IIT Mandi Researchers Develop Sustainable Methods of Soil Stabilisation Using Bacteria
Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi, developed sustainable techniques for soil stabilisation using a harmless bacteria called S Pasteurii that hydrolyse urea to precipitate calcite.
The process does not involve hazardous chemicals, and natural resources can be used sustainably. The study will help in designing microbial methods to improve soil shear strength at the field scale to protect the soil from erosion in hilly areas and during geo-disasters, the researchers claimed.
Soil stabilisation is the process of conferring long-term permanent strength to the soil by artificial means. It is used when construction work must be carried out on unstable grounds or to protect soil from erosion. Traditionally, mechanical processes such as compression and chemical processes such as the injection of chemical grout fluids into the soil are used for soil stabilisation.
Apr 11, 2022
Axiom-1: First All-private Crew Launches to Space Station
Four astronauts left Earth on the first all-private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The four men are called the Axiom-1 crew.
A former US space agency (Nasa) astronaut, Michael López-Alegría, is commanding the mission. Flying alongside him are US real estate entrepreneur and aerobatic pilot Larry Connor; Israeli investor and philanthropist Eytan Stibbe; and Canadian entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist Mark Pathy.
This mission was launched by SpaceX.
Apr 09, 2022
Amazon Signs Contract with Three Firms to Launch its Satellite Internet
The tech firm secured up to 83 launches over a five-year period, which the company claims is the greatest commercial launch vehicle procurement in history. Arianespace, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) have agreed to deploy the majority of Amazon's Project Kuiper satellites, which aim to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband to a wide variety of clients around the world.
The tech firm has secured up to 83 launches over a five-year period, which the company claims is the greatest commercial launch vehicle procurement in history.
The contracts call for 18 launches on Arianespace's Ariane 6 rockets, 12 launches on Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin's New Glenn, with options for up to 15 more launches, and 38 flights on ULA's newest heavy-lift launch vehicle, the Vulcan Centaur.
The announcement brings Amazon's satellite internet constellation one step closer to reality, as Elon Musk's SpaceX continues to launch more Starlink satellites, bringing the total number of Starlink satellites launched to about 2300, and increasing Starlink's global subscriber base to about 2.5 lakh.
Apr 08, 2022
Near Identical Twin of Jupiter Planet
Astronomers discovered a planet that is a near-identical twin of Jupiter. The newly discovered twin of Jupiter is also located at a similar distance from its star as the distance between Jupiter and the Sun.
The newly discovered planet was dubbed K2-2016-BLG-0005Lb.
This exoplanet was discovered by an international astrophysicist's team using data obtained that was obtained by NASA's Kepler space telescope.
The newly discovered planet is located 17,000 light-years away from Earth.
This newly discovered identical twin of Jupiter has a mass similar to Jupiter; also, its position from its respective Sun is similar to that of Jupiter as from the sun. This is the first time Einstein's microlensing method has been used by the Kepler Telescope to discover a planet.
Apr 06, 2022
Google Maps to Roll out Toll Prices for Indian Users, Move to Help People
Google is rolling out toll prices on Maps in India, the US, Japan and Indonesia that will help users make the choice between toll roads and regular roads.
With this new update, users can now find the estimated toll price to their destination even before the trip starts with toll pricing information from local tolling authorities.
Toll prices will be rolling out on Android and iOS this month for nearly 2,000 toll roads in India, the US, Japan and Indonesia -- with more countries coming soon. In addition, Google has also released new updates for iOS users to make Google Maps easier to use on an Apple Watch or iPhone. In addition, Apple Watch users will soon be able to get directions on Google Maps directly from their Watch.
ISRO to Send Team to Investigate Objects that Fell from Sky in Maharashtra
The India Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will send a team of its experts to Pawanpur village, in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra to investigate what is believed to be remnants of a disintegrated Chinese rocket.
"Inputs from several sources are received on the mysterious flashing light seen in the sky during evening hours on April 3...It is reported that a metal ring and a cylinder-like object was found in an open field in Pawanpur village. As requested by the district administration, a team of scientists form ISRO is visiting Pawanpur for inspection and further scientific enquiry," read a post from ISRO's Facebook page.
Space debris or remnants of satellites, rockets, and other objects in space crashing into the earth are a common occurrence but it is relatively rare for such objects to fall onto land.