Astronomers have crafted a detailed three-dimensional map of the Local Hot Bubble (LHB), a vast, low-density region surrounding our solar system. This bubble, filled with hot, X-ray-emitting gas, has been a subject of study since the 1970s, and recent data from the eROSITA All-Sky Survey has provided new insights into its structure and history. The eROSITA telescope, which operates as part of the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) mission, has allowed astronomers to view the bubble with unprecedented clarity by observing X-ray activity from outside Earth’s geocorona.
The new map reveals intriguing temperature variations within the LHB, attributed to stellar winds and supernova explosions. These phenomena cause certain regions of the bubble to expand, providing a more dynamic picture of its evolution. A particular discovery is the identification of an “escape tunnel” directed towards the constellation Centaurus. This tunnel may be a connection to another superbubble in the galaxy, formed by active young stars.
The History of the Local Hot Bubble
The presence of the LHB has been recognised for nearly five decades, and its origins are believed to be linked to supernova activity. Early studies of the bubble were hindered by interference from X-ray emissions within Earth’s atmosphere. However, the eROSITA telescope, launched in 2019, has now provided astronomers with the cleanest X-ray data of the bubble. Michael Yeung, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute, noted that the eRASS1 data, which was collected during a period of low solar wind activity, offers the most precise view of the X-ray sky to date.
The mapping of the Milky Way’s hemisphere into around 2,000 regions has revealed a temperature difference between the Galactic North and South, with the Northern hemisphere being cooler. This discovery hints at an internal temperature disparity within the LHB.
A New Interstellar Tunnel and Its Implications
Along withtemperature variations, the eROSITA data has revealed a previously unknown interstellar tunnel pointing towards the Centaurus constellation. This tunnel appears to connect the LHB with a hot gas corridor in the galaxy, suggesting a larger network of such tunnels across interstellar space.
The team also noted the presence of dense molecular clouds at the edges of the LHB, potentially a remnant of the bubble’s formation. Gabriele Ponti, an MPE scientist, emphasised that the solar system is located in the centre of this bubble, though the Sun entered the LHB only a few million years ago – a brief moment in the Sun’s 4.6-billion-year history.
Longtime friends and iconic `Titanic` co-stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet recently reunited at a special screening of Winslet`s `Lee`.
Several pictures and videos from the screening went viral. In one of the clips, DiCaprio could be seen showering love on Winslet while introducing the movie. The two also shared a friendly kiss on the lips as she appeared onstage, PEOPLE reported.
“Kate, my dear friend, your work in this film has been nothing short of transformative,” DiCaprio said in the video; he also introduced her to the crowd as “one of the great talents of my generation.”
“I continue to be awestruck, I continue to admire your strength, your integrity, your talent and your passion for every single project you create,” he added in the video.
Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor also shared a video of the reunion of the Hollywood stars on her Instagram Story and captioned it with heart emojis.
DiCaprio and Winslet famously costarred in filmmaker James Cameron`s 1997 epic Titanic, which tracked a star-crossed romance between their two characters. They both have been close friends ever since they met on the sets of `Titanic`.
Titanic earned Winslet an Oscar nomination and catapulted her and DiCaprio as global superstars. The film held the record for the highest-grossing movie of all time until Cameron`s “Avatar” surpassed it.
It received a whopping 14 Academy Award nominations, and took home 11 total Oscars, including the award for Best Picture, and both actors still frequently address questions about the movie in interviews today.
Speaking of Winslet`s film `Lee`, it is a biographical drama about the American war correspondent and photographer Lee Miller.
Set against the backdrop of Lee Miller recounting her wartime experiences in 1977 to a young journalist, portrayed by Josh O`Connor, through flashbacks, the film delves deep into Miller`s indomitable spirit and enduring legacy.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
Lies of P, the Pinocchio-inspired soulslike title, is getting a DLC expansion and a separate sequel. Publisher Neowiz dropped a Director’s Letter video, in which game director Ji Won Choi confirmed the plans and revealed two pieces of concept art from the in-development DLC. The first one appears to be a laboratory frozen all over, which could presumably be the location where the human citizens of Krat were experimented on and turned into puppets. There’s no labelling on them, so for now, we can simply guess what these images could mean for future content. The second art sees our puppet protagonist strutting along an abandoned, almost ghostly ship, which could indicate some Peter Pan influence.
