Name: Scientists develop a 'mini sun' to study solar wind
Uploaded: 2019-07-30T04:21:00.fff+05:30
Duration: T00M40S
Channel: editorji

To get a better understanding of solar winds, scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison built a 'mini sun' that mimics the real sun. Dubbed the 'Big Red Ball',

Scientists develop a 'mini sun' to study solar wind

To get a better understanding of solar winds, scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison built a 'mini sun' that mimics the real sun. Dubbed the 'Big Red Ball', researchers pump in helium gas, just like its present in the actual sun, and turn it into plasma. Moreover, a magnet present at the centre also creates a magnetic field when electric current is applied to the machine. The research published in the journal Nature Physics said that the object will help scientists study how solar wind is generated and how it transforms as it travels to the earth.

To get a better understanding of solar winds, scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison built a 'mini sun' that mimics the real sun. Dubbed the 'Big Red Ball', researchers pump in helium gas, just like its present in the actual sun, and turn it into plasma. Moreover, a magnet present at the centre also creates a magnetic field when electric current is applied to the machine. The research published in the journal Nature Physics said that the object will help scientists study how solar wind is generated and how it transforms as it travels to the earth.

World Earth Day is observed annually on April 22nd to acknowledge climate change and spread awareness about the same all around the world. This day is an opportunity to

World Earth Day is observed annually on April 22nd to acknowledge climate change and spread awareness about the same all around the world. This day is an opportunity to bring millions to connect and discuss problems like pollution, deforestation and so much more.
The&nbsp;theme for Earth Day 2021 is "Restore Our Earth." The theme signifies that we need to start doing our bit in order to restore the planet and focus on rebuilding the world's ecosystems. As per the website, earthday.org, the theme will focus on "natural processes, emerging green technologies and innovative thinking that can restore the world&rsquo;s ecosystems."
Earth Day is being celebrated annually since the year 1970. However, this year, there is a three-day event that will take place virtually. The event will start from April 20th and will go on until April 22nd. It will be dedicated to issues about the climate crisis and there will be a few topics of discussion like climate and environmental literacy, climate restoration technologies, equity and environmental justice.

Game of Thrones actor Maisie Williams is facing criticism from online watchdogs after her appointment as the 'global sustainability ambassador' for H&M. S

Game of Thrones fame actor Maisie&nbsp;Williams is facing&nbsp;criticism from online watchdogs after her appointment as the 'global sustainability ambassador' for H&amp;M. Sharing the news on Instagram, the actor said she's joining the brand to front its campaign to use only recycled or sustainable products by 2030.&nbsp;
However, people are not happy with Williams for promoting 'greenwashing' with the fast-fashion brand. In the fashion industry, greenwashing&nbsp;refers to the practice of conveying falsified information and giving&nbsp;misleading updates about how a company's products are more environmentally safe.&nbsp;
H&amp;M's actions as one of the biggest fast fashion labels in the world have often been deemed questionable and sustainability experts are not happy with Maisie's new association with the brand.

As several forest fires rage across Uttarakhand, a video of the state’s Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat using a bush to douse the fire has gone viral on social

As several forest fires rage across Uttarakhand, a video of the state&rsquo;s Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat using a bush to douse the fire has gone viral on social media.
In the 30-second clip, Rawat is seen trying to put out the forest fire in Pauri district on Monday.
In the past six months, the state has reported over 1,000 incidents of forest fire, including over 45 on Sunday. The IAF deployed choppers on Sunday to douse the blaze.

At least 40 active fires are currently ravaging the forests of Uttarakhand. As per the state government, the fire has affected forests across the Garhwal and Kumaon reg

At least 40 active fires are currently ravaging the forests of Uttarakhand. As per the state government, the fire has affected forests across the Garhwal and Kumaon regions with Nainital, Almora, Tehri and Pauri districts being the worst-hit.
According to reports, the fire has so far destroyed property worth Rs 37 lakh and claimed the lives of at least seven animals.
The Union home ministry&nbsp;has dispatched two Indian Air Force helicopters that have been deployed in the firefighting operations.

