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  • Digital transactions to ensure transparent economy: PM

    Digital transactions to ensure transparent economy: PM

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    ISLAMABAD:

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday stressed implementing the digital transaction system across the country, saying it was vital to bring transparency to the economy.

    He was chairing a weekly meeting on cashless and digital economy at the Prime Minister’s House.

    On the occasion, the prime minister emphasized the need to facilitate payments between citizens and businesses and to raise awareness about the use of digital systems.

    He instructed the committees formed for the cashless economy to work closely with all stakeholders to present doable recommendations.

    During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed that following the previous meeting, the Digital Payments Innovation and Adoption Committee, the Digital Public Infrastructure Committee, and the Government Payments Committee had been established.

    A detailed briefing was given in the meeting with respect to the committee’s proposals and strategies regarding the digitization of the economy.

    It was informed that the State Bank of Pakistan was developing a strategy to simplify and ease digital payment methods for merchants.

    A simplified package will be introduced to encourage and include small businesses in digital payments.

    The target is to increase the number of mobile app users for digital payments from 95 million to 120 million, and the number of merchants using QR codes will be increased from 0.9 million to 2 million.

    The total volume of digital payments is aimed to increase from Rs 7.5 billion to Rs 12 billion. The prime minister directed that all these targets should be doubled.

    The meeting was further informed that the “Digital National Pakistan” project for the digital economy had been initiated. The Islamabad City mobile application has so far recorded 1.3 million downloads, offering 15 services.

    Through the Islamabad City App, Rs 15.5 billion has been collected under ICT Excise and Taxation, the meeting was informed.

    Work is progressing rapidly on the completion of the Digital Pakistan ID project, while E-stamping facilities will also be launched in Islamabad soon.

    The meeting was further informed that efforts were underway to provide Wi-Fi internet services across Islamabad, particularly in hospitals, educational institutions, government offices, parks, and metro bus lines.

    The prime minister instructed that all these facilities should also be introduced in all federal areas, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

    The meeting was attended by Minister for Information Technology and Telecom Shaza Fatima, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Prime Minister’s Advisor Dr. Tauqir Shah, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, and other senior government officials.

    Polio case

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stressing accelerated efforts to eradicate polio from the country, on Thursday expressed the resolve that despite all challenges and difficulties, the government, with the support of international, provincial, and local teams, will soon achieve the goal of a polio-free Pakistan.

    “We are committed to protect every child in Pakistan from this crippling disease and achieve a polio-free Pakistan,” the prime minister said while chairing a meeting of the Anti-Polio Task Force here.

    He stressed the need for full dedication and seriousness to ensure that every child across the country receives multiple doses of the polio vaccine and remains protected.

    The prime minister acknowledged significant progress in the fight against polio due to the dedication of frontline workers, the commitment of the government of Pakistan, and support from the partners.

    He praised the efforts and cooperation of provincial governments, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and law enforcement agencies in the anti-polio campaign.

    “The safety of polio workers is our top priority,” he said adding that all stakeholders, including provincial governments, must unite and intensify their efforts to eradicate polio.

    The prime minister expressed gratitude to all partners supporting the government in its polio eradication efforts.

    He extended special thanks to Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, for his comprehensive support of Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.

    The prime minister also appreciated the vital and commendable role of the Gates Foundation and all partners in the anti-polio campaign in Pakistan.

    During the briefing, it was informed in the meeting that specific polio campaigns were being designed for each district in Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, based on the unique challenges faced in each area, to ensure complete eradication of the polio virus.

    The anti-polio campaign in Pakistan is not only targeting polio cases among children but also working to eliminate the virus’s environmental presence.

    The meeting was attended by the chair of the Anti-Polio Oversight Board, Dr. Christopher Elias, who is also the President of the Global Development Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Besides members of the Board Dr. Hanan Balkhy — Regional Director, World Health Organization (WHO), Sanjay Wijesekera — Regional Director, UNICEF, Dr. Ziad Memish — Representative of KS Relief, Saudi Arabia, Mike McGovern — Rotary International and Aziz Memon, Trustee, Rotary International also attended the meeting.

    Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal, Minister of State for National Health Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, PM’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq, Chief Secretaries from all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory, National Coordinator for Polio Eradication and other senior government officials were also present in the meeting.

