Former world number one Viktor Axelsen faced an unexpected first-round defeat against Taiwan's Lin Chun-yi at the All England Open. While Axelsen managed to dominate the second game, he couldn't sustain his momentum, ultimately losing 21-19, 13-21, 21-11. Top-seeded An Se-young and former champion Chen Yufei advanced in the women's singles event.
Pakistan cricket is facing turmoil after an early exit from the Champions Trophy 2025. Mickey Arthur criticises the instability despite talented players and quality coaches like Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten. Internal conflicts and media agendas are blamed for undermining efforts. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been dropped for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.NASA's planned launch of the SPHEREx and PUNCH missions has been postponed, with a new date yet to be confirmed. Originally scheduled for 10:09 p.m. EST on March 8, the missions were set to lift off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The delay has been attributed to ongoing vehicle checkouts by SpaceX, as per an update on the company's website. The missions were planned as part of NASA's Launch Services Program, which seeks to optimise commercial launches for scientific exploration.
According to reports, the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) is designed to observe infrared light from the distant universe. Unlike the James Webb Space Telescope, which focuses on high-resolution imaging of single galaxies, SPHEREx will provide a broad-scale view, mapping the sky every six months. The data collected will contribute to research on cosmic inflation and the distribution of water and organic molecules in space.
It is reported that the Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission consists of four satellites that will monitor the transition of the Sun's outer atmosphere into the solar wind. Scientists aim to study coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and how they interact with Earth's magnetosphere. Understanding these solar phenomena is critical for predicting space weather, which can impact power grids, satellites, and astronaut safety.
A revised launch schedule is expected to be announced following the completion of SpaceX's technical evaluations.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru capped off their disappointing Women's Premier League season with an 11-run victory over Mumbai Indians, denying MI direct entry into the final. Delhi Capitals secured the top spot and a direct final berth. Captain Smriti Mandhana's 53 and crucial knocks from Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, and Georgia Wareham led RCB to a commanding 199/3.
India's captain Rohit Sharma credited Shreyas Iyer as the 'silent hero' after India's ICC Champions Trophy win. Iyer played a crucial role throughout the tournament, particularly in the middle order. He ended as India's leading run-scorer and second overall, ensuring vital partnerships like the fourth-wicket stand with Axar Patel in the final against New Zealand.
Harmanpreet Kaur's 54-run knock and Mumbai's effective bowling ensure a nine-run win over Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League. With this victory, Mumbai joined Delhi Capitals at 10 points but remains second due to a lower net run-rate. They will seek to finish at the top in their final league match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
India's cricket team celebrated their third Champions Trophy win by donning the iconic white jackets during the presentation in Dubai. The jackets, designed by Babita M, symbolize elite success and were introduced in 2009. India's victory over New Zealand was highlighted by Rohit Sharma's commanding 76 and KL Rahul's unbeaten 34, cementing their legacy as the best.
New Zealand are focusing on countering India's spin attack ahead of their ICC Champions Trophy final in Dubai. Preparation includes specific strategies against Indian left-arm spinners Kuldeep, Jadeja and Axar, with support from net bowlers to simulate match conditions. New Zealand batters aim to improve their performance against spin to challenge India.
Former Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan claims India has an unfair advantage in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to less travel. India head coach Gautam Gambhir calls these claims baseless. India remains unbeaten in the tournament and will face New Zealand in the final match. New Zealand has a favorable record against India in knockout matches.
Liverpool defeated Southampton 3-1 to extend their lead by 16 points, with Mohamed Salah scoring two penalties. Nottingham Forest claimed a 1-0 victory over Manchester City, enhancing their Champions League hopes. Arsenal aim to catch up with Liverpool, while Brighton also bolstered their European ambitions with a win.Saturn's moon Enceladus has been a subject of scientific intrigue due to its massive water plumes, which were initially believed to be linked to an underground ocean beneath its icy crust. The idea that this ocean could sustain microbial life made it a prime target for astrobiological studies. However, new research suggests that the source of these geysers may not be the deep subsurface ocean, but rather a mushy layer within the ice shell itself. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the habitability of Enceladus and raises new questions about the mechanisms behind the moon's plumes.
According to a study published in Geophysical Research Letters, researchers from Dartmouth College propose that the plumes erupting from Enceladus may not require fractures that extend entirely through the ice shell to the underground ocean. Instead, they suggest that a slushy, salt-laden layer within the ice could act as the source of the water vapor and ice particles seen in the plumes. This theory is based on the observation that the moon's icy surface contains salts, which lower the melting point of ice, allowing it to form a semi-liquid state in certain regions.
Scientists have pointed to "tiger stripe" fractures in the moon's southern hemisphere as key locations where these eruptions occur. The study suggests that friction between ice layers, known as shear heating, could generate enough warmth to maintain a slushy state within the ice shell. This would create a reservoir of briny water close to the surface, supplying the plumes without requiring a direct connection to the deep ocean.
As per the reports, the composition of the plumes observed by NASA's Cassini spacecraft could be explained by the melting of gas-rich ice structures called clathrates. These formations trap molecular hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane within the ice. Partial melting of these structures could release hydrogen while retaining other gases, potentially accounting for the chemical composition detected in the plumes.
While this study provides an alternative explanation for Enceladus' geysers, further research is required to determine how the slushy zone replenishes itself over time. Scientists continue to analyse Cassini's data to refine their understanding of the processes shaping the moon's icy surface and its potential for sustaining life.
Harleen Deol's unbeaten 70 and Beth Mooney's 44 led Gujarat Giants to a five-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals, securing their spot in the Women's Premier League Eliminator. Lanning's 92 off 57 balls lifted Delhi to a competitive 177 for five, but Gujarat successfully chased the target with crucial contributions from Ashleigh Gardner and Deandra Dottin.A solar storm is set to reach Earth tonight, with potential geomagnetic activity that could make the northern lights visible as far south as New York and Idaho. The event is the result of a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun, which was recorded on March 1. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has classified this as a G1-level geomagnetic storm, with a possibility of stronger G2 conditions. As a result, skywatchers in mid-latitudes may witness the aurora borealis in areas where the skies remain clear.
According to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, the CME is expected to make contact with Earth's magnetic field between March 4 and March 5. The intensity of the storm is predicted to peak between 7:00 p.m. EST and 10:00 p.m. EST on March 5. While a G1 storm is considered minor, space weather physicist Tamitha Skov has indicated that G2 storm conditions remain a possibility, increasing the chances of a more widespread auroral display.
Geomagnetic storms occur when charged particles from the Sun interact with Earth's magnetosphere, potentially affecting satellite communications, power grids, and GPS accuracy. Experts have advised that radio operators, GPS users, and drone pilots may experience signal disruptions, especially during nighttime hours when such interference is more pronounced.
As per reports, aurora visibility will largely depend on atmospheric clarity and light pollution levels. NOAA's storm classification system places G1 storms as minor, meaning that the northern lights will likely be seen closer to high-latitude regions. If G2 storm conditions occur, visibility could extend further south. Observers are advised to find dark locations away from city lights for the best viewing experience.
For real-time updates and forecasts, space weather monitoring agencies continue to track the storm's progression.