Currently, there is no release window for the DLC or the sequel, which is expected to bring in characters from The Wizard of Oz, but director Choi dropped details for a set of new updates coming later this month. In case you missed it, Lies of P sold 1 million copies worldwide as of October, prompting the developer to return the favour, starting with a patch that tweaks weapon and handle balance, so players can experiment with more armaments instead of sticking to an overpowered one throughout the run. Whenever FromSoftware drops a new game or any Souls clone makes its way into the wild, conversation about its high difficulty level always flares up. Lies of P has been part of that discussion as well, with several of its bosses being nerfed last month.
A tease for what to expect in the Lies of P DLC Photo Credit: Neowiz
This time, however, the protagonist Pinocchio will have the Rising Dodge ability unlocked as a default skill, reducing the amount of damage taken when dodging. Some cosmetic updates were also promised, with the merchant Alidoro’s costume and wolf mask being made available to all owners of the game, ‘as a token of gratitude.’ Furthermore, a new slot is being added to Lies of P’s outfit menu, separating facial accessories and headgear, allowing players to pick separate hats and glasses for their character. Previously, these wearables were clubbed under the same slot, providing the option to only pick one of them. Of course, a more detailed description of the weapon balance and other tiny tweaks will be released closer to the November patch launch.
Neowiz also has plans to release the long-requested soundtrack for Lies of P, which would total more than 60 tracks. As development on the DLC has commenced, the studio is looking for new developers to join the team, which is ideal for the unfortunate ones who’ve been recently getting laid off across the larger video game industry. “Even after the launch, our commitment remains unwavering in providing players with a compelling and unforgettable story,” Choi said in his closing remarks about the future of the game. “I love seeing players speculating and discussing various aspects as they wait for the DLC.”
As they complete 15 years of marital bliss, Raj Kundra penned a heartwarming note for his wife Shilpa Shetty and said that she makes every moment feel like a celebration to him.
Raj took to Instagram, where he shared a video of the two dancing together. He captioned: “Happy 15th Anniversary to the love of my life. Through every beat, twist, and turn, we’ve danced through life’s challenges and joys hand in hand.”
He added: “You make every moment feel like a celebration, and I’m grateful for your love, faith, strength, and support. Here’s to many more years of love, laughter and dancing through life. Love you to eternity.
Shilpa too shared a video on her Instagram, where the two are seen enjoying a carriage ride.
She captioned it: “15 years and not counting… Happy Anniversary cookie. You make every ride worth it, even the scary ones. Here’s to many more adventures, rides and years.”
It was in 2009, Shilpa got engaged to Raj Kundra, with whom she was co-owner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket team Rajasthan Royals. The two married in November 2009. The actress gave birth to their son Viaan in 2012. The couple had a second child, a girl, on 15 February 2020 via surrogacy.
On the work front, Shilpa began her acting career with the thriller “Baazigar” and is celebrated for her roles in films like “Dhadkan”, “Dus”, “Life in a… Metro”, and “Dostana.”
She returned to the screen in 2021 with the comedy “Hungama 2”. Most recently, Shilpa appeared alongside Sidharth Malhotra and Vivek Oberoi in Rohit Shetty`s series “Indian Police Force.”
The actress will next be seen in the Kannada action film “KD – The Devil” directed by Prem. The film stars an ensemble cast featuring Dhruva Sarja, Reeshma Nanaiah, V. Ravichandran, Ramesh Aravind, Jisshu Sengupta and Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
Myanmar-Thailand border – At a secret gathering above a cafe in a town on the Myanmar-Thailand border, Ko Aye examined the inside of an Android phone alongside 10 fellow defectors from Myanmar’s military and police forces.