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  • 20 deaths at Pakpattan hospital: Letter by head nurse hints at oxygen shortage – Newspaper

    20 deaths at Pakpattan hospital: Letter by head nurse hints at oxygen shortage – Newspaper

    SAHIWAL: As three investigations into the deaths of 20 babies at paediatric ward of the Pakpattan DHQ Hospital continue, a letter by Senior Head Nurse Salma Tufail has surfaced online in which she had warned the hospital medical superintendent of impending oxygen shortage and the urgent need to maintain supply records.

    The letter — dated first week of June — was circulated on social media. It contradicts the statements of Pakpattan district health authority chief executive officer Dr Sohail who had categorically stated that there was no shortage of oxygen in the pediatric ward during the first three weeks of June.

    Dr Sohail told the media that the children had died due to malnutrition and that they were brought to the hospital in critical condition from ‘outside’.

    Speaking to Dawn, Deputy Commissioner Maria Tariq questioned the letter’s authenticity, stating, “She (Salma Tufail) submitted that oxygen was available and her letter only requested better documentation”.

    The DC confirmed that all relevant records had been confiscated for review. One of the most pressing issues is the reported disappearance of ward-level documents, including the pediatric death register and deceased children’s medication charts. These omissions have prompted earlier internal committees to recommend a “refresher course” on documentation protocols for pediatric staff.

    Adding to the complexity, the whereabouts of the hospital’s contracted oxygen supplier remain unknown, raising serious concerns about availability and verification of oxygen inventory during the critical period.

    The local administration remained on alert on Thursday amid rumours that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz might visit the hospital to meet the bereaved families and announce financial assistance for them.

    On the other hand, Prof Dr Shahid, the head of ICU, Sahiwal Teaching Hospital and head of the high level inquiry, confirmed to Dawn that he had submitted his report to the commissioner but declined to share further details.

    There are concerns among the stakeholder who raised the question as to how the inquiries by three separate authorities would be consolidated into a comprehensive and transparent account of the tragedy’s underlying causes.

    Meanwhile, acting on directives from the chief secretary, senior divisional and district officials — including Commissioner Sahiwal Dr Asif Tufail, RPO Mahboob Rasheed, Deputy Commissioner Pakpattan Maria Tariq and a provincial government representative — held separate meetings with the grieving parents in Pakpattan city.

    Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2025

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  • As US stocks hit records, experts see the dollar falling further

    As US stocks hit records, experts see the dollar falling further

    The dollar has fallen more than 10 percent in 2025 against a basket of six other leading currencies (Richard A. Brooks)

    While the US stock market has fully recovered from a spring rout, the relentless drop in the dollar is prompting currency experts to warn of greater financial market turmoil ahead.

    The American currency is down more than 10 percent so far in 2025, a historic retreat that has overlapped with occasional spikes in long-term US Treasury yields.

    The anomalous dynamic suggests investors are rethinking US holdings, once considered safe havens, as they take stock of President Donald Trump’s unpredictable policy shifts.

    While the dollar’s status as the global reserve currency appears unshakeable in the near future, many currency experts expect the greenback to continue to weaken in the coming years, given expectations for slower growth after a long run of US out-performance.

    “It’s US exceptionalism basically falling by the wayside and the rest of the world playing catch-up,” said Erik Nelson, a macro strategist at Wells Fargo, who predicts the dollar will continue to depreciate.

    In April, global markets were shaken by “Sell America” gyrations in the stock, foreign exchange and US treasury markets, and analysts expect similar sentiment in the future.

    “I think the world is becoming a little bit less stable politically, which is generally kind of problematic for economic and financial market volatility,” Nelson said.

    “We are witnessing the end of a 14-year bull run of the US dollar,” said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM US, a consultancy, who expects a “multi-year unwinding of the dollar.”

    Harvard Economist Kenneth Rogoff, author of the 2025 book “Our Dollar Your Problem,” said central banks in China and elsewhere were diversifying away from dollars even before 2025, but that Trump accelerated the trend.

    “I think we’ll see a period of a lot of financial volatility, largely centered around the chaos in the United States,” Rogoff told AFP, pointing to factors that include uncertainty about US central bank independence and the rise of populism.

    “We’ll probably have a more volatile period in financial markets over the next 10 years than we have in the preceding.”