Tokyo is dipped in hues of pink, as the cherry blossoms are in full bloom along the Meguro river. Visitors thronged to see the splendid site, as a state of emergency w

Tokyo is draped in hues of pink as the cherry trees are in full bloom along the Meguro river.
Parks in Tokyo were cordoned off as the the Japanese government has been calling upon people to refrain from holding picnic parties under the cherry blossoms.
Visitors thronged to see the splendid site as a state of emergency was lifted last week.
The cherry blossoms this year have reached their peak earlier than usual and experts suggest climate change is likely the cause.

An IIT-Delhi incubated startup, called Geliose Mobility, has developed an e-scooter that cuts travel cost to just 20 paise per kilometer. Called HOPE, the scooter is an

An IIT-Delhi incubated startup&nbsp;has developed an e-scooter that cuts travel cost to just 20 paise per kilometer. Called HOPE, the scooter is an Internet-based one and is an affordable alternative to petrol scooters that cost about Rs 2.5 per km. The scooter comes with a portable battery and a portable charger. According to an ANI report, a user can even switch between pedals for fitness and throttle for convenience.

US President Joe Biden has invited 40 countries including Russia and China to participate in the first big climate talk of his administration. The summit that will

US President Joe Biden&nbsp;has invited 40 countries including Russia and China to participate in the first big climate talks under his administration. The summit that will be held virtually on April 22 and 23 will be the US' first major international climate discussion in more than 4 years.
Biden administration officials said that the summit is about engaging at the leadership levels and sending a signal on how serious the US is on climate change.
Although the&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;administration is at loggerheads with China and Russia on election interference, cyber-attacks, human rights, and other issues, officials say that the US hopes that both countries will join the discussion.&nbsp;
China is the world's top emitter of climate-damaging pollution followed by the United States, while Russia stands at no. 4.&nbsp;

Africa's elephant populations have become more endangered, owing to threats of poaching and loss of habitat, a new report by International Union for Conservation of Nat

Africa's elephant populations have become more endangered, owing to threats of poaching and loss of habitat, a new report by International Union for Conservation of Nature has revealed. Now, the African forest elephant is critically endangered while the African savanna elephant is endangered- they were previously classified as a single species. experts suggest&nbsp;these species could face extinction in as little as 10 years. The number of African forests elephants have fallen by more than 86% over a 31 year period while savanna elephants have fallen by more than 60% over a 50 year period. Experts have warned that extinction of Africa's elephants will have consequences for the planet, since they play an important role in ecosystems and economies.

Researchers in France's Bordeaux analysed nearly a dozen bottles of Chateau Petrus Pomerol wine that spent close to a year in space. The wine, along with 320 snip

Researchers in France's Bordeaux analysed&nbsp;nearly a dozen bottles of Chateau Petrus Pomerol wine that spent close to a year in space.
The wine, along with 320 snippets of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines, came back to Earth after spending a year aboard the International Space Station for agricultural research.
Preliminary results were announced on Wednesday, when scientists said that weightlessness did not ruin the wine, and it seemed to energise it.
The initiative is a part of a larger effort to make plants on Earth more resilient to climate change by exposing them to different and newer stresses and to understand the fermentation and ageing of wine better.
While tasting, some researchers said the wine had aromas of cured leather or a campfire. Such experiments could help scientists create sturdier vines on Earth and maybe pave the way for wine-making in space.

Anonymous Indian graffiti artist, Daku's latest work sheds light on the water crisis in Chennai and the rest of India. The artist mainly uses shadow-play in his mu

Anonymous Indian graffiti artist, Daku's latest work sheds light on the water crisis in Chennai and the rest of India.&nbsp;The artist mainly uses shadow-play in his murals, and his latest piece in Chennai shows people lining up to fill up their buckets.
On June 19, 2019, officials in Chennai&nbsp;had declared 'Day Zero', indicating that water in the city had depleted. Sending a message through his art, Daku&nbsp;in an Instagram&nbsp;post wrote,&nbsp;Chennai has a long history of water crisis, the city was not meant to be the kind of metropolis it is now.
The mural is located in Kannagi Nagar and has been done for St+Art India Foundation.

