'City killer' asteroid, headed earlier for Earth, now set to hit moon in 2032? NASA's latest update
Since its discovery last year, the asteroid had caught the attention of the world after it was revealed there was a slim possibility it might hit the Earth in 2032.
Experts at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Center for Near Earth Object Studies have updated the 2024 YR4's chance of hitting the Moon in 2032 to 4.3 per cent.
According to NASA, the possibility of 2024 YR4 hitting the moon was updated after data from the James Webb telescope and other ground-based telescopes.
'The Webb data improved our knowledge of where the asteroid will be on December 22, 2032, by nearly 20%. As a result, the asteroid's probability of impacting the Moon has slightly increased from 3.8% to 4.3%. In the small chance that the asteroid was to impact, it would not alter the Moon's orbit,' a post on NASA's blog read.
According to NASA, the asteroid is now too far away to observe with telescopes. Further observations will be conducted by the US space agency in 2028, when the asteroid's orbit around the Sun brings it back closer to Earth.
As data comes in, the probability of the asteroid's impact may change. An international team led by Maryland-based Dr. Andy Rivkin of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, made the observations about the asteroid in May using Webb's near-infrared camera.
When the asteroid was first discovered in 2024, it had a very low probability of impacting the Earth. After investigation, NASA concluded that the asteroid would not pose a significant impact risk to the planet in 2032 and beyond.
When the asteroid was discovered by the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ALERT), it was called 'city destroyer' online due to its speed, size, and the possibility of it hitting the Earth.
It was discovered on December 27, 2024, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System.
The asteroid is about 40 to 90 meters (130 to 300 feet) wide.
As of now, there is no significant impact risk posed by the asteroid in 2032.
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Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Business Standard
Ananth Tech set to launch India's first private satellite broadband service
Ananth Tech gets IN-SPACe nod to launch ₹3,000-crore satellite broadband service by 2028, marking India's first private satcom rollout to rival Starlink, OneWeb, and Amazon Kuiper New Delhi In a significant development for India's space and telecommunications sectors, Hyderabad-based Ananth Technologies is set to become the first private Indian company to offer satellite communication (satcom) services using a domestically-built satellite, according to a report by The Economic Times. This marks a shift in the country's space ecosystem, positioning the firm to directly compete with international players such as Starlink (SpaceX), Eutelsat OneWeb, and Amazon's Project Kuiper. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), the space regulator, has granted Ananth Technologies the go-ahead to roll out broadband-from-space services starting in 2028. The company plans to deploy a 4-tonne geostationary (GEO) communication satellite that will deliver a data capacity of up to 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) to users across the country. An initial investment of ₹3,000 crore has been committed to the venture, with scope for further funding depending on demand, the news report said. GEO vs LEO: The technical edge and trade-offs While many global players operate in low earth orbit (LEO) — typically 400 to 2,000 km from Earth — Ananth Technologies will deploy a satellite in geostationary orbit, over 35,000 km above the planet. LEO satellites, like those used by Starlink, Amazon, and OneWeb, complete an orbit every 1–2 hours, allowing for low-latency broadband. In contrast, GEO satellites orbit the Earth once every 24 hours, appearing stationary from the ground. While latency is higher in GEO systems, they offer broader territorial coverage — a single satellite can blanket the entire Indian subcontinent, unlike LEO constellations that require multiple satellites for complete coverage. Starlink inches closer to final approval This would place Starlink on par with other authorised providers such as Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite. In May, Starlink received the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence, making it the third satcom firm cleared to offer commercial services in the country. Vodafone Idea joins satellite race with AST SpaceMobile tie-up Last month, Vodafone Idea (Vi) announced a strategic alliance with US-based AST SpaceMobile to bring satellite phone services directly to standard smartphones in India. AST SpaceMobile is developing the world's first cellular broadband network operating entirely from space, targeting both commercial and government sectors. "Vi (Vodafone Idea) and AST SpaceMobile Inc. announced a strategic partnership to expand mobile connectivity across India's unconnected regions. AST SpaceMobile made history by placing the first-ever voice and video call from space using a standard mobile phone, a milestone that demonstrates the real-world viability of its advanced technology," Vodafone Idea said in a statement.
