” planetary scientist Phil Metzger recently asked on Twitter.

That’s a huge question in astrobiology. Maybe these tardigrades, one day, can help us discover the answer.

Also Read: ASTROBIOBOUNDS: SEARCH FOR LIFE IN SOLAR SYSTEM

A Stunning collection of Astrophotographs

Scientia
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A Stunning collection of Astrophotographs

Take a tour of some of the stunning, rare images captured by NASA, ESA and SETI Institute.

Gaint Star Zeta Ophiuchi and shock waves captured by Spitzer Telescope

a stunning astrophotgraph of Gaint Star Zeta Ophiuchi,
Photo Credit: NASA JPL

The Spitzer Space Telescope was launched by NASA in August 2005 to observe the solar system and other galaxies. In 2010, however, liquid Helium coolant finished, rendering it unable to operate fully. But the passive cooling design has proved beneficial and the mission will end fully in January 2020.

The above Spitzer image displays the gigantic star Zeta Ophuichi and the shock wave in front of it. Visible only in infrared light, the bow shock is created by winds that flow from the star, making ripples in the surrounding dust. Located roughly 370 light-years from Earth, Zeta Ophiuchi dwarfs our Sun: It is about six times hotter, eight times wider, 20 times more massive and about 80,000 times as bright. Even at its great distance, it would be one of the brightest stars in the sky were it not largely obscured by dust clouds. 

A close view of Neptune captured by Voyager- 2

A close view of Neptune captured by NASA
Photo Credit: NASA

This is a close view of Neptune, captured by NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1989. It is wrapped in teal and cobalt bands of clouds of methane, showing similarity to Jupiter and Saturn.

A Dark and gloomy scene in the constellation of Gemini

The constellation of Gemini captured by NASA's Hubble telescope
Photo credit: NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope

This beautiful shot was captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and it shows a dark and rather gloomy scene in the constellation of Gemini. Two symmetrical lobes can be seen, which make up a planetary nebula. The orangish star at the center is thought to be a remnant of a sun-like star that blasted many years ago.

Enceladus showing off its South polar plumes

NASA's CASSINI MISSION TO SATURN
Photo Credit: NASA/ Cassini mission to Saturn

This is Enceladus, the 6th largest moon of Saturn. We can observe its south polar plumes and E-ring diffusions in the astrophotograph, taken in 2006 by NASA’s Cassini Mission to Saturn.

A heartbreaking View of cloud pattern

A hearbreaking photograph observed over Rocky Mountain National Park
A strange cloud pattern observed over Rocky Mountain National Park

This breathtaking view is of a cloud pattern observed over Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado on 10th May 2019. These are lenticular clouds, formed in orographic-induced waves developing in the lee of elevated terrain. They are composed of tiny drops of water and can remain stationary for hours on end.

An illustration of underwater hydrothermal systems at Axial Seamount

An computer based photograph designed by SETI's astrophysicist
Photo Credit: SETI Institute

Pablo Sobron, a SETI Institute physicist, along with Laurie Barge, a NASA scientist, have designed PSTAR, NASA Planetary Science and Technology from Analog Research. This is to study underwater hydrothermal systems at Axial Seamount, the largest and most active volcano on a plate.

FOR ASTROPHOTOGRAPHS LOVER, DO VISIT: https://scientiamag.org/steve-a-new-wonder-in-the-night-skies/

A Rare full moon will light up Tonight

Sabeeka Zafar
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A Rare full moon will light up Tonight

Coming Friday, 13th September,  will be the spooky day with extra spooky night sky having the harvest moon appearing on it. The last time the U.S. saw a full moon on Friday- the 13th was October 13th, 2000.

