
Neither humans nor birds, Earth will be destroyed in just a moment due to..., know what is Miyake event
We all have heard since our childhood that a day will come when everything on Earth will be destroyed. Adding to the theory, it is also said that 'Mahapralaya' occurred on Earth millions of years ago, leading to destruction of everything on Earth. However, this story is about an event, which is assumed to be more dangerous than this 'Mahapralaya' in our universe. Largest-ever solar storm
In a massive discovery reported in 2023, an international team of scientists discovered a huge spike in radiocarbon levels 14,300 years ago. The scientists got to the result by analysing ancient tree-rings found in the French Alps. As per the report, scientists discovered that the radiocarbon spike was caused by a massive solar storm, the biggest ever identified, as per a report carried by IANS.
The largest and the directly-observed was a solar storm that occurred in 1859. It is known as the Carrington Event and was caused massive disruption on Earth. As a result of the storm, telegraph machines were destroyed, creating a night-time aurora so bright that birds began to sing. Details on Miyake Events
It has also been known that nine such extreme solar storms — known as Miyake Events — have been identified as having occurred over the last 15,000 years.
As per the IANS report, the most recent confirmed Miyake Events occurred in 993 AD and 774 AD. However, it also reported that this newly-identified 14,300-year-old storm is however the largest that has ever been found. However, the Miyake Events would have been a staggering entire order-of-magnitude greater in size. Extreme solar storms
Most importantly, the scientists have warned that it is critical to understand the future risks of events like this, to enable us to prepare, build resilience into our communications and energy systems and shield them from potential damage.
'Extreme solar storms could have huge impacts on Earth. Such super storms could permanently damage the transformers in our electricity grids, resulting in huge and widespread blackouts lasting months,' said Tim Heaton, Professor of Applied Statistics in the School of Mathematics at the University of Leeds in the UK.
(With inputs from agencies)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hans India
17 hours ago
- Hans India
India to soon become space superpower, industry grew multi-fold in last 5 years: Experts
New Delhi: India is soon set to become a space superpower, and the industry has grown multifold in the last five years, said experts on Friday, lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech on the space sector. In his address to the nation from the Red Fort, PM Modi said the nation is proud of its space sector. The Prime Minister stated that India is working towards becoming self-reliant in the space sector. Citing several space missions, like Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan, and Mangalyaan, space scientist Dr P K Ghosh, told IANS: 'I think we are very near to becoming a space superpower with all these projects coming up'. Ghosh lauded the PM for acknowledging the space sector, which 'has achieved a lot of technologies on our own, capabilities'. One such example is the Cryogenic Engine technology. Another is the Gaganyaan mission -- India's flagship human spaceflight programme -- for which preparations are underway, he said. Notably, the space feats have been achieved on a 'frugal budget and they have produced results'. Now 'other countries want to collaborate with us', Ghosh told IANS, while mentioning the recent NISAR mission conducted in collaboration with NASA, and other impending missions with Japan's space agency JAXA, as well as other countries. The PM had also mentioned plans to build our own space station -- Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) -- and underscore the need to become self-reliant in the space sector. 'The BAS, which will come around after 2030, would be a major step. I think each of our 1.4 billion people should be very proud of it. Currently, we have the International Space Station and the Chinese Tiangong,' Ghosh said. 'Our youth have been really motivated to join the space sector,' the space scientist said, citing the 300 space startups in the country. Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (retd.), Director General, Indian Space Association (ISpA) lauded the government's policy to open up the space sector to the private industry in 2020. He credited the policy behind the surge in space startups in the country. 'Our Hon'ble Prime Minister's visionary plan to open up India's space sector has been a true game-changer. Backed by progressive reforms such as the Space Policy, liberal FDI push, and strong government support, the industry has grown multi-fold in just five years,' Bhatt said. 'The surge in space startups and their achievements reflects an unprecedented wave of innovation and ambition among our youth. With this momentum, we are confident of achieving the goal of $44 billion space economy by 2033 and cementing India's position among the world's leading spacefaring nations. This is not just growth, it's a national movement inspiring every Indian to aim higher and reach for the stars,' he added.