The trainer, an ex-captain in the Myanmar army, guided the group through the process of repairing a mobile phone, a skill that could help them build a future beyond the conflict they recently left behind.
Having fled the notorious institutions they were once part of, these former police officers and soldiers now live in Thailand, near the Myanmar border, where they are learning new skills to adapt to a peaceful civilian life.
“If Myanmar gets peace one day, I’ll return and repair phones there,” said Ko Aye, a transgender man, for whom the workshops mark a new chapter in a resilient life journey.
“Although I’ll have to practise on some broken ones at home first,” Ko Aye added with a smile, wearing one of his homemade tie-dye shirts – a craft he taught himself to earn money.
A defector from Myanmar’s armed forces learns to repair mobile phones near the Myanmar-Thailand border on November 2, 2024 [Valeria Mongelli/Al Jazeera]
Mocked by colleagues about his gender during his time as an airport police officer, 31-year-old Ko Aye defected after the Myanmar military coup in February 2021.
He retrained as a medic with the country’s pro-democracy resistance movement and it was during that time that Ko Aye witnessed firsthand the devastation of air attacks on the civilian population who are resisting military rule in Myanmar.
Eventually, Ko Aye fled to Thailand in search of safety and mental recuperation.
He is now part of the first cohort of graduates from a vocational training programme launched by People’s Goal, an advocacy group for military defectors.
Alongside fixing mobile phones, the programme offers bicycle, e-bike and motorcycle repair training – skills that can help forge a new path for those who have taken part in years of waging war.
A repair instructor and a defector from Myanmar’s armed forces fix a bicycle during an e-bike and bicycle repair workshop on November 1, 2024, near the Myanmar-Thailand border [Valeria Mongelli/Al Jazeera]
‘Our main goal is to give hope’
Many defectors from Myanmar’s army struggle to secure work and accommodation when they arrive in Thailand after fleeing Myanmar. They lack legal residency, exacerbating fears of being arrested by Thai immigration authorities and deported to their country, where they could face torture, long prison sentences, or even execution.
Fearing infiltration by military spies into their midst, most of the soldiers-turned-students on the skill training programme prefer to use aliases to protect their identities and shield their families from any potential retaliation back home.
“Our main goal is to give hope for people who want to defect,” said Naung Yoe, 40, a former army major who defected three years ago.
He explains how People’s Goal also provides safe houses, counselling and political education on democracy and human rights for the former members of the armed forces.
Naung Yoe, 40, one of People’s Goal directors, at a training centre near the Thailand-Myanmar border on November 1, 2024 [Valeria Mongelli/Al Jazeera]
One of five directors of the organisation, Naung Yoe said the training courses also serve as a beacon for soldiers who are contemplating defection, as members of the armed forces often worry about what awaits them and their families outside the cloistered world of the military.
Myanmar is approaching its fourth year of widespread civil war, which erupted after the military removed the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, detained civilian leaders, and then killed people who peacefully protested against the army’s takeover.
According to United Nations investigators, reports of systematic torture, gang rape, and child abuse have escalated under military rule.
On both sides of Myanmar’s conflict, thousands of young people have been shaped by years of brutality.
A generation traumatised and desensitised to violence, with their education disrupted and ready access to weaponry, presents immense challenges for their reintegration into civilian life.
Naung Yoe estimated that by December 2023, approximately 10,000 police officers and 3,900 military personnel had defected or surrendered following the coup. He believes that number has since surpassed 15,000, although verifying the exact figure is impossible.
People’s Goal also cannot verify whether a former soldier who approaches them for skills training has been involved in war crimes, nor can the group sanction them for such involvement.
“Generally, those who have committed war crimes are unlikely to defect,” Naung Yoe said. “They never feel safe outside the military.”
If a former soldier confesses to crimes, however, the organisation will pass on information to investigators from international courts that are seeking evidence of such crimes carried out by Myanmar’s military, Naung Yoe said.
