Kathmandu Tops List for 'Unhealthy Air' Worldwide: Urgent Mask-Wearing Advisory Issued
In Nepal, the Ministry of Health and Population has urged people to wear masks given the increase in air pollution in Kathmandu valley. The air quality in Kathmandu was at the top of the list of cities with 'unhealthy air' in the world. According to IQAir, an organisation that measures the real-time pollution of 101 cities in the world, Kathmandu was found to be the most polluted city in the world.
In terms of pollution, Kathmandu, New Delhi, Chiang Mai in Thailand, Hanoi in Vietnam, Bangkok in Thailand and Dhaka in Bangladesh are ranked first, second, third, fourth and fifth respectively. People are advised not to come out of their homes unnecessarily, not to travel and to stay away from highly polluted areas.
Meteorite Impact Formed Luna Crater in Gujarat
A recent geochemical analysis has confirmed that the Luna crater, located in the Banni Plains grassland of Gujarat, India, was formed by a meteorite impact approximately 6,900 years ago. The crater, named after its proximity to the village of Luna, measures 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) in width and has an outer rim that rises about 6 meters (20 feet) above the crater floor.
Scientists in India had suspected the crater's extraterrestrial origin but lacked confirmation until February 2024
The Operational Land Imager (OLI) on NASA's Landsat 8 satellite captured a detailed image of the crater on February 24, 2024
Geochemical analysis revealed characteristic signatures of a meteorite impact, including rare minerals formed under extreme temperatures and pressures, as well as high concentrations of iridium.