Kathmandu: NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has made history by surviving the closest-ever fly-by of the Sun, enduring extreme conditions to send a successful signal back to Earth. The spacecraft passed just 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) from the solar surface on Christmas Eve, marking a groundbreaking milestone in solar exploration.



After several days of being out of communication during the high-risk fly-by, scientists at NASA received a signal from the probe just before midnight EST on Thursday (05:00 GMT on Friday). The agency confirmed that the Parker Solar Probe was "safe" and operating normally despite having passed through the Sun's searing outer atmosphere.



NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, which launched in 2018, is on a mission to unlock the mysteries of the Sun, including how material in the Sun’s atmosphere is heated to millions of degrees, the origin of the solar wind, and how energetic particles are accelerated to nearly the speed of light.



Moving at a record-breaking 430,000 mph (692,000 kph), the probe endured temperatures up to 1,800°F (980°C), facing extreme radiation that could have damaged its electronics. The spacecraft is shielded by an 11.5 cm (4.5 in) thick carbon-composite heat shield, allowing it to endure the Sun’s intense heat for brief periods during its fly-by.



The December 24th approach, the 22nd of its kind, was the closest the spacecraft has ever come to the Sun. For comparison, Earth is about 93 million miles from the Sun, meaning that if the Sun and Earth were placed one meter apart, Parker Solar Probe would be just 4 cm from the Sun, illustrating the spacecraft’s incredible proximity.



This unprecedented mission is providing NASA with invaluable data to improve understanding of our Sun’s behavior, including the solar wind—a continuous flow of charged particles from the Sun—and how they affect space weather and Earth’s magnetic field.



Dr. Nicola Fox, NASA’s head of science, emphasized the importance of this mission: “For centuries, people have studied the Sun, but you don't experience the atmosphere of a place until you actually go [and] visit it. We can't really understand the atmosphere of our star unless we fly through it,” she told BBC News.



The Parker Solar Probe continues to make history with each of its fly-bys, and scientists are eager to analyze the data it provides in their ongoing quest to better understand the forces at work on our star.



Source: BBC

NASA’s Parker Solar probe makes history with closest-ever approach to the Sun

Kathmandu: Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has reported that the first winter rain of the season entered Nepal from the far western region on Monday evening, signaling the start of winter rains across the country.



Department of Hydrology and Meteorology's weather bulletin issued on Monday evening indicates varying weather patterns across provinces:



Far West Province: Partly to generally cloudy skies with light rain at some places and light snowfall in mountainous areas. Koshi Province: Partly to generally cloudy weather with light rain and snowfall at one or two places in the mountainous region. Madhesh Province: Generally cloudy skies with light rain expected in a few areas. Bagmati Province: Generally cloudy weather with light rain and light snowfall at a few places in mountainous areas, and partly cloudy conditions in the Terai. Lumbini Province: Hill areas will remain generally cloudy with light rain at some places, while the Terai will have partly cloudy skies with the possibility of light rain.



Meteorologists noted that last winter saw minimal rainfall, with scattered showers in the far western and western regions but none in the eastern regions or Kathmandu Valley. This year, however, the country experienced record-breaking rainfall during the monsoon season, including in Kathmandu.



As winter progresses, cold temperatures are steadily increasing across the country, including in the capital. Meteorologists predict that this year’s winter will be as cold as last year’s.



The drop in temperature is also raising concerns about pollution, which tends to increase during the winter season due to reduced rainfall and atmospheric changes. Experts warn that heightened pollution poses serious health risks, emphasizing the need for precautionary measures.

Winter rain enters Nepal

Kathmandu: The Kathmandu Valley has experienced its coldest day of the winter season today, with the minimum temperature recorded at 2°C. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology’s Weather Forecasting Division, the temperature dropped from 3.1°C on Friday to 2°C today.



The weather bulletin released by the Department highlighted a sharp decline in temperatures across the Valley and other parts of Nepal. The chilly conditions have left residents in the Kathmandu Valley feeling the winter's full intensity.



The cold spell has also affected other areas of the country. Jumla district, located in the mid-western region, recorded the lowest temperature of -7.2°C today, marking the coldest temperature so far this winter season.



The Department of Meteorology indicated that the weather across the country is expected to remain generally clear, although mist and fog are likely to persist in some parts of the Terai region. The current weather conditions are being influenced by the Westerly Wind, which is contributing to the significant drop in temperatures.



Residents across the Valley and other affected regions are advised to take precautions against the cold, particularly during early morning and late evening hours.

Kathmandu Valley records coldest day as temperature drops to 2°C

Kathmandu: For the first time, Nepal has presented its case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), demanding climate justice and highlighting the devastating impact of climate change on the country. Foreign Minister Dr. Arjun Rana Deuba represented Nepal in the proceedings, calling for compensation to address the damage caused by climate change.