Hans India
2 days ago
- Hans India
Indian scientists explore potential cure for Alzheimer's Disease using microRNAs
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) - the discovery of which received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine last year - may play a significant role in the treatment and cure of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), said researchers from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR). Alzheimer's Disease is a devastating condition that steals away mental faculties and debilitates day-to-day life of patients. Characterised by the accumulation of protein clumps in the brain, memory loss, and cognitive deficits, it is estimated to affect more than 57.4 million people worldwide, a number that is expected to almost triple to 152.8 million cases by 2050. Addressing this, researchers from JNCASR, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), explored altered miRNAs in the Alzheimer's brain for early, specific, and accurate clinical diagnosis of the condition. The study published in the journal NAR Molecular Medicine 'unveiled various miRNA-mRNA pathway networks altered in Alzheimer's, which could potentially reveal various pathways to target for drug development,' said the team led by Madhu Ramesh and Prof. Thimmaiah Govindaraju from JNCASR. In the study, the researchers used a double transgenic AD mouse model to discover novel miRNAs involved in AD development and progression and identified various miRNAs that are altered in the AD brain compared to the normal brain, which could potentially trigger the disease. They discovered a significant increase in miR-7a -- which targets the protein Klf4 -- a master regulator of various gene expressions involved in Alzheimer's. Their detailed study showed that the miR-7a-Klf4 axis regulates neuroinflammation -- a major cause of Alzheimer's pathology. This axis also regulates an iron-mediated neuronal cell death mechanism involved in Alzheimer's called ferroptosis. 'The study offers valuable insight into Alzheimer's disease by uncovering the regulatory role of miR-7a in controlling neuroinflammation and ferroptosis via Klf4 targeting,' said Govindaraju. The researchers also developed a miRNA-based therapeutic that targets Klf4 to prevent neuroinflammation and ferroptosis. They carefully modified miR-7a to synthesise a mimic that significantly silenced Klf4 levels and rescued disease pathologies. They used Honokiol -- a small molecule and natural product for pharmacological modulation of the miR7a-Klf4 axis. Honokiol is a natural product found in bark and seed cones of Magnolia tree that targets Klf4 to stall neuroinflammation and ferroptotic cell death involved in Alzheimer's. This demonstrates that the miR-7a-Klf4 axis is a novel target for Alzheimer's and warrants further exploration to develop better therapeutics for the disease, the team said. 'With clinical evaluation, the developed miRNA mimic and small molecule, if proven safe and effective, could potentially cure Alzheimer's, benefiting both patients and caregivers,' they noted.


Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Harvard expert reveals jobs that may protect you from Alzheimer's disease
A Harvard Health Publishing highlights a surprising link between certain occupations and a lower risk of dying from Alzheimer's disease (AD). According to research reviewed by Dr. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Robert H. Shmerling, taxi and ambulance drivers show markedly lower rates of AD-related deaths compared with many other professions. Scientists believe the mental demands of real-time navigation in these jobs may strengthen the hippocampus, a brain region critical for memory and spatial awareness, and one of the first areas affected by Alzheimer's. If confirmed, these findings could open new doors in understanding and preventing the disease. Ambulance and taxi driver jobs may protect against Alzheimer's Earlier studies on London taxi drivers revealed enlargement in specific areas of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for spatial memory. This region is particularly vulnerable to the damage caused by Alzheimer's. Researchers suspect that the constant mental mapping, route planning, and decision-making involved in taxi and ambulance driving help preserve hippocampal health. These jobs often require drivers to process incoming information instantly, adapt to changing traffic patterns, and find the most efficient routes in unfamiliar areas. Over time, this mental workout may strengthen neural connections in the brain, potentially slowing or preventing the deterioration associated with Alzheimer's disease. What the new study found The study examined data from nearly nine million death certificates, focusing on 443 occupations. After adjusting for the average age of death, the researchers discovered striking differences in Alzheimer's-related mortality rates. Alzheimer's accounted for just 0.91 percent of deaths among taxi drivers and 1.03 percent among ambulance drivers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This was more than 40 percent lower than the general population average and significantly lower than the 1.82 percent observed among chief executives. Pilots and ship captains had some of the highest rates, with 2.34 percent and 2.12 percent respectively. The findings suggest that the level of active navigation required in a job could be an important factor, although the benefit was not observed for other types of dementia. Why other navigation jobs are not equally protective While jobs like piloting an aircraft, captaining a ship, or driving a bus might seem similar in navigational demands, researchers explain that these roles often follow fixed routes or rely heavily on automated systems. Pilots can depend on autopilot and air traffic control, ship captains may navigate pre-determined sea routes, and bus drivers typically repeat the same path daily. As a result, the cognitive challenge is less intense and less varied compared to taxi and ambulance drivers, who must constantly adapt to new road conditions, passenger destinations, and emergency scenarios. This constant need for flexible problem-solving may be key to the observed brain benefits. Could everyday activities have the same effect? Experts believe it may be possible to gain similar brain benefits outside of professional driving. Activities that demand spatial reasoning and complex navigation skills could potentially help maintain hippocampal function. Examples include orienteering, geocaching, and hiking in unfamiliar terrain using a map and compass. Even indoor activities such as jigsaw puzzles, solving Rubik's Cubes, or playing spatially challenging video games like Tetris and Minecraft might provide cognitive stimulation. However, researchers caution that there is still no definitive proof that such activities reduce Alzheimer's risk in the same way these occupations appear to. Further studies will be needed to confirm whether these recreational tasks have long-term protective effects. The takeaway While this research does not conclusively prove that driving a taxi or ambulance prevents Alzheimer's disease, it adds weight to the theory that mentally challenging and spatially demanding activities can help protect brain health. Harvard experts recommend that people interested in lowering their Alzheimer's risk should combine mentally stimulating activities with other proven lifestyle measures. These include maintaining regular physical activity, eating a nutrient-rich diet, managing cardiovascular health, staying socially connected, and ensuring good sleep quality. Together, these strategies offer the best chance of reducing the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.