“Defections weaken [the] regime, and after the revolution, everyone who has committed crimes will have to face justice, somehow,” he added.
Former soldiers and analysts say Myanmar’s military brutalises troops, conditioning them to believe their bloody actions are righteous, but access to social media and smartphones has diluted that indoctrination.
Naung Yoe explained that soldiers – who are closely watched by their superiors – have less access to information than most of the population, but they are still aware the military is killing civilians.
“Those who opposed the killings enough defected,” he told Al Jazeera.
“But some defectors have gaps in their knowledge. That’s why we offer democracy training and work with civilian organisations to help them learn.”
‘Now only military power and pressure’
Phone repairs trainer Thet Oo, 30, a former captain in the military, told Al Jazeera he was sceptical about whether vocational training could encourage would-be defectors.
Although he is willing to teach soldiers and police officers who have deserted later than others, Thet Oo said he has little time for those “who haven’t stood by the people” and remain in the military.
“I’m doing this training to help defectors provide for themselves and improve their lives,” he said.
“Enough time has passed for people to defect or not,” he added.
“Now only military power and pressure will lead to more defections and surrenders.”
In an alley noisy with whistling myna birds, tea shop chatter and clashing metal – in a scene reminiscent of Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city some 420km (260 miles) to the west – three defectors tinkered with an e-bike.
Among them was Zaw Gyi, 46, a former warrant officer of 21 years in the military, who for the past month has attended a course for mechanics six days a week.
Zaw Gyi, 46, a Myanmar military defector, during an e-bike and bicycle repair workshop on November 1, 2024 [Valeria Mongelli/Al Jazeera]
“I could do nothing but pray to get this opportunity because they chose from many applicants, said Zaw Gyi, who has relied on sporadic construction work in Thailand since defecting and fleeing Myanmar in May 2022.
“Despite a lack of trust, people still help defectors, so we have to be a good example for those who look at us with suspicion – an example that we can live together in harmony,” he said.
Back in the phone repairs class, Ko Aye said the training has brought opportunities for new friendships.
“We can understand and help each other,” he said.
One of his closest friends – his brother – also defected from the military. But he was captured by the army before he could escape the country.
“We don’t know whether he is alive or dead,” Ko Aye said. Still, he is certain that making the decision to defect was the right choice for his brother.
“As police, we should be public servants,” he added.
“We should not threaten or kill. That is what is happening in Myanmar.”
A skills training instructor and defectors from Myanmar’s military and police participate in an e-bike and bicycle repair workshop near the Thailand-Myanmar border on November 1, 2024 [Valeria Mongelli/Al Jazeera]
OnePlus 13 is all set to go official in the company’s home country on October 31. In the latest round of teasers, OnePlus has disclosed the water resistance rating and other key specifications of the flagship. The OnePlus 13 is confirmed to offer a higher IP rating than the OnePlus 12. It will also come with an new and improved fingerprint sensor for authentication. Additionally, OnePlus 13’s battery prowess has allegedly been tested already.
OnePlus 13 to Offer an IP68/IP69 Rating
OnePlus, through Weibo, has announced that the OnePlus 13 will come with IP68 and IP69 ratings and that is a notable improvement compared to the OnePlus 12, which is just IP65 rated. The IP68 rating indicates that the handset can withstand being submerged up to 1.5 metres deep in fresh water for up to 30 minutes. The IP69 rating means that it can withstand high-pressure water jets.
The IP68 and IP69 ratings will give the OnePlus 13 a leg up over some of the best phones on the market. The premium iPhone 16, Samsung Galaxy S24 series, and Google Pixel 9 series offer an IP68 rating.
OnePlus 13 will also feature an ultra-sonic fingerprint sensor for security. It will have a new Bionic Vibration Motor Turbo with a 602mm square super large motor volume.
Further, a battery test result conducted by a Weibo user shows that the OnePlus 13 with a 6,000mAh battery has secured first place in the three-hour light battery test. The upcoming handset is ranked second in the six-hour heavy battery test. The Red Magic 9S Pro and Nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Edition came in the second and third positions respectively.