    – Onshoring benefit –

    Both Nelson and Rogoff pointed out that the dollar at the start of 2025 was unusually lofty after surging in the weeks following Trump’s November 2024 victory.

    Economists have since rethought assumptions that the US would continue to outperform rival economies.

    According to the ICE US Dollar Index, a basket of seven currencies, the dollar fell 10.7 percent through the end of June, the biggest drop in the first six months of a year since 1973.

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  • your body’s hidden weight loss engine

    your body’s hidden weight loss engine




    open the door to new ways of using brown fat to fight obesity and related diseases





    (Web Desk) – Scientists have discovered a hidden switch in the body that helps special fat cells, known as brown fat, burn calories and produce heat, especially when it’s cold.

    This fat acts like a natural furnace, keeping us warm and lean by using up stored energy. The researchers found that when temperatures drop, a protein that normally blocks this process fades away, letting the fat cells kick into high gear. While it’s early days, this discovery could someday lead to new ways to boost metabolism and fight weight gain.

    Brown Fat: Nature’s Internal Heater

    Your body contains a special type of fat called brown fat, and it does something remarkable—it burns energy to generate heat. This process not only helps keep you warm but may also protect against weight gain and metabolic issues like diabetes.

    Now, an international team of researchers led by Professor Alexander Bartelt from the Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK) has uncovered a key mechanism that boosts the activity of these fat-burning cells. Their exciting findings, published in The EMBO Journal, could open the door to new ways of using brown fat to fight obesity and related diseases.

    Cold-Driven Calorie Burning

    Brown fat becomes especially active in the cold. It pulls energy from stored fat to fuel thermogenesis, the body’s natural heat production system. According to Bartelt, people who regularly expose themselves to colder temperatures can “train” their brown fat to become more efficient. These individuals tend to be leaner and less likely to develop cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

    What makes brown fat so powerful? It’s packed with mitochondria, tiny energy factories in our cells. These mitochondria help burn fuel, but scientists are still working to understand exactly how this process can be amplified for health benefits.

    Protein Switch Unlocks Thermogenesis

    One of brown fat’s secret weapons is a molecule called uncoupling protein-1. It helps mitochondria produce heat instead of storing energy as ATP, the body’s standard energy currency. “The high metabolic activity of brown fat cells must also influence the production of ATP,” says Bartelt, “and we hypothesized that this process would be regulated by cold.”

    Together with Brazilian colleagues from São Paulo, the researchers identified “inhibitory factor 1,” which ensures that ATP production is maintained instead of thermogenesis. When temperature goes down, the levels of inhibitory factor-1 fall, and thermogenesis can take place. When artificially increased, inhibitory factor 1 disrupts the activation of brown fat in the cold.

    Awakening Dormant Heat Cells

    These findings were obtained in isolated mitochondria, cultivated cells, and an animal model. “While we have found an important piece of the puzzle for understanding thermogenesis, therapeutic applications are still a long way off,” explains Dr. Henver Brunetta, who conducted the study.

    According to the authors, most people use their brown fat too little, and it becomes dormant. The new study results indicate that there are molecular switches that allow mitochondria of brown fat cells to work better.

    Bartelt and his colleagues plan to build on this discovery. “Ideally, we’ll find new ways, based on our data, to also restore the fitness of mitochondria in white fat cells, as most people have plenty if not too many of them,” concludes Bartelt.

     

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  • Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom have split: What we know about their breakup

    Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom have split: What we know about their breakup

    NEW YORK (AP) — Popstar Katy Perry and actor Orlando Bloom have split, multiple media outlets reported Thursday.

    Outlets including People and USA Today cited a statement that said the pair “have been shifting their relationship over the past many months to focus on co-parenting” and would continue to be seen in public with their daughter. The statement, attributed to representatives for both stars, said their priority would be raising their daughter with ”love, stability, and mutual respect.”

    The statement came a week after reports of the couple’s breakup swirled ahead of the wedding of billionaire Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, which Bloom attended alone. Perry has been on a world tour.

    Representatives for Perry and Bloom did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment.

    Perry, 40, and Bloom, 48, have been romantically linked since 2016. The pair split in 2017 but rekindled shortly thereafter, getting engaged on Valentine’s Day in 2019, as Perry revealed during an interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

    In 2020, the pair welcomed a daughter named Daisy Dove Bloom. Perry and Bloom got UNICEF to announce the news on its Instagram account. Both are goodwill ambassadors for the United Nations agency that helps children.