To deal with the waste created by face masks, a Dutch designer Marianne de Groot-Pons creates face masks with rice paper that are filled with flower seeds. The masks,

To deal with the waste created by face masks, a Dutch designer Marianne de Groot-Pons&nbsp;has created face masks with rice paper that are filled with flower seeds.
The masks, created by her company called Marie Bee Bloom, are biodegradable and are meant to be buried into the ground after use.
Once they're buried, they bloom into stunning flowers. The glue used on the mask is also made using potato starch and water.
The artisanal masks are priced at approx. US$3.58 each and provides as much or as little protection as fabric masks, she claims.

The recovery of an ocean, threatened by extreme climatic events, could be aided with the help of sharks, according to a new study by researchers at the Florida Int

The recovery of an ocean, threatened by extreme climatic events, could be aided with the help of sharks, according to a new study by researchers at the&nbsp;Florida International University.
The study found that these apex predators are critical for maintaining stability and biodiversity in the world&rsquo;s oceans.
These sharks consume grazing animals, which in turn feed on aquatic plants.These plants further keep seas healthy by storing carbon dioxide and maintaining water clarity.
When these top predators are pushed to extinction, it is close to impossible for the ecosystem to make a comeback, the research says.
&nbsp;

World Water Day 2021: A new report released by UNICEF suggests that one in five children globally, does not have enough water for everyday needs.

A new report released by UNICEF suggests that one in five children globally, does not have enough water for everyday needs.
Over 1.42 billion people, including 450 million children across the world live in areas of high or very high water shortage.
The report further highlights the impact that the water crisis on children, saying children will&nbsp;miss school to fetch water when wells dry up and suffer from malnutrition when droughts hit food supplies.
The largest number of children,or over 155 million, living in areas of high or extremely high water vulnerability are in South Asia. To tackle this, the UN Body is launching the 'Water Security for All' initiative, that aims to ensure that every child has access to sustainable water services.
As per a UNICEF report from 2017, nearly 1 in 4 children worldwide will live in areas of extremely high water stress by 2040.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.editorji.com/story/world-water-day-2021-the-real-cost-of-water-1553265350034" target="_blank" >World Water Day 2021: The real cost of water</a>

If the climate crisis continues at the current rate, the Northern Hemisphere could witness summers for nearly half the year, by 2100. According to a new research publi

If the climate crisis continues at the current rate, the Northern Hemisphere could witness summers for nearly half the year, by 2100.
According to a new research published in Geophysical Research Letters, the&nbsp;average northern hemisphere summer has grown from 78 to 95 days between 1952 and 2011.&nbsp;
Winter could be squeezed to just 31 days a year across the Northern Hemisphere if urgent action is not taken to tackle the climate crisis.
This could affect&nbsp;the environment, human health and agriculture significantly.
&nbsp;

A declining rainfall pattern is severely affecting water security in Bihar, the state which does not have enough storage capacity.

A declining rainfall pattern is severely affecting water security in Bihar, the state which does not have enough storage capacity, according to a study by&nbsp;the Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI).&nbsp;
Bihar&nbsp;has only 950 million cubic metres of storage capacity in its 22 dams, which covers just 5% of the state's requirement.
This could have major consequences for the mostly rain-fed agriculture practiced here.
With the increasing population in the state, the per capita availability&nbsp;of water is reducing.
On World Water Day,&nbsp; celebrated on the 22nd of March, experts are urging the Bihar&nbsp;government to safeguard existing water resources to preserve them for future generations.
Also Read | <a href="https://www.editorji.com/story/world-water-day-2021-the-real-cost-of-water-1553265350034" target="_blank" >World Water Day 2021: The real cost of water</a>

There are things we use every day - some that we can't live without, and some that we can learn to live without. But no matter what we do, our existence depends on the

There are things we use every day - some that we can't live without, and some that we can learn to live without. But no matter what we do, our existence depends on the most important molecules present on Earth: H2O. Here's a look at a few things we use and throw away everyday, and the surprising amount of water that goes into making them.
1. Most Indians can't live without their morning cup of tea, while some need their hot cup of coffee. While you may use only 200 ml of water in your cup of cup, the production of 1 cup worth of tea requires close to 34 litres of water, and a cup worth of coffee needs a whopping 132 litres to produce.
2. Your favourite pair of jeans may go out of style soon, but did you know the production of 1 pair of jeans needs 7,000 to 10,000 litres of water? That's approximately 3 years worth of drinking water, and this excludes the water needed to wash it!
3. The delicious meat dishes we like to indulge in show another grave scenario. To produce 1 kg of mea