A boat in the middle of a body of water Description automatically generated
The stunning look of a Harvest Moon
A sailboat crosses in front of the rising full moon at Punta Prima beach in San Luis, Menorca, in Spain’s Balearic Islands, in August. (David Arquimbau Sintes/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

For those living in the  Eastern Time Zone, full Moon will occur at 12:33 a.m. on Saturday, September 14, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. However, Americans in the Pacific, Central, Mountain, and Alaskan time zones will get to gaze the full Moon before midnight on Friday, Sept. 13.

The term “harvest moon” refers to the full, bright moon that occurs closest to the start of autumn, marking the end of the summer and the start of the fall. The harvest moon is also called “corn moon” since September is the time of the year when farmers begin harvesting their crops. Normally, the moon rises around 50 minutes later each day on average. But in the days leading up to the Harvest Moon, this interval shortens to around 27 minutes on average, enabling the farmers to work later in the evening as more light is available to them after sunset.

A STUNNING LOOK OF HARVEST MOON
The Harvest Moon

This harvest moon has also been referred to as “micro moon” by the astronomers, as it will appear 14 percent smaller and 30 percent dimmer in the sky. As the moon will be at its apogee- at a point farthest away from the Earth, Time and Date says micro moons must be more than 251,655 miles away from the Earth and Friday night’s moon will be 816 miles farther than that.

Next chance we’ll have to gaze at a moon approaching fullness on Friday the 13th (before achieving total illumination the next morning) will be on May 2033. 

So mark your calendars sky-watchers, because this weekend you have the chance to experience something really mesmerizing!

For the lovers of Astrophotography: https://scientiamag.org/super-worm-equinox-moon/

The arguably mysterious Wow! signal

Sabeeka Zafar
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The arguably mysterious Wow! signal

On 15 August 1977, astronomers at the Ohio state university were studying the location of a signal in the constellation Sagittarius, as part of the SETI project. Using a Big Ear radio telescope, the origin was found to be from the stars, called chi Sagittarius. 

While scanning the skies, at 23:16, the telescope captured an incredibly strong signal, that lasted for 72 seconds and was never detected again. The signal was so strong that one of the astronomers, Jerry Ehman, who first identified the signal, circled the readout and wrote “Wow!” next to the reading, with a red pen.

The evidence of Wow signal first detected in observatory
The Wow! signal represented as “6EQUJ5”.
Credit: Big Ear Radio Observatory and North American Astrophysical Observatory (NAAPO)

Since then, this signal remained a mystery for the astronomers. They offered numerous explanations but none of them sat as a valid argument. According to some scientists, asteroids, exoplanets or even signals from Earth are the possible sources behind the signal. But the most widely accepted explanation for this signal was the existence of Extraterrestrial life.

However, professor Antonio Paris, of St Petersburg college, finally solved the mystery behind a 40-year-old signal and -spoiler-alert-it’s not aliens.

Astronomers finally explained the Wow! mystery signal

Astronomer Antonio Paris along with a team at the Centre for Planetary Science worked on this signal for a long time. In 2016, he released a paper along with his fellow astronomer Evan Davies, published in the Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences. According to his research, comets are the source behind the Wow signal. The team noted two comets, 266P/Christensen and P/2008 Y2 (Gibbs) within the same vicinity where this signal once detected. 

The location map of Wow signal designed by Astronomers.
The location of the signal in the constellation Sagittarius.
Credit: The Centre for Planetary Science.

Both of the comets have clouds of hydrogen gas accompanying them in the diameter of millions of kilometers. Researchers observed that the frequency of the Wow signal was 1420 MHz, which is the same frequency as that of hydrogen.

Paris along with his team tested the idea, from November 2016 through February of 2017, by pointing the telescope at comet 266P/Christensen, and identified the similar signal. Paris also investigated other comets and observed the same hydrogen clouds, same signals, which makes it evident that even if comet 266P/Christensen is not, some other comet is responsible source for the signal.

Paris research disappointed most of the communities, holding the belief that the signal is a piece of evidence for extraterrestrial life. Paris hypothesis doesn’t convince all of the scientists but is the only solid argument to solve the mystery behind.