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
What India must get right
How do you know that a Russell's viper is knocked out from the anaesthetic it has been given, since snakes don't have eyelids that would helpfully close? You monitor the tail, always the last to stop moving, explains Lisa Gonsalves, curator at Karnataka-based The Liana Trust, a non-profit working on human-snake co-existence. She calmly strokes the sedated, highly venomous snake stretched out on a white table, its top half in a transparent tube. Once the tail stops twitching, Gonsalves and Gerard 'Gerry' Martin, herpetologist and founder of the Trust, move swiftly to de-worm, measure and weigh the snake. The next step is heart-stopping. Martin starts blowing gently into the mouth of the Russell's viper — the species responsible for the highest number of snakebite fatalities in India — through a straw-like instrument. This, he explains, is to flush out the anaesthetic. Soon enough, the snake starts to revive. The rescued viper is now part of a first-of-its-kind, research-based serpentarium near Hunsur, about 200 kilometres from Bengaluru, which aims to research and improve the way antivenom is made in India and study the behaviour of snakes, which Martin says can be 'a nightmare' in the wild. 'Snakes are difficult to work with. We can't study them using camera traps like with other species, for instance.' The serpentarium houses seven venomous species and is set to have up to 400 snakes, with each individual in a separate enclosure designed to replicate its natural habitat to the extent possible, with lush flora and small pools of water in some, and enclosures with basking lights for species like the Russell's viper, which likes the warmth of the sun in cooler weather. Set up by The Liana Trust with the Karnataka Forest Department, the serpentarium is one of several recent initiatives to mitigate the impact of human-snakebite conflict — responsible for the most number of human fatalities in human-wildlife conflict, yet long neglected. These include India's first National Action Plan on snakebites (launched a year ago), developing better alternatives to antivenom, multiple serpentariums, including one that will incubate startups working on antivenom, and apps for snake rescue. All these and more are aimed at mitigating a public health issue which, till recently, did not get the attention it deserved. And which climate change is only set to exacerbate. A 2024 paper in The Lancet Planetary Health on how climate change will impact the distribution of venomous snakes predicts that while some areas such as the Amazon would see species loss, others like India with extensive agricultural area would see an increase in areas climatically suitable for snakes. Combined with India's large share of low-income and rural population, this would increase vulnerability to snake bite in a country that is already considered the snakebite capital of the world. KNOW YOUR VIPER India has more than 310 species of snakes. Of these, 66 are labelled venomous or mildly venomous. The 'Big Four' were considered responsible for most venomous bites in the country, but newer studies show other species also contribute to the snakebite burden, particularly in the Northeast. Poor man's problem Tackling snakebite envenoming — the technical term for the condition caused by the toxins in the bite of a venomous snake — poses a complex public health challenge which requires a sustained, multi-disciplinary endeavour. In India, efforts to tackle snakebite are further complicated by the lack of data around it. Many victims die before reaching a hospital so no agency could capture the true burden, says Ravikar Ralph, professor, Clinical Toxicology Unit, at Vellore's Christian Medical College. Even when the deaths occur in hospitals, they would not necessarily be recorded with government authorities since snakebite was not a notifiable disease until recently. Underpinning the invisibilising of the issue is the fact that victims typically live in rural areas and belong to low-income sections. 'We have six deaths every hour. But snakebite is a poor person's problem so it gets little attention,' says Sumanth Bindumadhav, director of wildlife protection at the non-profit, Humane Society International India. Additionally, the WHO estimates that while 81,410 to 1,37,880 people die each year because of snake bites globally, it also causes around three times as many amputations and other disabilities. Survivors also have to struggle with the financial impact, from the cost of treatment of conditions such as kidney damage and amputation caused by snakebite, to loss of income, which can be debilitating for low-income families. 