Black Carbon emissions accelerating melting processes in Himalayas: Report
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
NASA astronaut Mike Massimino who saw India from space calls these two Indian cities 'spectacular'
The visuals of Earth from orbit aren't just a beautiful postcard moment; it's something profoundly moving, and among those who've had that experience is former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino, a man whose journey above the planet eventually brought him back down to Earth in the most unexpected way, right here, to India. Recently, former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino shared an emotional moment from his time aboard the International Space Station (ISS), describing how the beauty of India as seen from space left such a lasting impact that he promised himself he would one day visit the country. That long-held dream finally came true. Speaking with YouTuber and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia on a recent episode of his show, Massimino remembered how breathtaking the view of India was during his space mission. 'India is very beautiful,' he said, without hesitation, when asked if certain parts of Earth looked more stunning than others from space. According to a clip shared by Ranveer on Instagram, the astronaut described how the lights of major Indian cities like Mumbai and Delhi stood out in the night. He called them "spectacular," talking about the glowing cityscapes under a blanket of stars. But for Massimino, the view was more than just visually stunning; it carried an emotional weight. 'He says he always wanted to visit after seeing it from above,' Ranveer wrote in the post, 'and finally made that dream come true. The beauty he saw from space matched what he experienced on the ground.' Who is Mike Massimino? Mike Massimino is far from your average astronaut. Born in New York, he holds engineering degrees from Columbia University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Selected by NASA in 1996, he flew on two space shuttle missions and spent more than 571 hours in space, including 30 hours of spacewalks to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. He also made history as the first astronaut to send a tweet from space, giving the public a direct glimpse into life aboard the ISS. After retiring from NASA in 2014, Massimino returned to Columbia, this time as a professor of engineering. His recent trip to India, inspired by a decades-old memory from space, is a beautiful example of how even the most distant views of Earth can bring us closer to one another.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
NASA astronaut liked seeing India from space. What Mike Massimino did next will move you
Who is Mike Massimino? Only a few people on Earth have seen the planet from a place most of us can only dream about. And for former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino, that once-in-a-lifetime view led to something unforgettable. On a recent episode of Ranveer Allahbadia's podcast, Massimino shared how the beauty of India seen from space left such a deep impression on him that he made a silent promise to visit one day—and he finally a snippet from their conversation, which Ranveer posted on Instagram, the former astronaut described how stunning India looked when he observed it from the International Space Station . 'India is very beautiful,' he said without hesitation, when asked if certain parts of Earth looked more breathtaking than others. He explained how city lights, like those from Mumbai and Delhi, looked 'spectacular' at night, glowing beneath a blanket of stars. For Massimino, that view wasn't just visually striking—it was beauty he saw from orbit lingered in his memory long after he returned to Earth. Years later, that vision would bring him to India for the first time, fulfilling a dream sparked thousands of kilometres above ground. 'He says he always wanted to visit after seeing it from above,' Ranveer wrote, 'and finally made that dream come true. The beauty he saw from space matched what he experienced on the ground.'He's not just any astronaut. Born in New York, Massimino holds degrees from Columbia University and MIT. Selected by NASA in 1996, he logged over 571 hours in space—including more than 30 hours of spacewalks—and made history as the first astronaut to tweet from space. After retiring in 2014, he began teaching engineering at Columbia.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
NASA says a 170-foot airplane sized asteroid will zoom past Earth on August 5; does it pose any risk? Let's find out
Space tracking agencies and planetary scientists are always scanning the skies for close encounters of cosmic bodies with Earth, even when there's no immediate danger. These flybys of asteroids that pass millions of miles away, remind us of how dynamic, and unpredictable our cosmic neighborhood can be. Monitoring these near-Earth objects (NEOs) helps scientists keep up with their orbital data, test detection systems, and prepare for any unexpected shifts in trajectory, as each close approach is treated as important practice for planetary defense. Even asteroids that pose no threat now, simply by flying within a few million miles, are studied carefully. Recent reports suggest an object named 2025 OT7 is set to make a close approach on 5 August 2025, measuring approximately 170 feet, traveling around 77942 kmh, and passing at about 43,45,228 km from Earth. The asteroid is identified as belonging to the Aten group, whose orbits often cross Earth's path. Experts have suggested that this flyby poses no danger, since NASA only considers an asteroid potentially hazardous if it passes within 7.4 million km and exceeds 85 meters in diameter. Why do scientists keep a close watch on asteroids? Even safe flybys serve as critical rehearsal for planetary defense. Small changes in an asteroid's orbit, due to gravity or non-gravitational forces like the Yarkovsky effect, can alter future paths. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo Continuous tracking ensures any deviation is detected early. NASA's criteria for flagging objects include size and proximity of near space objects. India is also preparing for future asteroid-based missions India's space agency ISRO is also gearing up for future asteroid-focused missions. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath has discussed plans to study larger objects such as Apophis, which will pass near Earth in April 2029, and ambitions to land on asteroids through international collaboration with NASA, ESA, and JAXA. Can OT7 cause potential harm While asteroid 2025 OT7 isn't dangerous, it's still a reminder of how unpredictable space can be. Even when everything seems calm, things can change in an instant. That's why scientists closely monitor objects like this, it helps us stay ready for anything.