Update: The hypothesis doesn’t sit well with all the scientists. One of the scientists from OSU Radio Observatory, where the signal once detected, argued on the presence of comets. According to him, comets were too far from the telescope sightlines to generate such a powerful signal.

“The comet hypothesis, in my opinion, doesn’t work,” Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute concurred in a blog post. Shostak cites the comments of Robert Dixon, who was the director of the Ohio State observatory back in 1977. “Dixon (says) the comets were nowhere near the telescope’s sightlines when the signal was found.”

Oxford physics professor Chris Lintott also raised a tentative eyebrow on Paris work and compiled a list of questions about his work which Paris has planned to review.

Shostak says, “It’s possible (but unproven) that the signal was the result of aliens sending a short ping. If so, we may someday pick up their transmissions again. But it wasn’t a comet … which should be the end of that tale.”

Hence, Shostak argument contradicts with the latest research on this signal and raises serious questions regarding the Paris hypothesis. We might not be able to close the research on this topic but astronomers have got new interesting questions to work on about a mystery that remained unsolved for years.

Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk, Part Five

Scientia
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Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk, Part Five

Following the theme of our Astrobiology edition, we asked our readers to share their views on man’s search for life. Here is the latest part!

Questions on Astrobiology

  • 1.     How do you view astrobiology? What will be your definition of it?
  • 2.     How many chances are there for the existence of ExtraTerrestrial life and has it made any contact with us yet?
  • 3.     What do you think about the “WOW Signal” and other theories about aliens?
  • 4.     What can life look like on other planets? Can it be like what we see in popular culture or not?
  • 5.     Should we able to unravel the mysteries about our origin on this planet after learning about ExtraTerrestrial life? How can it be so?

Also Read: Syed Muneeb Ali on Astrobiology

Shahzaib Siddique

Shahzaib Siddique is a science writer based in Islamabad, who frequently contributes to various websites and is an avid blogger. He is also a YouTuber and presents science documentaries in Urdu on his channel. Here is what he had to say:

1. Astrobiology is one of the mysterious subjects for me (like quantum physics), and I think in the future, if we find any kind of life in the universe, then Astrobiology will gain a key position in Astronomy. Astrobiology introduces us with new dimensions, to understand the mechanism of universe.

2. I personally believe that there is a 99% chance of any extraterrestrial life because on earth life is composed of some basic elements, which are scattered throughout the universe.

Astrobiology hopes to unravel the mysteries of the universe

3. As we have already explored the source of “Wow Signal” and mystery of Tabby’s Star has also been resolved, therefore, I don’t believe these signals/signs were associated with some kind of aliens.

4. It’s very difficult to imagine even the glimpse of what the extraterrestrial life would be like, but one thing is for sure that “Aliens will not look like the Humans” because evolution is a random process, and even if we rewind all the history, and start evolutionary journey from the Bacteria, then there will be 99% chance that evolution will fall on some other track, and after 4.5 Billion years we’ll be able to witness life, which can be totally different as compared to humans.

5. I think we’ll be trapped in some more complications, whether if we find extraterrestrial life or not… Both have different complications because the universe is not easy to understand. Therefore, J. B. S. Haldane said, “the universe is not only queerer than we suppose but queerer than we can suppose.”

Naeem Ahmed

Naeem Ahmed is an informal student of astronomy working as a government employee in Lahore and has a desire to see Pakistan among the leaders of space science. He shared his thoughts as follows:

  1. Apparently it means the study and search of life on planets and places in the universe other than the earth. But the question is what does really mean by life? Unless and until Science defines life explicitly, the quest for extraterrestrial life may be directionless. Water and oxygen may not necessarily be the vital elements for life. Some microorganisms on this earth can live without oxygen. Anaerobes are the classification of bacteria that can survive without oxygen. According to Quranic verses, angels and jinns are allowed to visit anywhere in the universe. These creatures are not supposed to rely on water and oxygen. How would science define their existence on other planets? Astrobiology, in my opinion, is a branch of science that is looking for signs of life dependent on water and oxygen and the hosting place of such life can be a habitat for humans.
  2. Keeping in mind the definition of life mentioned above, there are fifty percent chances that such life may exist in the universe other than the earth because we don’t have evidence in favor or against the extraterrestrial life. So far no evidence is found that aliens ever tried to contact us. Although certain claims by individuals exist on the internet that aliens or UFOs were seen at various places around the world but these claims are not acceptable by experts.
  3. These signals received by Professor of Astronomy in St. Petersburg College Florida, Mr. Antonio Paris and his team firstly on Aug. 15, 1977, when they were working on radio observatory in Ohio and secondly after 40 years around 2017 while observing the star Sagittarius with a radio telescope of 10 meters. Interestingly on both occasions, a comet (266P/Christensen) was found in that area covered with clouds of hydrogen. So Mr. Antonio opined that the signals were reflected when radio waves of the telescopes touched those hydrogen clouds. All other theories regarding WOW signals cannot be entertained after Mr. Paris’s opinion about those signals. So we can say that aliens are still fiction.
  4. In my opinion, the chances of finding the life exacting as we find on earth are very rare because of a combination of mass, gravity, climate, magnetic field and proportion of water and land as it is found on earth, very impossible to find anywhere else in the universe. Even it is very difficult to find life as is described in various religions and cultures except for Islam. As a Muslim, I believe that angels, jinns or any other immaterial creatures may be found in the universe other than earth.
  5. I am sure that man cannot solve this mystery depending on his wisdom only, even if he finds trails of extraterrestrial life in this universe because science does not accommodate the sayings found in divine books. We believe that man was sent from heaven (Jannat) to earth but science is not able to access Jannat tracing that mystery. Furthermore, there are scientific theories supporting that religious explanation of our origin on this planet that the evolution of mankind was not completely terrestrial. Although these theories are yet to be approved.

World Space Week 2019, Celebration

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World Space Week 2019, Celebration
World Space Week 2019, celebration by are organizing SUPARCO

World Space Week (WSW) globally celebrated each year as a tribute to space science and technology, and to their role, they played for the betterment of the human life on Earth. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10. These dates commemorate following two events

October 4, 1957: Launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, thus, opening the way for space exploration.

October 10, 1967: The signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.

The major goals of these celebrations are to educate people around the world about the facts they are benefitting from space exploration and to encourage greater use of space for sustainable economic development worldwide. Likewise past in 2019, globally space agencies, aerospace companies, schools, planetarium, museums, and astronomy clubs in a common timeframe will celebrate interesting activities to motivate youth for space sciences and foster economic coordination in space outreaches.

The theme of World Space Week 2019, “The Moon: Gateway to the Stars,” in memorial of the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing.

Poster of World space week 2019 celebration

In Pakistan, the Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) is organizing a Space Fair, with the theme, “THE MOON: GATEWAY TO THE STARS!”

and invites young learners, school/university students, and the general public to commemorate the event of World Space Week by not only witnessing numerous activities but also participating in different competitions. The initiative of organizing Space Fair at Karachi is to create awareness among the schools about space science and its applications and encourage the schools across Karachi to become a part of this mega event

Following competitions along with several different activities will be arranged at the venue:

Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk, Part Four

Scientia
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Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk, Part Four

Following the theme of our Astrobiology edition, we asked some renowned personalities of Pakistan to share their views on man’s search for life. In this part, we have Syed Muneeb Ali, science writer and blogger, answer our questions.

Questions on Astrobiology

  • 1.     How do you view astrobiology? What will be your definition of it?
  • 2.     How many chances are there for the existence of ExtraTerrestrial life and has it made any contact with us yet?
  • 3.     What do you think about the “WOW Signal” and other theories about regarding aliens?
  • 4.     What can life look like on other planets? Can it be like what we see in popular culture or not?
  • 5.     Should we able to unravel the mysteries about our origin on this planet after learning about ExtraTerrestrial life? How can it be so?