Dr. Rana Deuba informed the ICJ about the significant effects of climate change on Nepal, particularly due to carbon emissions from wealthy, developed nations. The Minister emphasized that despite Nepal's minimal contribution to global carbon emissions, the country has been severely affected by the resulting climate change, and it urgently requires resources to tackle the crisis.



During the hearing, Dr. Rana Deuba pointed out that Nepal's geographical vulnerability and its level of development make it particularly susceptible to climate-related disasters. He also referred to a recent study by ISIMOD, which predicts that glaciers in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region could lose up to 80% of their current mass by the end of this century due to accelerated melting. This, in turn, would exacerbate problems such as floods, landslides, and infrastructure damage in Nepal’s high-altitude regions.



The Foreign Minister further outlined the severe climate-related disasters Nepal has faced this year, including floods and landslides that claimed over 300 lives. Additionally, crucial infrastructure, including drinking water systems, roads, energy, irrigation, and agriculture, was severely damaged, with losses exceeding $103 million USD.



Alongside Dr. Rana Deuba, Secretary of the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, Uday Raj Sapkota, and Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shubhang Parajuli, also provided detailed information on Nepal’s situation, reinforcing the country’s demand for climate justice.



The ICJ is holding hearings on climate justice as per a directive from the United Nations General Assembly. Nepal’s appeal calls for accountability and compensation from countries responsible for the climate crisis, which is disproportionately affecting vulnerable nations like Nepal.

Nepal seeks climate justice at International Court of Justice

Kathmandu: NASA has announced a further delay to its ambitious Artemis program, pushing back the planned launch of its second mission to the Moon to April 2026. The mission, originally slated for September 2025, was meant to send astronauts on a flyaround of the Moon, but will now be delayed by over a year due to technical issues with the spacecraft's heat shield. The delay also means that a manned Moon landing will not take place until at least 2027, a full year later than initially planned.



NASA Administrator Bill Nelson explained that the delay is necessary to address the heat shield problem, which became apparent after the previous test flight. The capsule’s heat shield returned excessively charred, with significant erosion, cracks, and broken fragments. Nelson emphasized that ensuring the safety of astronauts is the agency's top priority, saying, "We do not fly until we are ready."



Engineers have identified the root cause of the problem and believe a change in the capsule’s re-entry trajectory will fix the issue. However, the agency stressed that a thorough assessment will take time. "We need to do the next test flight, and we need to do it right," Nelson said.



This delay comes as NASA faces growing competition from China’s space agency, which has its own plans to send astronauts to the Moon. Despite the setback, Nelson expressed confidence that NASA’s Artemis program would be the first to land astronauts on the lunar surface, with Artemis 3 now planned for mid-2027—years ahead of China’s 2030 target.



The delay also raises questions about the viability of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), the rocket designed to send astronauts to the Moon. The SLS has faced criticism for being both slow and costly to develop, with critics pointing to the faster progress of private companies like SpaceX. Elon Musk's SpaceX is developing the Starship, a reusable and more cost-efficient rocket that is expected to outpace NASA’s efforts.



The leadership of NASA could also be shifting in the near future. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to succeed Bill Nelson as NASA administrator. Isaacman, a close collaborator of Musk and a sponsor of private space missions, could bring significant changes to NASA’s approach, particularly regarding the cost and efficiency of space exploration.



Dr. Simeon Barber, a space scientist at the Open University, cautioned that the combination of Isaacman’s entrepreneurial background and the influence of Musk could bring a "new pair of eyes" to NASA. "SLS is an old-school rocket. It is not reusable like Starship, hence very expensive, and it has taken a long time to get it operational. And slow and expensive is a precarious position to be in when the incoming president is looking to save costs," he said.



The delays to the Artemis program highlight the challenges NASA faces as it races to return humans to the Moon while navigating the growing competition from the private sector and international space agencies.

Nasa delays astronaut flight around the Moon

Kathmandu: Scientists can’t know precisely when a volcano is about to erupt, but they can sometimes pick up telltale signs.



That happened two years ago with the world’s largest active volcano. About two months before Mauna Loa spewed rivers of glowing orange molten lava, geologists detected small earthquakes nearby and other signs, and they warned residents on Hawaii’s Big Island.



Now a study of the volcano’s lava confirms their timeline for when the molten rock below was on the move.



“Volcanoes are tricky because we don’t get to watch directly what’s happening inside – we have to look for other signs,” said Erik Klemetti Gonzalez, a volcano expert at Denison University, who was not involved in the study.



Upswelling ground and increased earthquake activity near the volcano resulted from magma rising from lower levels of Earth’s crust to fill chambers beneath the volcano, said Kendra Lynn, a research geologist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and co-author of a new study in Nature Communications.



