Ancient DNA In Human Genome Linked To Depression, Says Study

Scientists have found that ancient DNA lingering in humans are responsible for major psychiatric disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. About eight per cent of human DNA is made up of sequences called Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs), products of ancient viral infections that occurred hundreds of thousands of years ago. So far, the HERVs were seen as 'junk DNA' with no purpose, but the new study by researchers from King's College London sees them in a new light, offering to revolutionise mental health treatment.

The research has been published in detail in Nature Communications.

It is based on the analysis of large studies involving tens of thousands of people, both with and without mental health conditions. The team combined this with information from autopsy brain samples from 800 people.

"Our results suggest that these viral sequences probably play a more important role in the human brain than originally thought, with specific HERV expression profiles being associated with an increased susceptibility for some psychiatric disorders," Dr Timothy Powell, co-senior author, told The Evening Standard.

Dr Douglas Nixon, another co-senior author, told the outlet: "We think that a better understanding of these ancient viruses, and the known genes implicated in psychiatric disorders, have the potential to revolutionise mental health research and lead to novel ways to treat or diagnose these conditions."

Dr Nixon, however, added that further research is needed to understand the exact function of most HERVs.

The human genome is made up of over six billion individual letters of the DNA spread among 23 pairs of chromosomes. While analysing the DNA, scientists chop it up into pieces and then sequence it.

The sequencing machines present individual letters in each piece and scientists try to assemble the pieces in the right order.

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A Hurricane's Eye Covers Part Of Atlantic Ocean In NASA's Satellite Pic

Space agency NASA routinely captures stunning images of our universe, leaving space lovers mesmerized. The Instagram handle of NASA is a treasure trove for those who love to watch educational videos and fascinating images showcasing Earth and space. On Saturday, NASA Earth took to Instagram to share a picture of Hurricane Idalia taken from the International Space Station.

Notably, NASA observes and studies hurricanes from space, both with views from the space station and with satellites. This vantage point helps scientists understand how climate change impacts hurricanes and learn how communities can better prepare for tropical cyclones in a warmer world.

In the image shared by NASA, part of the ISS is visible on the left, while the large white spiral is the Hurricane Idalia. The image was captured on August 23 last year by the International Space Station's external high-definition camera. Idalia was a category 1 storm over the Gulf of Mexico with sustained winds of 140 kilometres (85 miles) per hour. As the storm moved north over the Gulf, it quickly strengthened and made landfall over the Big Bend region of Florida on the morning of August 30, 2023, as a category 3 storm.

See the image here:

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A post shared by NASA Earth (@nasaearth)

According to Fox News, Atlantic hurricane season officially starts June 1 and runs through November 30. New England Atlantic storm threats typically peak between late August through late October. The National Hurricane Center picked these six months because it accounts for about 97% of all Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes, according to NOAA's Hurricane Research Division. 

A major hurricane is a Category 3 storm or higher, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph.

The National Hurricane Center is predicting there is an 85% chance of an above-normal season, a 10% chance of a near normal season and a 5% chance for a below-normal season.

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4 Children Among 13 Dead As Tractor-Trolley Overturns In Madhya Pradesh

Thirteen people, including four children, died and 15 were injured after their tractor-trolley overturned late Sunday night in Piplodhijad in Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district, an official said.

Of the injured, 13 have been admitted in the district hospital while two have been rushed to Bhopal for advanced care due to wounds to the head and chest, Rajgarh Collector Harsh Dikshit told PTI over phone.

"The count is unlikely to go up since the two severely injured persons are out of danger," he said.

The victims were members of a marriage party that had come from neighbouring Rajasthan, local residents said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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On Camera, 2 Planes Collide At Portugal Air Show, Pilot Dead: Report

Two small planes collided midair Sunday during an air show performance in southern Portugal, the air force said, with media reporting that one of the pilots was killed.

"The air force regrets to announce that at 4:05 pm (1505 GMT), at the Beja Air Show, two planes were the victim of an accident during an aerial demonstration" involving six aircraft, it said in a short statement.