Also Read: Dr. Farrukh Shahzad on Astrobiology

Syed Muneeb Ali is an award-winning science writer, blogger and science communicator. He’s the general secretary of Astrobiology Network of Pakistan (ABNP) and is very much interested in spreading awareness regarding Astronomy and Science in Pakistan. Here is what he had to say:

1. To me, Astrobiology is the name of the process to analyze your favorite candy in the jar full of different types of candies. We don’t know which candy is up next to be discovered but currently, the main focus of Astrobiologists is to find the carbon-based candy in the jar because their home is the most accessible laboratory to test it.

2. I think there is extraterrestrial life exist everywhere in the Universe but why they haven’t made contact us? There are two reasons for it:

– First, we have vast cosmic distances due to which we can’t view that “real-time picture” of the Universe and if there are some humans on some habitable planet of a Star orbiting in the galactic habitable zone around the black hole of the galaxy “CLASS B1152+199” (A galaxy 5 billion light-years away from the Earth) watching the region where our solar system lies, they’ll have no idea of our G2V Star (Sun) and our home planet – The Earth! They’ll only be seeing some gas cloud in its condensing phase. So, due to the limit which nature has put on us – “speed of light”, we’ll or they’ll not be able to contact each other.

Alpha Centauri is the nearest star and can help us in unlocking the mysteries of Astrobiology
Alpha Centauri

– Second, there is a possibility that we might have life on the planets around the nearest star “Alpha Centauri” BUT based on some element other than carbon. So, there will be a difference in their contact-making and our contact-making ability.

3. When I read about the WOW signal for the very first time, it surprised me really! But after some time, I was also started to think that it might not be from some alien source instead it can be a reflected signal from space of some Earth-based source. If that radio telescope was placed in the vastness of space, then we can think of some alien thing in that unaltered environment.

4. We often hear the life “extraterrestrial life” on the web but I think it should be Extraterrestrial “microbial” life because, although we haven’t discovered in our solar system, life signatures which we’ve found give us the direction of simpler life form which was the case with our planet about 4.3 billion years ago. So, yes, if there are earth conditions on some planet and that planet has spent about 4 billion years, then we might think of some complex multicellular life forms like us.

5. To me, the answer is yes. The Universe is the laboratory for testing everything to the limit of violation of laws which are made by the Universe, with time, to stabilize itself. For example, take Enceladus, the moon of planet Saturn. We can suspect what would be happening on Earth about 4.3 billion years ago. On Venus, we can see what will happen to the planet earth due to extreme global warming conditions in the future. So, can study Origin (on Enceladus, Europa or in similar condition today on Earth), development (on Earth), and future of life on this planet! I’d like to share the quote by Carl Sagan which inspires me a lot: “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting for you to be known”.

Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk, Part Three

Scientia
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Astrobiology: From the Editors’ Desk, Part Three

Following the theme of our Astrobiology edition, we asked some renowned personalities of Pakistan to share their views on man’s search for life. In this part, we have Dr. Farrukh Shahzad, Founder of Pakistan Astronomers, answer our questions.

Questions on Astrobiology

  • 1.     How do you view astrobiology? What will be your definition of it?
  • 2.     How many chances are there for the existence of ExtraTerrestrial life and has it made any contact with us yet?
  • 3.     What do you think about the “WOW Signal” and other theories about regarding aliens?
  • 4.     What can life look like on other planets? Can it be like what we see in popular culture or not?
  • 5.     Should we able to unravel the mysteries about our origin on this planet after learning about ExtraTerrestrial life? How can it be so?