'We need to acknowledge that humans and snakes will always share space. There will be co-existence, so it's very important to figure out how.'Sumanth BindumadhavDirector, Humane Society International India Ramesh M. (name changed on request), a native of Hunsur, is one such survivor. When the 33-year-old stepped out of his house late one evening to move a big drum of water barefoot, a snake nestled underneath darted out and bit him. Poor first-aid, delays in treatment, and an infected wound meant he could not return to his factory job in Bengaluru for three months. When he recovered, the company would not take him back. He now works in a hardware store back home and as a farm labourer. 'From a salary of ₹35,000, his monthly earnings have now dipped to about ₹12,000. He has to support his family of four with it and also repay the loans he took for the snakebite treatment,' says Bindumadhav. Gap in data The scale of India's burden came to light with the Million Death Study, first published in 2011. It estimated that India sees about 58,000 deaths a year, close to half the global toll. In contrast, the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence pegs snakebite deaths at 2,000 a year. This lack of accurate data is now starting to get plugged, with the country's first National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming in India (NAPSE), launched in March 2024, advising all states to make snakebite a notifiable disease. Karnataka had already done so in February 2024 while a few others like Tamil Nadu and Meghalaya began later in the year. 'It's one of the biggest impacts of the national action plan. This will answer a lot of our questions vis-a-vis deaths, bites, etc,' says Jaideep Menon of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in Kerala. Lethal strike Snakebite kills about 58,000 people a year in India, close to half the global total. Snakebite deaths are more common (48%) during the southwest monsoon (June-September) Russell's viper contributes to most deaths at 43%, followed by unknown species (21%), krait (18%), and cobra (12%). (Source: WHO; Indian Million Death Study; Trends in snakebite deaths in India, 2020) Dr. Menon began studying snakebite deaths in the early 2000s, and is separately leading an Indian Council of Medical Research survey on the incidence, mortality, morbidity and socio-economic burden of snakebites across 14 states, another first-of-its-kind effort which will improve understanding of the issue. Close to 70% of snakebite deaths occur in nine states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, according to a 2020 study on trends in snakebite deaths in India. However, it's yet to be declared a notifiable disease in these high-burden states. In Madhya Pradesh, it is treated as a 'local tragedy', and compensation is disbursed for loss of life. The Uttar Pradesh government, in 2021, declared deaths due to snake bites as a state calamity following a significant number of fatalities recorded between 2016 and 2021. Families of victims are eligible for a compensation of ₹4 lakh, which must be provided within seven days of the death. Confluence of factors While snakebite envenoming is a global challenge, with the World Health Organization declaring it a neglected tropical disease in 2017, the number of deaths and cases of long-term disability are higher in India due to multiple factors. 'We have an extraordinary number of people coexisting closely with snakes, especially in rural and semi-rural areas,' says Gnaneswar Ch., project lead-snakebite mitigation at The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust & Centre For Herpetology in Tamil Nadu. 'Several parts of Africa have more venomous snakes than India. But the numbers [of envenoming] are not as high because of lower population density.' Secondly, medical treatment is often delayed, either due to lack of access to healthcare facilities in rural areas, poor availability of anti-venom or, as it often happens, because patients first approach traditional healers. Gnaneswar recalls a recent incident where a farmer from Kanchipuram who was bitten by a Russell's viper first went to a faith healer. 'The healer gave him something to put in his mouth, something to put in his eyes, then took him to the spot where he was bitten and conducted a ritual, all of which took an hour-and-a-half. When the victim lost consciousness, the healer said it was not his responsibility,' he says. The farmer was finally rushed to the hospital but by the time he reached, he was brain dead. Even when the patient manages to reach a healthcare facility in time, other complications can arise. Administering antivenom quickly is the universal life-saving treatment for snakebite envenoming. But because antivenom is made of antibodies generated in an animal, it can trigger adverse allergic reactions in humans, which can sometimes be severe, even life-threatening. 