Sunk ship and its plastic nurdle spill threaten India's fish breeding lifeline on West Coast
Experts say the spill occurred as the upwelling system was taking shape where monsoon-driven winds lift nutrient-rich deep waters to the surface. This process fuels plankton blooms, sustaining nearly 50% of India's marine fish landings, including small pelagic species like Indian Mackerel (accounting for 30% of marine landings, with India producing 90% of the global supply, 77% from the west coast) and oil sardines.
The region's high productivity, driven by sea surface temperature, salinity, and mixed layer depth, supports a complex food web, linking plankton to larger predatory fish and providing livelihoods for lakhs of fishermen. The spill's timing during the monsoon upwelling period, when productivity peaks, heightens the risk of disrupting this delicate ecosystem.
Sri Lankan X-Press Pearl disaster
The 2021 X-Press Pearl disaster off Sri Lanka offers a precedent for the potential impacts of the MSC ELSA 3 spill. After that container ship caught fire and sank 18 km off Colombo, it released 1,680 tonnes of nurdles, leading to over 600 beached turtles, damaged fishing nets, and nurdles found in fish stomachs, gills, and mouths.
A recent study by international researchers from Denmark, Spain and Sweden on the impact of spilled debris from the X-Press Pearl disaster in Sri Lanka on marine plankton in a peer-reviewed journal revealed acute toxicity from leachates, with phytoplankton (Rhodomonas salina) showing minimal growth inhibition, meroplankton (Paracentrotus lividus larvae) experiencing 94% malformation at high concentrations, and holoplankton (Acartia tonsa nauplii) facing significant hatching reductions. These findings suggests the nurdles' potential to disrupt plankton-based food webs, a critical component of the MUR.
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Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Mysterious space object sends signals to Earth every 44 minutes, scientists baffled
Astronomers in Australia have detected a mysterious cosmic object , named ASKAP J1832-0911 , that sends out bursts of radio and X-ray signals every 44 minutes, an occurrence unlike anything previously observed. The discovery was made using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and NASA's powerful Chandra X-ray Observatory. The signals last for about two minutes and reappear at consistent intervals, leaving scientists puzzled. This rare behaviour classifies the object as a long-period transient (LPT), a phenomenon not well understood. The discovery raises new questions about the evolution of dead stars and the possibilities of unknown space physics. How does the mysterious object ASKAP behave ASKAP J1832-0911 doesn't behave like any known star or pulsar. While typical pulsars emit rapid pulses lasting milliseconds or seconds, this object produces signals at much longer and consistent intervals. It 'switches on' and 'switches off' every 44 minutes, a rhythmic pattern that puzzles scientists. This behaviour defies existing theories of stellar remnants, which generally operate on much shorter timescales. The precise timing and strength of these signals suggest a mechanism we have yet to fully understand. With no known counterparts in current astrophysical databases, this object may represent a new class of transient phenomena in deep space. Possible explanations of sending signals every 44 minutes Scientists suggest that ASKAP J1832-0911 could be a type of magnetar, a highly magnetic remnant of a dead star, or a binary system involving a white dwarf. However, none of these theories fully explain the signal pattern. The regularity and intensity of the pulses point toward unknown or poorly understood physics, sparking interest in developing new models. The role of cutting-edge observatories The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory played a key role in this discovery. ASKAP detected the radio pulses, while Chandra confirmed X-ray emissions from the same source. This multi-wavelength approach provided the necessary evidence to classify the object and rule out common causes like interference or background noise. What makes this discovery important This may be the first indication of a new class of celestial bodies. Long-period transients are extremely rare, and this one could reshape how we understand stellar remnants and high-energy cosmic events. It also highlights the importance of continuous sky monitoring to catch such unusual phenomena in action. Next steps in the investigation Astronomers plan to search for similar signals across the sky using the same observatories. Identifying more objects like ASKAP J1832-0911 could confirm whether it is truly unique or part of a hidden population. Future observations may also uncover details about its origin, energy source, and possible implications for space science.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Sunk ship and its plastic nurdle spill threaten India's fish breeding lifeline on West Coast