OnePlus has already disclosed a good number of details about the OnePlus 13. These include 100W wired and 50W wireless charging support, ColorOS 15 based on Android 15, and BOE’s Oriental X2 8T LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is also confirmed to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC and carry a Hasselblad-branded rear camera unit including three 50-megapixel sensors.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.
Malayalam actor and MLA, Mukesh, was accused of sexual abuse by a female actor
The complainant also alleged “carelessness” on the part of the state government and said she was “mentally exhausted” and, therefore, not keen on taking the complaints forward.
Actor calls government careless
“I would like to tell everyone that due to the government’s carelessness and lack of protection for a woman who has come forward like this, I have suffered more than I can handle. I am mentally exhausted. They are not helping or protecting a woman.
“Therefore, I do not want to pursue the cases. It is not because I have compromised with anyone,” she told reporters.
She claimed she was made an accused in a POCSO case following her complaints against the actors, also including Maniyanpilla Raju and Idavela Babu, and the government did nothing to protect her.
“I am innocent. I want justice. I want the POCSO case against me to be probed thoroughly and quickly. If I commit suicide, the government will be responsible for it,” she said.
Later in the day, she reiterated in a Facebook post what she told reporters in the morning.
In the social media post, the woman actor said, “Today, I am planning to make the difficult decision to revoke all cases, including those against MLA, due to the lack of justice in my POCSO case.”
“Despite my pleas, the police failed to thoroughly investigate, leaving me feeling helpless and betrayed.”
She further claimed that she was the target of “relentless social bullying” which has taken “a devastating toll” on her mental health as malicious rumours labelled her as a mediator of the sex mafia.
“I am standing firm, refusing to be silenced. My demand is clear: resolve the POCSO case first, then I’ll proceed with the other cases. Justice must be served. I urge the authorities to take immediate action, ensuring no one else suffers as I have. The POCSO Act 2012 is in place to protect our children. It is time to see it upheld,” she said in her post.
The POCSO Act case
The Muvattupuzha police had registered the case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, against the woman actor based on a complaint lodged by her relative.
According to the police, the incident occurred in 2014. The complainant has alleged she was a minor at the time of the incident and that the actor was running a sex racket. She has alleged the woman actor was running a sex racket and had taken her to Chennai for a film audition where she was presented before many people for sexual favours.
The actor had vehemently denied the allegations and claimed that the woman relative owed her some money, and these allegations were to shift attention from her complaint against the high-profile actors.
The actress’ allegations against the cinema industry professionals came in the wake of the disclosure of the Justice Hema Committee report which revealed instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry, prompting calls for action against the guilty.
The Justice Hema Committee was constituted by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case.
The complete report was placed before the Kerala High Court which directed that it be handed over to the special investigation team (SIT) that was constituted to probe complaints of sexual abuse in the film industry.
Subsequently, 26 FIRs were registered by the SIT in connection with the revelations in the report.
Asus refreshed its Vivobook S series of laptops in India on Tuesday, May 21. The updated lineup includes the Asus Vivobook S 16, Vivobook S 15, and Vivobook S14. The laptops run Windows 11 out-of-the-box, are backed by 75Wh batteries, and feature up to 3K OLED screens with 120Hz refresh rate and HDR support. The larger Asus Vivobook S 16 and Vivobook S 15 can now be configured with up to Intel Core Ultra 9 processors, while the Asus Vivobook S14 comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 CPU.
Asus Vivobook S 16, Vivobook S 15 and Vivobook S14 price in India, availability
The Vivobook S 16 price in India starts at Rs. 1,02,990 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU variant, while the Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 9 variants are priced at Rs. 1,16,990 and Rs. 1,29,990, respectively. Meanwhile, the price of the Vivobook S 15 begins at Rs. 96,990 for the Intel Core Ultra 5 option, with the Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 9 CPU options marked at Rs. 1,11,990 and Rs. 1,24,990, respectively. The Asus Vivobook S 14 is priced at Rs. 89,990.