'The fear of developing an allergic reaction is heightened in a small hospital in the periphery,' says Dr. Ralph. Doctors then end up referring patients to larger facilities, which means precious time is lost. Many primary health centres (PHCs) also don't have qualified doctors, says Priyanka Kadam, founder of Mumbai-based not-for-profit Snakebite Healing and Education Society (SHE-India). When Dr. Sadanand and Dr. Pallavi Raut opened their clinic in Narayangaon in Maharashtra in the mid-90s after the former witnessed an eight-year-old girl lose her life to snakebite, these issues were rampant. 'Doctors at PHCs and medical centres in our area were initially reluctant to give antivenom because of the risk of anaphylaxis and death,' says Dr. Sadanand. But years of working with communities, building awareness and giving training has made a difference in the area, he says, underlining the importance of scaling these measures. 'Critical patients now come to us within 20 minutes and the survival rate is 100%.' Kadam says her organisation is training ASHAs (accredited social health activists) in places like Bastar in Chhattisgarh to spread the message that victims must immediately go to the hospital. One size doesn't fit all Antivenom everywhere is made using the same century-old method: by injecting tiny doses of venom into a large animal like a horse and then using the antibodies that are generated. Antivenom can be monovalent, targeting a single species, or polyvalent, for multiple species. In India, antivenom is made using the venom of four species considered responsible for most cases of envenoming. Termed the 'Big Four', these are the common krait, the Indian cobra, the Russell's viper and the saw-scaled viper. But this approach is now being questioned, particularly since there are regions where other venomous species dominate and where the current antivenom is less effective, as multiple studies have now shown. Venom also varies within species, depending on age and climatic conditions, recent research has shown. A study conducted among snakebite victims in Rajasthan published in January this year found poor antivenom response, because the venom of the saw-scaled viper in the region was more potent than its counterpart in Tamil Nadu, from where much of the country's venom is sourced. One solution is to have antivenoms for different regions instead of a single one for the whole country, an approach the national action plan now recommends. Different research groups are working on this, including the Evolutionary Venomics Lab at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, which has been testing regional antivenoms for western India with an antivenom manufacturer. Results are set to be published soon. Another group in Tezpur University is working on an antivenom for the Northeast. Quality issues But Indian antivenom also suffers from quality issues. At present, the bulk of venom is collected by the Irulas, a marginalised tribal community in Tamil Nadu historically skilled at catching snakes. With the help of conservationist Romulus Whitaker, they formed the Irula Snake Catchers' Industrial Cooperative Society and are today licensed to catch snakes for venom. The Irulas keep the captive reptiles in pots in sand pits, milk them for venom to sell to manufacturers, and then release the snakes back into the wild. However, this process does not adhere to WHO protocols and good manufacturing practices, which impacts the venom quality, says Gnaneswar. Humane Society's Bindumadhav says there is a big policy gap in the fact that the antivenom used in India has never undergone clinical trials and there are no minimum quality standards. This is one of the issues The Liana Trust's new serpentarium aims to tackle, by taking venom from snakes housed in the facility in controlled, hygienic conditions to be supplied to antivenom manufacturers for free. 'This will set a precedent for region-specific antivenom centres. It will also help us understand the local venom landscape,' says Martin. Tamil Nadu, too, is considering setting up a modern serpentarium, though Gnaneswar says progress has been slow. The most ambitious of the new facilities will be the Venom Institute for Snakebite Health and Advanced Medicine (VISHAM) coming up in Bengaluru, funded by the Karnataka government and developed in collaboration with the Evolutionary Venomics Lab (EVL) at an initial cost of ₹7 crore. Kartik Sunagar, associate professor at IISc and head of EVL, says the serpentarium aims to be one of the best globally, housing species from across India, and producing high-quality venom. 