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NASA 3D animation shows how gravity levels differ across globe! Explore places where gravity doesn’t work

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NASA 3D animation shows how gravity levels differ across globe! Explore places where gravity doesn't work

By: Kritika Bobal

Have you ever wondered what if gravity doesn’t work at all? What if the invisible magnetic force that is spread across the planet which helps us and things stay on the ground disappears suddenly? We don’t know if this can happen anytime soon but there are places where gravitation pull in each part of the world is different. Yes, you read that right!

Gravity, according to NASA, is determined by mass, and because Earth’s mass isn’t distributed evenly over the planet, gravity changes with time. NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) enables scientists to study gravitational pull levels around the world.

GRACE has also shown 3D surprising variations in Earth’s gravity field. The color red denotes locations where gravity is stronger than the ideal, smooth value, whereas the color blue denotes areas where gravity is weaker than the ideal.

There are places in the world for real where gravity fails. Check out these strange places.

  • Magnetic Hill
    Magnetic hill, which is also known as Cyclops Hill is located near Leh, Ladakh. This hill road is actually a downhill road. On the hill road, objects and cars may appear to roll uphill against gravity while they are actually sliding downhill. Surprisingly, if you put your car in neutral gear and turn off the engine, it will begin to move slowly on its own. While some believe that the area has magical properties, others argue that this is due to the optical illusion generated by the area’s layout. You must try this if you don’t believe it.
Ladakh Has A Magnetic Hill Where Cars Are Pulled Upwards On A Slope
  • Reverse waterfall
    Ever heard of a waterfall going upwards instead of falling down? Yes, there is a place in Maharashtra near Pune, where you will catch a reverse waterfall. Naneghat is a strange spot where you’ll spot a strange phenomenon but this is not because of magic or for some spooky reason. The theory behind this is that it is placed on the top of the mountain so as the clouds descend, the winds are strong and with the force, it pushes the water that flows down the mountain, which makes it flow in reverse. So, this is all because of the wind. You will also find a reverse waterfall in the Faroe Islands which is a part of the kingdom of Denmark. The reason is similar.
Ladakh Has A Magnetic Hill Where Cars Are Pulled Upwards On A Slope
  • Hoover Dam
    This dam is located in Nevada, the USA where gravity doesn’t seem to have existed at all. So, if you ever find yourself in this location, try this experiment. Pour water from a bottle over the dam as you stand near it. You will notice that instead of flowing downward, water begins to flow upward. Yes, you read that correctly. This occurs as a result of the dam’s structure creating a powerful updraft, which causes the water to be pushed higher by the wind. Isn’t that fascinating?
  • Mystery Spot
    Mystery spot is located in Santa Cruz in California. It is one of the most amazing places in the world that defy gravity. It was opened in 1939 by George Prather. The Mystery Spot is a prominent tourist attraction known as a “gravity box” or “tilted house”. The intriguing place includes a ‘mystery shack’ that appears to be on the verge of collapsing, and everything appears to be rolling uphill. You are missing out on something very wonderful if you haven’t been here yet.
    Read Also: Punjab CM: Petrol price cut by Rs 10, diesel by Rs 5
  • The Golden Boulder
    This majestic rock appears to be on the verge of collapsing at any moment. This stunning monument is located in Burma, Myanmar. The Golden Rock is precariously balanced on a strand of the Buddha’s hair, according to the legends. Actually, it has been sitting in the same spot for almost 2500 years. That’s correct! At a height of 49 feet, the boulder has a pagoda erected on top of it. According to legend, the boulder is kept in place by Buddha’s hair. However, popular legend has it that the boulder can only be moved by a woman, which is why women are not allowed to touch it. Isn’t it strange

Which place would you like to visit?

Latest Science News

ISRO-European Space Agency sign agreement for advancing human spaceflight

Dr. Aschbacher expressed gratitude to Dr. Somanath for his address at the ESA Council, noting that the agreement lays a solid foundation for ongoing cooperation between the two agencies.

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ISRO on Saturday announced that it has signed an agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) to collaborate on astronaut training, mission execution, and research initiatives. The agreement was formalised by ISRO Chairman Dr. S Somanath and ESA Director General Dr. Josef Aschbacher.

This partnership establishes a framework for cooperative efforts in human space exploration and research, focusing on areas such as astronaut training, experiment development and integration using ESA facilities on the International Space Station (ISS), human and biomedical research experiments, and joint educational outreach programs, according to ISRO’s statement.

For the upcoming Axiom-4 mission, where ISRO’s Gaganyatri will be part of the crew alongside an ESA astronaut, both organizations will work together to conduct experiments proposed by Indian Principal Investigators on the ISS.

Moreover, the collaboration aims to include participation in ESA’s human physiological studies, technology demonstration experiments, and further joint educational outreach initiatives.

During the announcement, Dr. Somanath emphasised that ISRO has developed a roadmap for human spaceflight activities, and with the approval of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), India’s planned indigenous space station, there is an opportunity to foster interoperability between human spaceflight programs.

Dr. Aschbacher expressed gratitude to Dr. Somanath for his address at the ESA Council, noting that the agreement lays a solid foundation for ongoing cooperation between the two agencies.

The leadership of both ISRO and ESA conveyed their satisfaction with the progress of the joint projects related to the Axiom-4 mission and emphasized the importance of continuing collaborative efforts in human spaceflight in the future, according to ISRO’s statement.