    Bloom and his former wife, Australian model Miranda Kerr, have a son, Flynn, who was born in 2011. Daisy is Perry’s only child.

    Perry, born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, was previously married to comedian Russell Brand.

    Born and raised in California, the 13-time Grammy Award nominee helped usher in the sound of ’00s pop, quickly becoming one of the bestselling artists of all time for her campy, big, belting anthems. She has released seven studio albums, most notably 2010’s sugar-sweet “Teenage Dream.” The album produced five No. 1s that tied a record set by Michael Jackson’s 1987 album “Bad.”

    Bloom, who is from Canterbury, England, is best known for his roles as the elf Legolas in “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” films as well as Will Turner in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series.


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  • Newly spotted comet is third interstellar object seen in our solar system – Science & Tech

    Newly spotted comet is third interstellar object seen in our solar system – Science & Tech

    stronomers are tracking a newly spotted comet hailing from parts unknown, only the third time such an interstellar object has been observed visiting our solar system.

    According to US space agency NASA, the interloper – named 3I/ATLAS – was first spotted on Tuesday by an Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, or ATLAS, telescope located in Rio Hurtado, Chile. Astronomers said its unusual trajectory indicated it had ventured from beyond our solar system. 

    Journeying at a speed of around 37 miles (60 km) per second from the direction of the center of the Milky Way galaxy, 3I/ATLAS is presently located about 420 million miles (670 million kilometers) from Earth.

    “Beyond that we do not know very much, and there are many efforts underway to observe this object with larger telescopes to determine composition,” University of Hawaii astronomer Larry Denneau, co-principal investigator for ATLAS, said on Thursday.

    The only other such interstellar visitors previously observed by astronomers were objects called 1l/’Oumuamua (pronounced oh-MOO-uh-MOO-uh), detected in 2017, and 2I/Borisov, discovered in 2019.

    “The comet has some similarities to 2I/Borisov in that it appears to be an icy comet, but it is much larger, possibly 10 km (6.2 miles) in diameter,” Denneau said.

    “It currently has a faint coma,” Denneau added, referring to the cloud of gas and dust surrounding a comet’s nucleus, “but the coma and tail may increase dramatically as the object comes closer to the sun. Its closest approach to the sun will be later this year, when it will come inside the orbit of Mars. We don’t know what will happen, so that’s exciting.”

    Astronomers said the comet poses no threat to Earth and will never come closer than 150 million miles (240 million km) away, equivalent to more than 1-1/2 times the distance between Earth and the sun. It is currently located about 416 million miles (670 million km) from the sun and will reach its closest approach to the sun around October 30, when it will be about 130 million miles (210 million km) away from our star.

    The ATLAS network is a NASA-funded telescope survey built and operated by the University of Hawaii, with five telescopes around the world that scan the night sky continuously to look for objects that could threaten Earth.

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  • Gut Bacteria Found to Soak Up Toxic Forever Chemicals : ScienceAlert

    Gut Bacteria Found to Soak Up Toxic Forever Chemicals : ScienceAlert

    Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have the nickname ‘forever chemicals’ thanks to their persistence in the environment. While a handful of bacteria are known to mop up these insidious compounds, it’s unclear whether any of our own microflora hide such a talent.

    A new study by an international team of researchers has shown how several species of human gut bacteria can absorb and store PFAS. Potentially, boosting these types of bacteria in our bodies could stop the chemicals from negatively impacting our health.

    “We found that certain species of human gut bacteria have a remarkably high capacity to soak up PFAS from their environment at a range of concentrations, and store these in clumps inside their cells,” says Kiran Patil, a molecular biologist from the University of Cambridge in the UK.

    “Due to aggregation of PFAS in these clumps, the bacteria themselves seem protected from the toxic effects.”

    Related: ‘Game Changer’: Hot New Tech Turns Forever Chemicals Into Valuable Resource

    Through detailed lab tests, the researchers found a total of 38 different gut bacterial strains able to absorb forever chemicals at a variety of concentrations, with the fiber-degrading bacterium Bacteroides uniformis one of the best at the job.

    The researchers analyzed how bacteria reacted to PFAS. (Lindell et al., Nature Microbiology, 2025)

    In experiments with Escherichia coli, the team also discovered certain mechanisms that could make bacteria more or less effective at taking on board PFAS – something that will be useful if this absorption can be bioengineered in the future.