'We will also have labs for collaborative research with manufacturers and an incubation centre that will house startups interested in working on antivenoms,' says Sunagar. Modernising treatment Critically, Sunagar and his team are also working on bringing snakebite treatment into the 21st century. Last year, scientists at EVL along with researchers at Scripps Institute in the U.S .and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine published their discovery of a new recombinant antibody (produced using genetic engineering; it was tested and selected from a 'library' of millions of lab-made antibodies), which can neutralise a whole group of toxins across multiple species, holding out promise of a universal or at least pan-continental antivenom. While progress will take time, Sunagar's team is working on other synthetic antibodies specifically against Indian snakes. Since these antibodies are not generated in animals, it will also minimise adverse reactions. 'Regional antivenoms can at best be a stop-gap solution — we need modern solutions, which will be more effective,' says Sunagar. The other promising avenue is repurposing existing drugs such as varespladib and marimastat, found to be potent inhibitors of specific toxins in snake venom. Success would mean a drug that can be taken orally as opposed to antivenom given intravenously in a healthcare setting. This will at the very least buy victims time to reach a hospital. U.S.-based Ophirex is currently conducting trials in India and the U.S. Sunagar is separately set to publish results of trials of orally-administered drugs in Russell's viper bites, which successfully neutralised venom in mice. A diagnostic test to identify a Russell's viper bite, which would help in targeted treatment, is also in the works. Rescue app Others are using technology to mitigate the conflict between snakes and humans. For instance, the Sarpa (short for Snake Awareness Rescue and Protection App) app, which has enabled the rescue of 50,000 snakes in Kerala, connects the closest snake rescuer with those who need one, much like an Uber or Ola connects passengers to taxi drivers. Says founder Jose Louies, who is also CEO of Wildlife Trust of India, 'We can keep track of what species we've found in which season, in an area. We can also generate predictive data.' Other states have expressed interest in replicating this model, adds Louies, before cautioning that apps should not be seen as a magic bullet. 'It's the system and networks behind it that make it work.' The best mitigation, says conservationist Whitaker, is prevention. But that's difficult in India, where people work in fields barefoot and with bare hands, and step out at night without a flashlight. 'Education and awareness are key. The government would only have to spend a fraction of what it ends up paying as compensation,' he suggests. Being at the frontlines of human-snake conflict, Martin says the challenges often seem formidable. 'But the momentum is growing and the problem is getting acknowledged. Every step forward is heartening,' he says. We need to acknowledge that humans and snakes will always share space, adds Bindumadhav. 'There will be coexistence, so it's very important to figure out how.' The question gathers urgency if India is to meet the WHO target of halving snakebite mortality by 2030 and adapt to the impact of climate change. With inputs from Mehul Malpani (Madhya Pradesh) and Mayank Kumar (Uttar Pradesh). The Bengaluru-based independent journalist writes on gender, labour, ecology and business.
NDTV
10 hours ago
- NDTV
Exclusive - Biology Beyond Earth: How Space Station Is Shaping Human Life in Space
Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is visiting a home away from Earth that has seen continuous human presence for a quarter of a century and is floating around 400 kilometres above Earth. For most millennials, the idea of humans living and working in space has been a constant reality. Since November 2000, the International Space Station (ISS), a football-field-sized laboratory orbiting 400 kilometres above Earth, has hosted a continuous human presence. But beyond the awe of astronauts floating in microgravity, the ISS has quietly become one of the most important biological laboratories in human history. In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, influential NASA biologist Dr Sharmila Bhattacharya shared how two decades of biological research aboard the ISS are not only preparing us for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars but also transforming our understanding of human health on Earth. A Living Lab in Orbit "The first few years were about building the station," Dr Bhattacharya explained. "But for the last 15 to 20 years, we've been doing very active science as an international community." That science spans a wide range of biological disciplines. Researchers studied how spaceflight affects muscle loss, bone density, cardiovascular health, immune function, and even kidney-stone formation. These studies are essential because space is an extreme microgravity environment, radiation and isolation take a toll on the human body. And yet, astronauts have not only survived