Experts say the spill occurred as the upwelling system was taking shape where monsoon-driven winds lift nutrient-rich deep waters to the surface. This process fuels plankton blooms, sustaining nearly 50% of India's marine fish landings, including small pelagic species like Indian Mackerel (accounting for 30% of marine landings, with India producing 90% of the global supply, 77% from the west coast) and oil sardines. The region's high productivity, driven by sea surface temperature, salinity, and mixed layer depth, supports a complex food web, linking plankton to larger predatory fish and providing livelihoods for lakhs of fishermen. The spill's timing during the monsoon upwelling period, when productivity peaks, heightens the risk of disrupting this delicate ecosystem. Sri Lankan X-Press Pearl disaster The 2021 X-Press Pearl disaster off Sri Lanka offers a precedent for the potential impacts of the MSC ELSA 3 spill. After that container ship caught fire and sank 18 km off Colombo, it released 1,680 tonnes of nurdles, leading to over 600 beached turtles, damaged fishing nets, and nurdles found in fish stomachs, gills, and mouths. A recent study by international researchers from Denmark, Spain and Sweden on the impact of spilled debris from the X-Press Pearl disaster in Sri Lanka on marine plankton in a peer-reviewed journal revealed acute toxicity from leachates, with phytoplankton (Rhodomonas salina) showing minimal growth inhibition, meroplankton (Paracentrotus lividus larvae) experiencing 94% malformation at high concentrations, and holoplankton (Acartia tonsa nauplii) facing significant hatching reductions. These findings suggests the nurdles' potential to disrupt plankton-based food webs, a critical component of the MUR.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Rare space object blasts X-rays and radio waves every 44 minutes
Astronomers have detected a rare space object that emits powerful bursts of energy in both radio and X-ray wavelengths every 44 minutes. The object, known as ASKAP J1832-0911 , lies around 15,000 light-years away in the Milky Way and is the first of its kind to show such behaviour across both ends of the electromagnetic spectrum. Long-period transients (LPTs) a recently identified class of cosmic bodies typically emit brief pulses of radio waves separated by hours or minutes. But until now, none had been observed producing X-ray emissions . ASKAP J1832-0911 has changed that, emitting energy levels far beyond anything previously recorded in this category. 'This object is unlike anything we have seen before,' said Dr Ziteng (Andy) Wang, lead author of the study and a researcher at Curtin University, part of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR). The findings were published this week in *Nature*. A lucky observation by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo ASKAP J1832-0911 was initially detected via radio signals by the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), operated by CSIRO on Wajarri Yamaji Country. By sheer coincidence, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory happened to be surveying the same region of sky at the same time, enabling astronomers to match the radio pulses with bursts of X-ray radiation. 'Discovering that ASKAP J1832-0911 was emitting X-rays felt like finding a needle in a haystack,' said Dr Wang. 'The ASKAP telescope has a broad view of the sky, but Chandra focuses on a much smaller region, so the overlap was a matter of great fortune.' Since the first LPT was discovered in 2022, around ten more have been identified. But none has demonstrated behaviour as intense and regular as ASKAP J1832-0911. New Physics on the horizon? Astronomers suspect ASKAP J1832-0911 could be either an ageing magnetar a type of dead star with extremely strong magnetic fields or a binary system containing a magnetised white dwarf, the remnant of a low-mass star. 'ASKAP J1831-0911 could be a magnetar, or it could be a pair of stars in a binary system where one is a highly magnetised white dwarf,' Wang explained. 'However, even those theories do not fully explain what we are observing. This discovery could indicate a new type of physics or new models of stellar evolution.' A doorway to more discoveries According to Professor Nanda Rea from the Institute of Space Science (ICE-CSIC) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), the discovery suggests ASKAP J1832-0911 may be the first of many similar objects. 'Finding one such object hints at the existence of many more,' Rea said. 'The discovery of its transient X-ray emission opens fresh insights into their mysterious nature.'
