(Current Affairs) Science & Technology, Defence, Environment | October: 2013

Science & Technology, Defense, Environment

Mars is Composed Mostly of Carbon Dioxide

The measurements by Curiosity rover of NASA, the most advanced spacecraft to land on Mars, the Red Planet, re-instated the fact, in the month of July 2013, that the planet was composed of mostly carbon dioxide and a few other gases. These measurements match very closely with the findings of the Viking which had revealed about this in late 1970s. Apart from this, the scientists had also revealed the same earlier with clues from the Martian meteorites that fell on Earth. It was revealed lately that the atmosphere of Mars was mostly dominated by carbon dioxide. However, it was surprising that earlier Viking had found that nitrogen was the second most abundant gas to be  found in Marss atmosphere. But, measurements from Curiosity found that nitrogen as well as argon was nearly equal in abundance on the Martian air. The differences in the findings could be because of the use of different tools to collect the samples from the atmosphere. NASAs Goddard Space Flight Centers Paul Mahaffy, the in-charge of Curiositys air sampling experiments explained that despite the difference in findings of Viking and Curiosity, the notion that Mars had lost almost all the original atmosphere to space, is very much clear. This has what led to the change of this planet into the cold desert.

The Curiosity Rover of NASA is the nuclear-powered, six-wheel rover which landed in ancient crater near the equator of Mars in 2012. The study however did not explain anything about the presence of Methane on Mars. In 2012, the team of Curiosity reported that there was no definitive aroma of Methane near its landing site. Since that time, a lot of air samples have been collected by the rover. In context with this NASA has already decided to launch a Mars-orbiting spacecraft in order to solve the mystery of Methane on Mars.

This new rover will be called Maven and it will target the Martian atmosphere. Scientists will explore whether Methane actually exists on Mars or not and will also find out about its abundance. Apart from this, Maven will also find out whether it varies year after year. The mission chief scientist of this is Bruce Jakosky of the University of Colorado.

Variations in Structture of Brain Arteries Caused Migraine

Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania discovered that variations in arterial anatomy of brainlead to the asymmetries in cerebral blood flow, which in turn contributes to process of triggering migraine. The study conducted by the researchers found out that the networks of arteries which supply the blood flow to brain are incomplete in people suffering from migraines. It is important to note that the arterial supply of blood to brain receives protection from series of the connections between major arteries called circle of Willis. The circle of Willis is the term named after English physician, who described this first in the 17th century.

It was found by the researchers that people suffering from migraine and especially the migraine with aura, will mostly have missing circle of Willis. It was earlier believed that the root cause of migraine was dilation of blood vessels in head. In the study, it was found that blood vessels have a different role to play, than suspected earlier. It was suggested in the study that the structural alterations of the blood supply to brain can increase the vulnerability to alterations in the cerebral blood flow, which in turn contributes to the abnormal neuronal activity starting migraine.

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