ISRO has stated that the newly signed agreement creates a framework for collaboration in human space exploration and research. This partnership emphasizes astronaut training, support for experiment development and integration—which includes utilising ESA facilities on the International Space Station—along with conducting human and biomedical research experiments and engaging in joint educational and outreach initiatives.

In preparation for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission, which will feature ISRO’s Gaganyatri alongside an ESA astronaut, both agencies are working together to implement experiments proposed by Indian Principal Investigators on the ISS. Additionally, ISRO is actively pursuing participation in ESA’s human physiological studies, technology demonstration experiments, and joint educational outreach efforts.

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India News

ISRO-NASA mission: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to be 2nd Indian to travel to space, 40 years after Rakesh Sharma

Nair serves as the contingency astronaut, ready to step in should Shukla be unable to proceed.

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Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla is poised to become the first Indian in four decades to journey into space, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) designating him as the ‘primary’ astronaut for the inaugural ISRO-NASA mission to the International Space Station, anticipated to commence after October this year.

On Friday, ISRO announced the selection of Shukla, 39, and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, 48, for the Axiom-4 mission, appointing Shukla as the ‘prime’ astronaut, implying his primary role in traveling to the ISS. Nair serves as the contingency astronaut, ready to step in should Shukla be unable to proceed.

To date, Rakesh Sharma remains the sole Indian to have ventured into space, having done so in 1984 as a wing commander aboard a Soviet spacecraft. Shukla and Nair are among four Indian Air Force officers chosen for India’s pioneering manned space mission, Gaganyaan, slated for a tentative launch next year.

According to an ISRO official, the duo will engage in eight weeks of mission-specific training. The Axiom-4 mission, orchestrated by private space enterprise Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA, will be propelled by a SpaceX rocket. Joining Shukla will be three astronauts from Poland, Hungary, and the United States. This mission is the result of an accord between New Delhi and Washington during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s U.S. visit last year.

The Axiom-4 spacecraft will remain affixed to the ISS for a duration of 14 days, ferrying not just astronauts but also cargo and supplies to the station. A launch date has not been pinpointed. According to NASA’s website, the mission is planned for no earlier than October 2024, but Poland’s space agency recently suggested the mission could slip into next year. Shukla is a fighter pilot from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and was commissioned into the IAF in 2006.

He has spent more than 2,000 hours on many IAF fighter jets, including Sukhoi-30 MKIs, MiG-21s, MiG-29s, Jaguars, Hawks, Dorniers, and the AN-32 aircraft. Nair, who won the Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy, was commissioned into the IAF in 1998. A category ‘A’ flying instructor and test pilot, having flown over 3,000 hours, he is an alumnus of the United States Staff College and has commanded a Sukhoi-30 squadron.

The Gaganyaan mission of India draws on the experience and expertise gained from the Indian astronauts’ experiences with the ISS mission. “This is a collaborative effort between the two countries with the United States, and it benefits both,” said Somanath, chairman of ISRO, in 2023. “Training in the US and the subsequent discussions will enhance a lot in designing our Gaganyaan mission.”

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India News

President Droupadi Murmu launches India’s first homegrown CAR T-cell therapy for cancer treatment

The gene-based therapy, which is developed by the IIT Bombay and Tata Memorial Centre, is being rolled out in India at about one-tenth of its price outside the country.

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President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday launched India’s first indigenously-developed CAR T-cell therapy, a gene-based therapy, for cancer treatment, hailing it as a breakthrough that provides new hope for humankind in the battle against the diseases.

Speaking at the launch event at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, Murmu said the indigenous development of the CAR T-cell therapy was an example of the Make in India initiative.  

The gene-based therapy, which is developed by the IIT Bombay and Tata Memorial Centre, is being rolled out in India at about one-tenth of its price outside the country, as per the senior official.

In CAR T-cell therapy, a patient’s T-cells, which is a type of immune system cell or stem cell, are modified in the laboratory and inserted back into the patient to attack and destroy cancer cells after editing the stem cell.

The NexCAR19 CAR T-cell therapy, the country’s first Made in India CAR T-cell therapy, is expected to bring down the cost of treatment significantly.

During her speech, Murmu said that this therapy is considered a phenomenal advance in medical sciences. The development of this therapy is also an example of the Make in India initiative and speaks volumes about Indian scientists and physicians, she added.

The launch of India’s first gene therapy is a significant breakthrough in the battle against cancer. As this line of treatment, named CAR T-cell therapy, is accessible and affordable, it provides a new hope for the whole of humankind, President Murmu further added.

The Tata Memorial Centre director Sudeep Gupta said the CAR T-cell therapy was enormously expensive and out of the reach of an overwhelming majority of people.

Asserting that, he said NexCar19 needs to be custom manufactured for every patient under the most stringent conditions, but it has been rolled out at approximately one-tenth of the price at which it is available outside India.

The treatment costs approximately Rs 4 crore abroad against Rs 30 lakh in India, said IIT Bombay director Prof Subhasis Chaudhuri.

He further said that the low-cost CAR T-cell therapy was a huge achievement for the country and cancer patients, and places India firmly on the global map of cell and gene therapy.

Comparing the achievement of Chandrayaan-3 with CAR T-cell therapy, Chaudhuri asserted that CAR-T cell therapy heralds India’s entry into the cell and genetic engineering group.

The Tata Memorial Centre director Gupta said the treatment will help some 20,000 Indians every year, and its rollout is a milestone in the field of cancer care and genetic engineering.

He added the CAR T-cell was not only a scientific achievement of the highest order but also had immense practical application. NexCAR19 will save many, many lives and wipe many, many tears, he emphasised.

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