Portuguese media reported that the pilot of one of the aircraft had died.

They identified the aircraft as two Yakovlev Yak-52, a Soviet-designed aerobatic training model.

The air force said emergency services were at the scene and organisers of the show at Beja airport had suspended the event.

A video filmed by a spectator and posted on social media showed a formation of six planes in flight, with one of them ascending, apparently touching one of the others and then crashing to the ground.

Beja Air Show accident 😨😞 DEP pic.twitter.com/4WrRfoLCeO

— Don Expensive 🇪🇦 ✞ 🐸 (@kar0____) June 2, 2024

Portuguese newspapers quoted witnesses as saying the six aircraft were part of an aerobatic group named the "Yak Stars".

They said organisers of the event presented it as the biggest civil aerobatics group in southern Europe.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Man's Pic After Undergoing Extensive Facial Surgery In Turkey Is Viral

Turkish plastic surgeons have completed a remarkable transformation of a man's face to make him appear younger than his actual age. Taking to Instagram, Este Med Istanbul shared the before and after pictures of the man, who appeared a decade or two younger after his facial surgery. In the caption of the post, the surgeons disclosed that their patient Michael underwent several procedures like facelifts, eyelid surgeries, nose jobs, and hair transplants, among others, contributing to these dramatic changes.

"We performed facelift, necklift, lower eyelid blepharoplasty, upper blepharoplasty, buccal fat removal, rhinoplasty, and hair transplant procedures on our patient, Michael. He has experienced an incredible transformation, which you can see from the photos. We always take a holistic approach to aesthetics. Simply getting a rhinoplasty or hair transplant may not be enough to achieve your desired look. Therefore, don't forget to contact our expert team to learn about the most suitable procedures for you and join our free online consultation," the caption of the post read. 

Take a look at the pictures below: 

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A post shared by Facial Plastic Surgery, Dental Treatment and Cosmetic Products (@estemedistanbultr)

The pictures have now taken the internet by storm, leaving social media users in disbelief. Stunned by the dramatic change, one user wrote, "Can someone tell me, is this legit or are we all getting trolled?" 

"I need to see dental records, fingerprints, and blood work on both of these men. Because WHAT ARE THEY DOING IN TURKEY?!!" expressed another. "What? They're out there in Turkey performing miracles," commented a third user. 

"I'd like to see all the post op and intervening months healing photos too. Then I'll be amazed," wrote another. "This is virtually unbelievable, excuse me while I book my flight," said one user. 

Also Read | Indian Man, 44, Breaks Own Guinness World Record For Third Time By Typing With Nose

Similar disbelief was also expressed in other social media platforms. "When I win the lotto in 30 years I won't tell anyone but.....there will be signs (a brand new face and a Turkish holiday)," jokingly wrote one X user. "OMG?!?! Well... I know where I'll be going to in 10 years from now when I need a face lift. Turkey and South Korea are basically neck to neck when it comes to surgery makeovers," said another. 

Meanwhile, Mr Michael's case is not the only instance from the Turkish medical centre that had people in disbelief. A post from 2023 showed a before and after picture of a middle-aged woman. After the medical procedures, the woman appeared to look ageless with sharp features. 

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Sunita Williams' 3rd Mission To Space Called Off Minutes Before Lift-Off

Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, the poster girl for women aspiring to fly into space, was set to reach for the skies again today in a brand-new spacecraft, but it did not happen as planned.

The launch into space on the Boeing Starliner was "scrubbed" or called off just three minutes and fifty-one seconds before lift-off. It is now postponed for another day. Both astronauts - Ms Williams and Butch Wilmore - were seated in the new Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was on its maiden mission. It was to lift off using the Atlas V rocket from Florida, USA, at 10 pm, but it was postponed minutes before liftoff.

This is the second scrub for the Boeing Starliner spaceship. Both astronauts are safe. The Atlas V rocket is also safe. As of now, NASA estimates it will take at least 24 hours to try again, but no new liftoff time has been announced.

