Latest news with #SãoPauloStateUniversity
Time of India
6 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Three massive asteroids hidden in Venus' shadow could hit Earth with force a million times greater than Hiroshima bomb
Asteroids carrying energy over a million times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb could be on a potential collision course with Earth, warn scientists from Brazil, France, and Italy. According to a new study published in Astronomy and Astrophysics, three massive asteroids—identified as 2020 SB, 524522, and 2020 CL1—have been hiding in a blind spot behind Venus, shielded from Earth-based telescopes by the Sun's intense glare. These so-called 'Venus co-orbitals' are now being monitored closely due to their alarming proximity to Earth's orbit. City-Killer Threats Hiding in the Shadows These asteroids, ranging in diameter from 330 to 1,300 feet, are large enough to wipe out entire cities if they were to impact Earth. Scientists estimate that an impact would create a crater over two miles wide, triggering catastrophic firestorms and tsunamis. The energy released could be more than a million times that of the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Unlike most near-Earth objects, these asteroids don't follow stable trajectories. Researchers warn that even minor gravitational changes—from a passing planet or another asteroid—could alter their paths, sending them hurtling toward Earth. Minimal Distance, Maximum Risk The three asteroids raise particular concern because of their Minimal Orbital Intersection Distance (MOID) — the closest point between their orbit and Earth's. All three have MOIDs of less than 0.0005 astronomical units (AU), putting them closer to Earth than the Moon at certain points in their orbit. Live Events "Their orbits sync with Venus, but that doesn't protect us. These objects can still intersect with Earth's path and potentially collide," said lead researcher Valerio Carruba from São Paulo State University. Currently, 20 Venus co-orbital asteroids are known, but researchers believe many more remain hidden due to their location in Earth's observational blind spot. A Call for Vigilance — and Action While Earth-based telescopes like the upcoming Rubin Observatory in Chile might detect such asteroids, the reaction window is dangerously narrow—possibly just two to four weeks between detection and impact. To improve early detection, scientists suggest deploying a dedicated space probe near Venus, capable of scanning the region currently invisible to telescopes on Earth. "We need to map these hidden threats before it's too late," the researchers concluded. Should We Be Worried? Given their size, energy potential, and unpredictable orbits, these asteroids are not just theoretical threats. They are real and largely untracked hazards—cosmic wildcards that could, under the right conditions, strike Earth with devastating consequences. For now, scientists continue to track them closely—but the study highlights an urgent need for better detection systems that go beyond Earth's line of sight.
Express Tribune
08-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Scorpion stings surge in Brazil, up 250%: Researcher warn
Listen to article Brazilian cities are experiencing an alarming surge in scorpion populations, researchers have warned, with unplanned urbanisation and climate breakdown fuelling a sharp rise in human-sting encounters. Between 2014 and 2023, more than 1.1 million scorpion stings were officially reported, according to the Brazilian notifiable diseases information system. That figure marks a 250% increase over the past decade, signalling what experts now consider a public health crisis. The study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, attributes the increase to Brazil's rapid and often unregulated urban growth. In densely populated informal settlements such as favelas — where infrastructure is weak and waste management is poor — scorpions have found ideal conditions to thrive. 'Urbanisation in Brazil has profoundly reshaped ecosystems,' said lead author Dr Manuela Berto Pucca, an assistant professor at São Paulo State University. 'Cities unintentionally offer everything scorpions need: plenty of shelter in walls, drains, and debris, warmth, and an abundant food supply in the form of cockroaches and other insects.' A perfect habitat Scorpions particularly favour sewer systems, which provide constant warmth, limited predators, and access to food. Their resilience makes them difficult to eradicate: some species can survive for more than 400 days without food and can reproduce without mating, a process known as parthenogenesis. These characteristics, coupled with warmer temperatures, intense rainfall, and periods of drought — all intensified by climate change — have boosted scorpion survival rates and reproduction cycles. Preliminary data for 2024 suggests that scorpions caused nearly 200,000 stings and 133 deaths in Brazil in that year alone. The study projects 2 million additional sting cases between 2025 and 2033 if current conditions persist. But researchers caution that the true numbers may be significantly higher, as many Brazilians opt for self-treatment or never report their stings. 'I've been working in places where scorpion stings are a daily fear, especially in poor and crowded areas,' said Pucca. 'The numbers showed us that in the future the problem will be bigger than it is now.' Vulnerable populations at risk Though only 0.1% of reported stings are fatal, vulnerable populations — particularly children and the elderly — face higher risks. In many cases, the sting causes intense pain, burning, swelling, redness, nausea, and tingling, symptoms that may persist for days. Brazil's public health system provides free treatment and anti-venom, available in emergency care centres and hospitals across the country. Still, researchers are calling for more robust public health interventions, including education, infrastructure improvements, and pest control initiatives. 'If someone is stung, don't wait for symptoms to worsen – go to the nearest healthcare facility immediately,' said Prof Eliane Candiani Arantes, a co-author from the University of São Paulo. Not enemies, but survivors Despite the rising danger, experts stress that scorpions are not inherently aggressive. They sting in self-defence and play an important ecological role by controlling pest populations and supporting urban biodiversity. 'They are not our enemies,' Pucca said. 'These animals act defensively, not offensively. They're part of the natural world and play essential ecological roles.' Prevention and preparedness Simple public health measures can help reduce encounters. Experts recommend sealing wall cracks, checking clothes, shoes, and towels, keeping homes clean and dry, and using drain screens to block access from sewers. Dr Manuela González-Suárez, an ecologist at Reading University, who was not involved in the study, said the data is striking. 'The numbers are much higher than I would expect... this is a significant increase,' she said, while also noting that increased awareness may have led to more reports. Prof Nibedita Ray-Bennett of the University of Leicester, and president of the Avoidable Deaths Network, said the study underscores the need for urgent and coordinated action at the policy level. 'This issue is not just environmental; it is socio-economic and political,' she said. A regional issue with wider implications The authors warn that Brazil is not alone. Countries across South and Central America, including Paraguay, Bolivia, Mexico, Guyana, and Venezuela, have seen a 'particularly alarming rise in scorpionism' in recent decades. In Europe, more than 35 native scorpion species are known to exist, though no comprehensive studies have yet been done on population trends or sting data. As global temperatures continue to rise and cities expand further into wild habitats, scientists say similar public health concerns may emerge elsewhere if proactive measures aren't taken.