but thrived. "They go fit and come back fit," said Dr. Bhattacharya. "But that's because they're some of the fittest people on Earth and follow strict exercise and diet regimens." The Brain in Space One of the most fascinating areas of research has been the effect of spaceflight on the brain. Dr Bhattacharya's team used fruit flies, Drosophila, as a model organism to study neurological changes. "We found that in space, there were definite effects on the brain," she said. To test whether these effects could be mitigated, her team created artificial gravity using a centrifuge aboard the ISS. "We were able to partially reverse some of the defects we saw in the nervous system," she noted. This has major implications for future missions, especially those lasting years, such as a round trip to Mars. Preparing for Mars A journey to Mars could take six to nine months one way, with astronauts staying for several months before returning. That means humans will need to survive in deep space for up to two years, facing elevated radiation and reduced gravity. "The ISS has taught us a lot about microgravity," Dr Bhattacharya said. "But the Moon has one-sixth Earth's gravity, and Mars has one-third. We need to understand how partial gravity affects biology." A recent collaboration between NASA and the Japanese Space Agency used mice to study biological changes under different gravity levels-Earth, Moon, Mars, and microgravity. "It was a really interesting experiment," she said, adding that "because it helped identify thresholds where certain biological systems begin to change." Plants in Space: More Than Just Food Beyond human biology, the ISS has also become a greenhouse in orbit. Astronauts have successfully grown lettuce, tomatoes, and other crops. "Some of the tomatoes were very well appreciated by the crew," Dr. Bhattacharya said. Plant habitats on the ISS are not just functional; they are emotional anchors. "They're well-lit, so when crew members celebrate birthdays or holidays, they often gather near the plants. It's like the beautiful garden in space." These experiments are crucial for future missions, where astronauts will need to grow their food. They also help scientists understand how plants respond to microgravity, which could lead to agricultural innovations back on Earth. The Microbial Frontier Space is also a frontier for microbiology. Dr Bhattacharya's team studied how bacteria behave in space and found that some, like Serratia marcescens, became more virulent after spaceflight. "They killed fruit flies faster than bacteria that hadn't gone to space," she said. Interestingly, this increased pathogenicity disappeared when the bacteria were grown again on Earth. "We wanted to understand the molecular biology behind that change and what made them more dangerous in space," she explained. "These enclosed environments give us insights into microbial ecosystems, not just in space but also in places like submarines or hospitals on Earth," Dr Bhattacharya said. Astronauts as Test Subjects Over 600 astronauts have flown to space, many of them to the ISS. Their bodies have become invaluable data sources. "We've grown multiple generations of fruit flies, Caenorhabditis elegans, and even plants in space," Dr. Bhattacharya said, adding that "Now we're doing longer and longer experiments." One of the most exciting upcoming studies involves MRI scans of astronauts' brains before and after spaceflight, as part of the Axiom 4 mission. "Given what we've seen in fruit flies, I'm very interested to see what the human data shows," she said. The End of an Era, and the Start of Another The ISS is expected to be retired by 2031. But Dr Bhattacharya is optimistic. "I celebrate what the ISS has given us," she said. "But I'm also looking forward to the next platform." That next step could be a commercial space, perhaps Axiom, Haven, or VAST. China already has its space station, and India is planning one too. "The more platforms we have in space, the more science we can do as a global community," she said. Why It Matters for Earth While the focus is often on preparing for Mars, the benefits of space biology are already being felt on Earth. From understanding immune responses to developing better exercise regimens, the research done in orbit is improving healthcare on the ground. "Basic biology helps us understand not just how to live in space, but how to live better on Earth," Dr Bhattacharya said. A New Age of Exploration As humanity looks beyond Earth, the ISS stands as a testament to what international cooperation and scientific curiosity can achieve. It has been a proving ground for the biology of the future where humans may one day live on the Moon, Mars, or even beyond. And thanks to scientists like Dr. Sharmila Bhattacharya, we're not just dreaming about that future, we're building it, one fruit fly at a time.