A technical glitch was detected by the ground launch sequencer, the computer that monitors the health of the rocket. The astronauts will now exit the Starliner capsule and return to the crew quarters at the Kennedy Space Center.

An earlier attempt on May 7 was postponed hours before liftoff due to a technical glitch. A NASA statement said, "Boeing, United Launch Alliance, and NASA scrubbed the previous launch opportunity on May 7 [India time] due to a suspect oxygen relief valve on the Atlas V rocket's Centaur second stage. Since then, teams have removed and replaced the valve, and completed an assessment of Starliner's performance and redundancy after discovering a small helium leak in the spacecraft's service module."

This would have been the third space travel for the Indian-origin astronaut, who has already spent 322 days in space and held a record for the maximum number of hours of spacewalk by a woman, before being overtaken by Peggy Whitson.

This time, she could make history as the first woman to fly on a maiden crewed mission of a new space shuttle.

Ms Williams went on her first space voyage on December 9, 2006, which lasted until June 22, 2007. While on board, she established a world record for women by going on four spacewalks that added up to 29 hours and 17 minutes.

The 59-year-old had admitted to being a bit nervous but said she had no jitters about flying in a new spacecraft. She had helped design the Starliner, working with engineers from NASA and Boeing. "When I reach the International Space Station, it will be like going back home," she said.

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Explained: Why Have Temperatures Reached Record Highs In India?

Several parts of India grappled with unusually high temperatures this week, forcing schools to close and hospitals to create special units to treat heat-related illnesses, while workers on construction sites were given a "paid holiday" in the afternoon.

Here is a look at what caused the unprecedented heat in the country.

HOW UNUSUAL HAS THE SITUATION BEEN THIS YEAR?

While every year temperatures in India tend to peak in the months of May and June, the number of heatwave days recorded over northwestern and eastern parts of the country this season have been more than double the normal, with eastern India also experiencing its hottest April on record.

India declares a heatwave day when the maximum temperature in any given region is 4.5 -6.4 degrees Celsius higher than normal.

Parts of the country have touched new highs in terms of the maximum temperature, including Delhi, which recorded the country's highest ever temperature at 52.9 C (127.22 degree F) on Wednesday.

While this figure may be revised as officials are investigating whether it was caused by an error in the sensor, two areas in Delhi also recorded 49.9 C a day earlier - an all-time high for the city.

In northern Haryana state, which surrounds Delhi from three sides, the Rohtak region recorded its highest-ever temperature on Friday at 47.5 C.

WHY HAVE TEMPERATURES RISEN THIS SEASON?

Scientists from India's weather department said that while a rise in temperatures during May and June is normal, it is usually controlled by periodic western disturbances, which are weather systems originating in the Mediterranean Sea that bring moisture-laden winds.

These neutralise the impact of the hot, dry air coming from the direction of Pakistan and Afghanistan into northern India.

This year, however, there were more western disturbances between March and early May than usual, while their strength has reduced over the last "10-15 days", leaving the wind coming from neighbouring countries unchecked and causing temperatures to rise.

Global and India-based experts say such weather changes are being worsened by human-driven climate change.

WHY IS THE SITUATION IN DELHI PARTICULARLY BAD?

Surrounded by alluvial plains in the north and east, the Thar desert in the west, and the Aravalli hill ranges in the south, Delhi, with a population of about 20 million, is one of India's fastest-growing areas.

Officials and experts say apart from its location, the capital is also particularly vulnerable because of its large population, scattered vegetation, and increased construction in the last two decades, with the built-up area increasing from 31.4% in 2003 to more than 38% in 2022.

WHEN WILL THE HEAT ABATE?

According to the India Meteorological Department, the temperature in northwest, central, and east India will gradually decline over the next three days because of the impact of the approaching western disturbance, rainfall, and the southwesterly wind blowing from the Arabian Sea.

Monsoon rains reached the southernmost state of Kerala on Thursday, bringing relief to residents there.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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