With the Covid-19 pandemic, the plastic problem has made a huge comeback due to the demand in face masks, PPE kits and other essentials. The plastic waste has now ente

With the Covid-19 pandemic, the plastic problem has made a huge comeback due to the demand in face masks, PPE kits and other essentials.
The plastic waste that has&nbsp;entered oceans poses a huge risk to marine life.
According to a BBC report, divers in the Philippines recently discovered over a dozen single use face masks within the first 10 minutes of their dive near coral reefs in Manila.&nbsp;
A report by the Asian Development Bank says that the city has been generating about 280 tonnes of extra medical waste per day.
Experts are urging the Philippines government to take immediate action to manage its waste disposal to prevent polluting the seas.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Phool.co, a company backed by IIT Kanpur has received the BIRAC Innovator Award for 2021 for its cruelty-free alternative to animal leather, called Fleather. The bio-a

Phool.co, a company backed by IIT Kanpur has received the BIRAC Innovator Award for 2021 for its cruelty-free alternative to animal leather, called Fleather.
The bio-alternative to leather developed by Phool.co has been created with farm waste and temple flowers and performs almost like leather.
Made in a sustainable manner, the process cuts down many traditional tanning processes and also helps increase job opportunities for women in marginalized&nbsp;sections, according to the company.

Global warming is pushing the tropical regions of the planet towards the limits of human livability, according to a new study by researchers from the Princeton Uni

Global warming is pushing the tropical regions of the planet towards the limits of human livability, according to a new study by researchers from the&nbsp;Princeton University.
If global heating is not curbed to 1.5C above the pre-industrial era, tropical areas could change into whole 'new environments that&nbsp; would hit the limit of human adaptation'.&nbsp;
Currently, 40% of the world's population live in the tropics and this population will only increase by 2050.
The study concludes that in the coming decades,&nbsp;3 billion people could be pushed beyond the historical range of temperature that humans have survived.

A staggering 17% of food available to consumers, which is about 931 million tonnes was wasted in 2019, a new report by the United Nations says. The UN report say

A staggering 17% of food available to consumers, which is about&nbsp; 931 million tonnes was wasted in 2019, a new report by the United Nations says.
The UN report says&nbsp;majority of the wasted food, that is about 61% came from households, 26% was wasted by the food service industry, while retail contributed to 13% of the wastage.
The report also noted that food wastage is not limited to developed countries like the United States or the United Kingdom.&nbsp;Many countries have not yet quantified their food waste, so they don't understand the magnitude of the problem.
South Asia is no better. In India, 50 kg of food per person per year goes to waste, 82 kg per person is wasted in Afghanistan and 79 kg per person is wasted in Nepal.

Environment

Celebrate Earth Day 2021: 'Restore Our Earth'

Maisie Williams faces flak for 'greenwashing' with H&M. Here's what it means

Watch: Uttarakhand minister tries to douse forest fire with a bush

40 forest fires rage in Uttarakhand, IAF choppers pressed in

Tokyo draped in hues of pink thanks to its cherry blossoms

e-scooter from an IIT-D incubated start-up cuts travel cost to just 20 paise/km

President Biden invites China and Russia for global climate talks

Africa's elephant species are now endangered: IUCN

Researchers taste French wine that spent a year aboard the ISS

Anonymous graffiti artist Daku's latest mural depicts the Chennai water crisis

Dutch designer creates biodegradable face masks that can bloom into flowers when planted

Sharks critical in restoring damaged ecosystems due to climate change, study shows

1 in 5 children globally faces shortage of water for basic needs: UNICEF

By 2100, summers would last for nearly half the year if climate crisis continues

Bihar's water security threatened by declining rainfall pattern

World Water Day 2021: The real cost of water

Covid-19 impact: PPE washing up on coral reefs in the Philippines

IIT Kanpur backed company Phool.co gets awarded for its bio-alternative to leather

Global warming: tropical regions pushed towards limits of human livability

17% of food available to consumers in 2019 went to waste: UN

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