When pressure was high enough, the magma broke through brittle surface rock and became lava – and the eruption began in late November 2022. Later, researchers collected samples of volcanic rock for analysis.



The chemical makeup of certain crystals within the lava indicated that around 70 days before the eruption, large quantities of molten rock had moved from around 1.9 miles (3 kilometers) to 3 miles (5 kilometers) under the summit to a mile (2 kilometers) or less beneath, the study found. This matched the timeline the geologists had observed with other signs.



The last time Mauna Loa erupted was in 1984. Most of the U.S. volcanoes that scientists consider to be active are found in Hawaii, Alaska and the West Coast.



Worldwide, around 585 volcanoes are considered active.



Scientists can’t predict eruptions, but they can make a “forecast,” said Ben Andrews, who heads the global volcano program at the Smithsonian Institution and who was not involved in the study.



Andrews compared volcano forecasts to weather forecasts – informed “probabilities” that an event will occur. And better data about the past behavior of specific volcanos can help researchers finetune forecasts of future activity, experts say.



Source: AP

World’s largest active volcano Mauna Loa showed telltale warning signs before erupting in 2022

Kathmandu: President Ramchandra Paudel will depart for Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 10 to participate in the 29th UN Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP-29). He is leading a high-level delegation from Nepal at the summit, which runs from November 11 to 22.



The Nepali president is attending the conference at the invitation of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev. During his visit, President Paudel is slated to address the high-level session of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit on November 12.



On November 13, Nepal will host its own high-level session, also led by President Paudel, to bring global attention to the country's climate change challenges. The session will highlight the impacts of climate change in Nepal, including significant loss and damage from natural disasters such as floods and landslides in areas like Melamchi, Mustang, Kanchanpur, Thame, and the Kathmandu Valley.



One of the key discussions during the conference will focus on "Addressing Climatic Loss and Damage in Mountainous Regions," a topic of particular importance to Nepal, given its vulnerability to the effects of climate change.



As a signatory to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Nepal is actively working on a National Adaptation Programme, which is set to be implemented by 2050. President Paudel’s participation at COP-29 aims to underscore Nepal's commitment to combating climate change and securing international support for adaptation efforts.



President Paudel is expected to return to Nepal on November 15, after attending the key sessions of the conference.

President Ramchandra Paudel to attend COP-29 in Baku, Azerbaijan

Kathmandu: Mount Fuji is still without snow, making it the latest time in the year the mountain has remained bare since records began 130 years ago.



The peaks of Japan's highest mountain typically gets a sprinkling of snow by early October, but unusually warm weather has meant no snowfall has been reported so far this year.



In 2023 snow was first seen on the summit on 5 October, according to AFP news agency.



Japan had its hottest joint summer on record this year with temperatures between June and August being 1.76C (35.1F) higher than an average.



In September, temperatures continued to be warmer than expected as the sub-tropical jet stream's more northerly position allowed a warmer southerly flow of air over Japan.



A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/av/54682820">jet stream</a>&nbsp;is a fast-flowing current of air that travels around the planet. It occurs when warmer air from the south meets cooler air from the north.



Nearly 1,500 areas had what Japan's Meteorological Society classed as "extremely hot" days - when temperatures reach or exceed 35C (95F) last month.



The temperature has to be around freezing for rain to turn into snow.



October has seen the heat ease slightly, but it has still been a warmer than average month.



However, approaching November without snowfall marks the longest wait in the year for a snowcap on the summit since data was first collected in 1894.



The previous record of 26 October has been seen twice before in 1955 and 2016, Yutaka Katsuta, a forecaster at Kofu Local Meteorological Office told AFP.



Mount Fuji, south-west of Tokyo, is Japan's highest mountain at 3,776m (12,460 ft). The volcano, which last erupted just over 300 years ago, is visible from the Japanese capital on a clear day.



It is featured prominently in historic Japanese art work, including wood blocks prints. Last year, more than 220,000 people made the ascent to the peak between July and September.



Source: BBC

Mount Fuji breaks records as it remains snowless for longer than ever before

Kathmandu: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged ministries and agencies to robustly advocate for climate justice at the upcoming COP-29 climate conference. During a meeting of the Environment Conservation and Climate Change Management National Council on Friday, PM Oli emphasized the importance of addressing the concerns of vulnerable nations, including Nepal, as articulated in the recent UN General Assembly.



The UN climate conference is scheduled to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024. President Ram Chandra Paudel will lead the Nepali delegation at the conference.



PM Oli reiterated the necessity for Nepal to present a clear stance on climate change and its impacts. He has been a vocal advocate for compensation from nations responsible for high carbon emissions, highlighting the detrimental effects of global warming on the Himalayan region and its inhabitants.