They are available for purchase in the country via the Asus e-shop, Amazon, Flipkart as well as offline avenues like the Asus Exclusive Stores, ROG Stores, Croma, Vijay Sales, and Reliance Digital stores.
The Asus Vivobook S 14 comes in a singular black colour option, while the Vivobook S 16 and the Vivobook S 15 are offered in Mist Blue and Neutral Black shades.
Asus Vivobook S 16, Vivobook S 15 and Vivobook S14 specifications, features
The Asus Vivobook S 16 and Vivobook S 15 sport 16-inch and 15.6-inch 3K OLED screens, respectively, with 120Hz refresh rate and HDR support. They are powered by up to Intel Core Ultra 9 CPUs with Intel Arc Graphics, up to 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and up to 1TB of M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD storage. They run Windows 11 Home out-of-the-box.
Meanwhile, the Asus Vivobook S 14 comes with a WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200 pixels) OLED screen and is powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 CPU with AMD Radeon Graphics, alongside similar RAM and storage specifications.
All three models are equipped with a dedicated Microsoft Copilot key which is meant to help users access all AI-backed features easily. The laptops also have single-zone RGB keyboards. The Asus Vivobook S 14 comes with one USB Type-A 4.0, one USB Type-C 3.2, two USB Type-A 3.2, and one HDMI 2.1 port. The Asus Vivobook S 15 and Vivobook S 16, on the other hand, have two Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C, two USB Type-A 3.2, and one HDMI 2.1 port. The laptops also carry a micro-SD card reader and an audio jack.
The new Asus Vivobook S series laptops are backed by 75Wh batteries with support for USB Type-C wired charging and are claimed to deliver up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge. The Vivobook S 16 and Vivobook S 15 weigh 1.5kg and measure 1.39cm in thickness. The Asus Vivobook S 14 is similar to the other models in thickness but weighs only 1.3kg.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.
Diljit Dosanjh‘s Dil-Luminati Tour is currently the talk of the country, with cities like Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Delhi. The actor and singer, who finds his roots in Punjab, is also extremely popular with hindi speaking audience with roles in movies like Crew, Good Newwz and others. However, despite his outgoing personality, the performer maintains a fiercely guarded personal life, with little to nothing much known about it.
Despite being famous, he hasn’t shared much about his personal affairs with his fans. While he hasn’t said why he keeps things private, his co-star from ‘Amar Singh Chamkila,’ Anjum Batra, hinted at a possible reason. Despite lots of rumors about whether he’s married or a father, the Punjabi superstar hasn’t said anything about it. However, old reports by the Indian Express say that Diljit is indeed married and has a son.
The report also said that Diljit’s wife is of Indian-American descent, giving us a peek into his usually private family life. It’s suggested that even though Diljit hasn’t talked about his family in public, friends have mentioned that his wife is American-Indian and they have a son. The report also mentions that Diljit’s parents live in Ludhiana, giving us a bit more insight into his family background. The article highlights Diljit’s reputation as a private person, pointing out how little we know about his personal life. Even though someone has shared these details, Diljit Dosanjh hasn’t directly addressed them, sticking to his stance of keeping his personal life private. Coming back to his tour, Diljit recently performed at the City Of Nawabs, Lucknow. Before his performance, Diljit took a nostalgic detour exploring the vibrant streets and culinary delights of Lucknow. The singer-actor was spotted at the iconic Chowk market, where he indulged in Lucknow’s famous makhan malai. In viral videos, he can be seen relishing the sweet treat, even stopping to ask for its preparation. His easy-going charm shines through as he strolls the lively streets in crisp white kurta-pajama and shawl, exuding the ‘Born to Shine’ singer’s swag. Fans were more than excited to catch a glimpse of their celebrity idol, and Diljit greeted them with his trademark warm smile and playful waves. The viral clips also show him walking back to his car in a cloud of excitement. Diljit’s Dil-Luminati Tour has already set the stage ablaze in the US, Canada, and Europe. After his much-awaited India debut in Delhi on October 26, the tour has witnessed high-energy performances in Hyderabad and Ahmedabad where Kartik Aaryan joined him on stage for a special surprise. Meanwhile, Diljit unveiled the Mumbai leg of the tour on Instagram on December 19, 2024. “We heard you! Mumbai show announced.” – Diljit also playfully captioned the post, “Lao ji finally ho gaya add Mumbai.”
