Neuralink ready for human trials, Bulgarian sky turns red and no star collisions yet

This week’s science highlights range from the enigmatic red skies seen around the world, including India, to Elon Musk’s Neuralink preparing for its first human trial of the revolutionary brain chip.

Ladakh sky turns red

In an unexpected celestial spectacle, the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) at Hanle and Merak in Ladakh captured rare red auroral activity on the night of November 5.

• This phenomenon, known as stable auroral red (SAR), paints the sky in vivid shades of red, which is a departure from the more common green and blue auroras.

• The intensity peaked around 10:40 p.m., visible towards the northern horizon from 10 p.m. to midnight.
• Operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bangalore, the IAO used a panoramic camera to document this extraordinary event.
• Merak, which was also capturing the image, encountered partial obstruction from higher mountains.

• This SAR event, observed globally, marked a rare event at lower latitudes, such as in Ladakh at 33° North.
• The event not only contributes to scientific research, but also strengthens Hanle’s status as an astrotourism hub.

Neuralink ready for human trials

Elon Musk’s Neuralink prepares for human trials in his brain-machine interface project. Despite the controversies, thousands of people are eager to join.

• Neuralink aims to revolutionize human-machine interaction by implanting devices in the brain for seamless transmission of thoughts to devices like laptops.

• Volunteers undergo a procedure in which a robot implants a brain-to-technology translator. The project targets people under the age of 40 suffering from complete limb paralysis.
• The goal is wireless thought transfer, transforming individuals into human-machine hybrids.

• However, skepticism remains, with concerns about the feasibility and ethical treatment of animal test subjects, particularly monkeys.

Scientists rule out star collision

Astronomers recently announced a reassuring update on the trajectory of the white dwarf star WD 0810-353.

• Early concerns were based on predictions from the Gaia space telescope, suggesting a potential collision with our solar system in 29,000 years.
• However, recent observations using the VLT’s FORS2 instrument have revealed a strong magnetic field around WD 0810-353.

• This discovery allowed researchers to accurately model its trajectory and speed, showing that it is not on a collision course with our Sun.
• This news is considered a relief, as such an encounter could have had catastrophic consequences, potentially disrupting the delicate balance of the Oort Cloud and sending comets towards Earth.

The Bulgarian sky bleeds red

For the first time, the Northern Lights, or Northern Lights, lit up Bulgaria’s skies on Sunday evening, creating a spectacular spectacle that quickly spread across the country, the newspaper reports. Weather Balkans.

• Social media is full of viral images and videos capturing breathtaking red auroras, with some describing the scenes as “apocalyptic” and “scary”.

• The phenomenon was not limited to Bulgaria, as the Northern Lights were also observed in Bulgaria.

1. Romania,
2. Hungary,
3. the Czech Republic,
4. Ukraine,
5. Poland,
6. Slovakia, and
7. The United Kingdom

These fascinating celestial events, triggered by disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field during geomagnetic storms, continue to captivate humanity across the globe.