Also Read: Mansoor Ahmed on Astrobiology

A medical doctor by profession, Dr. Shahzad had a passion for Astronomy since childhood and now he is the President of PakAstronomers, Islamabad. He is also an astrophotographer and regularly holds Astronomy events in Islamabad and Rawalpindi in public places and different institutions like Comsats, NUST, and IST. Here is what he had to say:

1. Astrobiology is a branch of science that probes into the origin of life, its evolution and spread in the universe and its future. It is specifically concerned with extra-terrestrial life and the factors responsible for its development. But to answer these questions we must first know how life developed on Earth. 

2. In my opinion, there is a high likelihood of finding Extraterrestrial life, but there is less chance that it would be intelligent life. Billions of years are required for life to reach the stage of technically advanced civilization, for which a very stable and safe star system is required. For example, a simple Gamma-Ray Burst from a nearby Neutron Star can wipe out life on an entire planet. Detection of Carbon dioxide in a planet’s atmosphere is a sign that life may exist on it. Earliest signs of life on Earth date back to 3.7 to 4.1 billion years. Likewise, I don’t think that any Extraterrestrial life has made contact with us.

'WOW' Signal is a mystery in astrobiology
‘WOW’ Signal

3. The “WOW Signal” is a mystery. Received on August 15, 1977, by the Big Ear Radio Telescope in Ohio and later on discovered by Astronomer Jerry R. Ehman. It was a narrow band signal (10 kHz) that lasted only 72 seconds, corresponding to a natural oscillation of Hydrogen at 1420 MHz, coming from the region around constellation Sagittarius. The most probable explanation is that it came from hydrogen clouds surrounding two comets, 266P/Christensen and 335P/Gibbs that were roughly at the same spot the signal seemed to emanate.  Due to lack of its repetition despite several attempts and the fact that it was an unmodulated wave-like signal with no encoded information, it is unlikely that it was sent by aliens.

4. Life can take any form from simple unicellular organism to advanced species capable of changing its environment. Likewise, life on other planets may range from a simple organism to advanced civilization. Yes, it can look like what we see in popular culture or it can be completely different. But one thing the scientists agree that the basic building blocks of all life forms must be based on six main elements: Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur. The carbon atom is unique as it can make four strong bonds with other elements and is building block for all the organic compounds and all living things on Earth. It is therefore presumed that Extraterrestrial life would also be carbon-based.

5. Origin of life on Earth, the mysteries are just unraveling, and we may never know all the answers, but there are a few basic things the scientists agree upon:

  • Our Sun, medium-sized yellow star with a stable lifespan of 8 to 9 billion years.
  • Our position in the Solar system, the habitable zone or the Goldilocks zone, where liquid water can exist.
  • The Outer Giant planets Jupiter and Saturn protect Earth by deflecting giant objects and asteroids, thus helping life take hold on our planet.
  • Our Moon, formed around 4.5 billion years ago when a Mars-sized object hit Earth. Face-locked Moon helped stabilize Earth’s rotation, thus 24 hours day-night cycle, a stable climate and ocean tides that bring nutrients from deep in the oceans to the land and helped life getting a hold on dry land.
  • Plate Tectonics that helped form Volcanoes and giant mountain ranges and emission of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere.
  • Active Outer Core made of liquid Iron and Nickel that rotates to from Giant Magnetic field around Earth protecting life on Earth from deadly Cosmic radiation and Solar wind.
  • The volume of Oceans or Water on Earth which constitute 71% of the surface of Earth.
  • Earth’s Atmosphere and its composition, about 480 km thick; 78% Nitrogen and 21% Oxygen. But the early Earth atmosphere consisted mainly of Nitrogen and Carbon dioxide.
  • Diversity of species and Ecosystem ensure the sustainability of life on Earth. Plants are vital for converting carbon dioxide to oxygen. Bacteria and carnivores regulate the carbon cycle. All the living things on Earth are dependent on each other for survival.

The Historic Mission of India to the Moon ended up?

Muhammad Abdullah Khan
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The Historic Mission of India to the Moon ended up?