The tickets for the Mumbai show go live on November 22 as fans will find another chance to witness his electrifying charisma. On the other hand, during a recent concert, Diljit paused his performance midway and called out to a group of people who were watching the show live from the balcony of a hotel nearby.
A recent cosmic census has revealed an unexpected threefold rise in active black holes within dwarf galaxies, creating the most extensive database of intermediate-mass black holes recorded to date. This survey, conducted with the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) at the Mayall Telescope in Arizona, identified over 2,500 black holes in dwarf galaxies—more than triple the previously estimated number. Led by University of Utah astronomer Ragadeepika Pucha, the research team discovered that around 2 per cent of the nearly 115,000 surveyed dwarf galaxies contain black holes actively consuming matter. Previously, only 0.5 per cent of these galaxies were believed to host such black holes.
Unveiling Middleweight Black Holes in the Cosmos
The survey has also increased the number of intermediate-mass black hole candidates—those with masses between 100 and one million times that of the sun. With almost 300 new middleweight candidates identified, the known population has quadrupled from just 70. These findings are important for understanding black hole evolution, as middleweight black holes are seen as a bridge between stellar-mass black holes, formed from collapsing stars, and supermassive black holes, which are often found at the centres of larger galaxies. According to Pucha, this newly documented group of black holes offers clues into how early black holes may have evolved through gradual cosmic mergers.
Insights into Galaxy and Black Hole Co-Evolution
The unprecedented increase in detected black holes brings fresh opportunities to study the connection between galaxies and the black holes within them. As Dr Stéphanie Juneau from NOIRLab, a co-author of the study, remarks, the discovery raises fundamental questions about the evolution of galaxies and their black holes. It remains unclear whether galaxies formed first, subsequently creating black holes, or if black holes seeded galaxy growth.
Future of Cosmic Exploration with DESI
DESI’s findings open new chapters in understanding galactic evolution. Expected to release more detailed findings in 2025, the DESI project has already mapped 1.5 million galaxies, creating a vast 3D map that enables astronomers to probe dimmer galaxies that previously eluded detailed study. Astrophysicist Mallory Molina of Vanderbilt University, though not directly involved in the study, noted the transformative impact of the data, highlighting DESI’s ability to detect numerous black holes, even with basic observational tools, suggesting the potential for further discoveries.
![A Myanmar regime defector participates in a phone repair training near the Thailand-Myanmar border on November 2, 2024. [Valeria Mongelli/Al Jazeera]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Myanmar-skills-6-1732267052.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513)
![A repair instructor, former Myanmar navy personnel, left, and a regime defector, fix a bicycle during an e-bike and bicycle repair workshop near the Thailand-Myanmar border on November 1, 2024 [Valeria Mongelli/Al Jazeera]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Myanmar-skills-2-1732265034.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513)
![Naung Yoe, 40, one of People's Goal directors, at a training centre near the Thailand-Myanmar border on November 1, 2024 [Valeria Mongelli/Al Jazeera]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Naung-Yoe-1732263279.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513)
![Zaw Gyi, 46, a Myanmar regime defector, is portrayed during an e-bike and bicycle repair workshop near the Thailand-Myanmar border on November 1, 2024 [Valeria Mongelli/Al Jazeera]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/myanmar-skills-4-1732266108.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513)
![A skills training instructor and defectors from Myanmar's military and police participate in an e-bike and bicycle repair workshop near the Thailand-Myanmar border on November 1, 2024 [Valeria Mongelli/Al Jazeera]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Myanmar-skills-training-1732262849.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513)