Furthermore, PM Oli called for a global action plan aimed at maintaining environmental balance from the mountains to the seas. He directed stakeholders to prioritize extensive forest expansion, addressing the issue of deforestation in designated forest areas. Industries will be permitted to operate in non-forest regions, provided they adhere to environmental protection standards.



The meeting also reviewed the council’s achievements over the past year, including updates on the implementation of previous decisions and the renaming of the Ministry of Forests and Environment to the Ministry of Forests, Environment, and Climate Change.



Key attendees included Deputy Prime Minister Prakashman Singh, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Devendra Dahal, and Forests and Environment Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi, among others.

PM Oli calls for climate justice advocacy ahead of COP-29

Kathmandu: Today marks the last solar eclipse of 2024, set to begin at 9:27 PM Nepali time and concluding at 3:32 AM the following morning. This eclipse is particularly notable due to a conjunction involving the Sun, Moon, Mercury, and Ketu, with the axes of Rahu and Ketu influencing the Pisces and Virgo zodiac signs. Additionally, the Sun, Mars, and Ketu will play significant roles during this event.



Unfortunately, this solar eclipse will not be visible in Nepal. Observers in the northern regions of South America, as well as areas over the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic, and Antarctica, will have the best views.



Key locations for visibility include Argentina, Uruguay, Buenos Aires, Beqa Island, French Polynesia, southern Fiji, New Chile, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru.

Last solar eclipse of 2024 occurs today, not visible in Nepal

Kathmandu: The second-largest diamond ever found - a rough 2,492-carat stone - has been unearthed in Botswana at a mine owned by Canadian firm Lucara Diamond. It is the biggest find since the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, found in South Africa in 1905 and cut into nine separate stones, many of which are in the British Crown Jewels.



The diamond was found at Karowe mine, about 500km (300 miles) north of Botswana's capital, Gaborone. Botswana's government said it was the largest diamond ever discovered in the southern African state.



The previous biggest discovery in Botswana was a 1,758-carat stone found at the same mine in 2019. Botswana is one of the world's biggest producer of diamonds, accounting for about 20% of global production.



In a statement, Lucara said the stone was "one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed". "We are ecstatic about the recovery of this extraordinary 2,492 carat diamond," said Lucara head William Lamb.



The diamond was detected with the use of Lucara's Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray technology, said Mr Lamb. It has been used since 2017 to identify and preserve high-value diamonds so that they do not break during ore-crushing processes.



The firm did not give details of the stone's gem quality or its value. The 1,758-carat stone found in 2019 was bought by French fashion brand Louis Vuitton for an undisclosed sum. A 1,109 carat diamond, unearthed at the same mine in 2016, was bought for $53m (£39.5m) by London jeweller Laurence Graff, chairman of Graff Diamonds, in 2017.



Lucara has 100% ownership of the mine in Karowe. Botswana's government has proposed a law that will ask companies, once granted a license to mine, to sell a 24% stake to local firms if the government does not exercise its option of becoming a shareholder, Reuters news agency reported last month.

World's second-largest diamond found in Botswana

Kathmandu: The Ministry of Health and Population has said Nepal falls under the risk of infection of monkey pox (Mpox). According to Ministry Spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki, the infection is spreading rapidly in neighboring India and in this context Nepal too is vulnerable to it.Last year, one 60-year-old foreigner (female) was diagnosed with the Mpox virus in Nepal.



The Ministry has already consulted with the experts concerned regarding preparations required for its prevention.As Budhathoki said, health desks based along the air and border transits and the federal, provincial and local levels have been instructed to remain vigilant to the infection risk and take measures accordingly.



The Ministry has designated hospitals and doctors in all seven provinces for the prevention and management of the infection. Since the past few days, the African country Congo is battling with Clade 1b. This variant of Mpox is considered to be deadly. Since January this year, it has killed 548 people.



The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared a health emergency over the spread of the virus.Mpox spreads through direct contact with the infected person or animal, skin-to-skin contact with Mpox rash or scabs from an infected, contact with fluid and saliva from the body of an infected, clothing, towels, beddings or objects used by the infected.



Fever, skin rash and bumps in between one and three days of the infection which appears in face, palm and feet as well, headache, muscle ache, bone ache, chills, and swollen lymph nodes are the symptoms of Mpox.



It may lead to the loss of eyesight, pneumonia, brain fever, miscarriage (among pregnants) and even death.The Ministry has hoped for a high level of cooperation from the civic- level in terms of adopting health protocols to prevent the risk which is, as the Ministry said, possible, if the civic are ready for that.



Source: Rashtriya Samachar Samiti

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