Indian space agency ISRO lost its lunar moment, earlier today when the ground communications with the Vikram lander were lost just 2.1 km above the lunar surface. ISRO was looking forward to this moment with anticipation since 22nd July when it had launched its Chandrayaan 2, aiming to do a soft landing on the lunar South Pole. The live launch was witnessed by an enthusiastic crowd of around 7000, apart from millions of online viewers, at the Sriharikota Space Station, an island at the eastern coast of India.

From the mission control center, ISRO India.
Live courage of Chndrayaan landing on Moon

The ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) said: “The Vikram Lander followed the planned descent trajectory from its orbit of 35 km to just below 2 km above the surface. All the systems and sensors of the Lander functioned excellently until this point and proved many new technologies such as variable thrust propulsion technology used in the Lander.”

Kailasavadivoo Sivan, Chairman ISRO had repeatedly referred to the last, long-awaited crucial moments as the “15 minutes of terror”. Sivan also said that the “Data is being analyzed”

The landing was observed live by millions of science enthusiasts across the globe. ISRO also invited 87 students, who had won ISRO Space quiz competition, to observe the historic moment live from Mission Control center at Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota. 

Sivan said that they should “hope for the best” and that this is just a temporary setback and that “Our journey will carry on”.

The United States, Russia, and China are the only nations to have successfully carried out soft landings on the moon. India’s maiden attempt got failed but it made history.

Read Chdrayaan Launch details: https://scientiamag.org/indias-giant-leap-chndryan-2/

Chandrayaan 2: A Historic Attempt of India for Lunar Landing

Scientia
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Chandrayaan 2: A Historic Attempt of India for Lunar Landing

At the advent of our NewSpace Age or commercialization of Space, the final frontier has become the new frontier for peace and diplomacy on Earth.

India's lunar mission Chandrayaan
Chndrayaan 2 launching

“I congratulate India and ISRO on its historic attempt to make a successful soft landing of the Vikram Lander at the South Pole of the Moon,” said Namira Salim, who is renowned as the First Pakistani to go to space aboard Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, the First Space-line of the world.  “The Chandaryaan 2 lunar mission is indeed a giant leap for South Asia which not only makes the region but the entire global space industry proud.” Vikram Lander exhibited normal performance up to an altitude of 2.1 kilometers from the moon until ISRO lost signals. 

“Regional developments in the Space sector in South Asia are remarkable and no matter which nation leads—in space, all political boundaries dissolve and in space—what unites us, overrides, what divides us on Earth,” said Namira Salim.


Namira Salim greets India for attempting lunar landing
Namira Salim

What was once the club of a select few elite space nations, is now open to all nations at the dawn of our NewSpace age.  India is the first country to attempt a historic landing on the South Pole of the Moon and would have been the fourth nation to touch down on the lunar surface after space agencies of the USSR, the USA‎ ‎and China, and the third country to have operated a rover on the Moon.

Namira is a thought leader in making Space the New Frontier for Peace on Earth via her non-profit, Space Trust and advocates world leaders and governments to utilize space as a sustainable tool for peace on Earth toward Space 2030, in support of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda of 2030.  This role has carved her into a thought leader for a novel form of Space Diplomacy on Earth. 

“As Spacefaring and new space nations come to play an equally integral part in contributing to and bringing space and peaceful uses of space technologies on Earth, world leaders must join hands to understand that Space can actually help craft a novel form of Diplomacy on Earth and for which, they don’t need to be rocket scientists.  Accordingly, the best place to begin is in our very own sub-region to foster peace,” said Namira Salim.  ‎

With this year marking the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, China’s Change 4 achieved the first soft landing on the far side of the Moon, on 3 January 2019. Moreover, through NASA’s newly announced Artemis program, it will create a base on the moon by 2024 with a coalition of nations, to not only return the next man but also, to land the first woman on the moon. India was the first nation in the world to successfully launch a mission to Mars, the Mangalyaan or Mars Orbiter Mission, in a maiden attempt, a Space probe orbiting Mars since 24 September 2014. 

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