    The researchers found that PFAS were effectively locked away in the bacteria that could handle the chemicals, the bacteria clustering together in a way that reduces their surface area and possibly protects the microorganisms from being harmed themselves.

    Further tests on mice with nine of these bacteria species implanted in their guts showed that the microbes were able to quickly absorb PFAS, which was excreted from the mice through their feces. As levels of forever chemicals increased, the microbes worked harder at soaking them up.

    “The reality is that PFAS are already in the environment and in our bodies, and we need to try and mitigate their impact on our health now,” says molecular biologist Indra Roux from the University of Cambridge.

    “We haven’t found a way to destroy PFAS, but our findings open the possibility of developing ways to get them out of our bodies where they do the most harm.”

    PFAS are found in everything from cosmetics to drinking water to food packaging, and have become embedded in so many manufacturing processes that it would now be almost impossible to avoid them completely. What’s less clear is the harm they might be doing to our bodies, though they’ve already been linked to a number of health issues – including kidney damage.

    The bacteria’s ability to remove PFAS from human bodies remains to be seen. It is possible, the researchers say, that probiotic dietary supplements may be developed to boost the right mix of gut microbes and help safely clear out PFAS from our systems.

    “Given the scale of the problem of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’, particularly their effects on human health, it’s concerning that so little is being done about removing these from our bodies,” says Patil.

    The research has been published in Nature Microbiology.

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  • Modernized Mobile Cassette Players : Maxell MXCP-P100

    Modernized Mobile Cassette Players : Maxell MXCP-P100

    The Maxell MXCP-P100 cassette tape player has been launched as a modernized take on the humble mobile tape player that has been revived in the face of cassette tape popularity as of late. The device will call to mind the aesthetic of tape players from the 80s with its chunky buttons and brass flywheel, but maintains a modernized functionality thanks to Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity for use with wireless headphones. The tape player also has physical connectivity options in the form of a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB-C port that can be used for recharging the internal batteries for seven to nine-hours of playback per charge.

    The Maxell MXCP-P100 cassette tape player comes in black and white color options, and is available in Japan for 13,000 yen.

    Image Credit: Maxell, hypebeast, maxell-usa

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  • New global guidelines aim to make clozapine safer and more accessible

    New global guidelines aim to make clozapine safer and more accessible

    The most effective antipsychotic drug for people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia is clozapine.

    Yet, across the world, it remains underused – largely due to fears about serious side effects and burdensome monitoring requirements.

    New international consensus guidelines were developed through a research method, known as a Delphi process, that used a series of surveys with experts and people taking clozapine. These guidelines offer a pathway to safer, more practical, and more patient-centred care.

    Why clozapine is both powerful and underused

    Clozapine is often the last resort for people with schizophrenia who haven’t responded to other medications.

    For many, it is life-changing – reducing symptoms, hospitalisations, and even suicide risk.

    But it’s not without risks. A key concern is a rare side effect: severe neutropenia, where the body’s white blood cells drop to dangerously low levels, increasing infection risk.

    In response to a cluster of 8 patient deaths due to neutropenia (a lack of white blood cells) in Finland the mid-1970s, most countries introduced mandatory and ongoing blood tests to monitor patients’ neutrophil (a type of white blood cell) levels.

    These requirements, particularly the need for regular blood tests – sometimes weekly or monthly for years – are a major barrier to starting and continuing clozapine.

    Patients and clinicians alike often find the process frustrating, confusing, and overly cautious.

    What the evidence shows

    Recent large-scale studies from Australia, New Zealand, Finland, and Chile have shown that the risk of severe neutropenia with clozapine is highest in the first few months of treatment – then drops dramatically. By 2 years, the risk is near zero.

    Yet despite this, many countries still require routine monitoring for the entire duration of treatment.

    The result? Some patients have their treatment stopped unnecessarily. Others are never offered clozapine at all.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, some jurisdictions relaxed their monitoring requirements for people stable on clozapine.

    Reassuringly, there was no increase in adverse events.

    A global consensus to modernise care

    To address this, our research group convened an international panel – including psychiatrists, pharmacists, researchers, and people with schizophrenia taking clozapine – to develop consensus guidelines for clozapine monitoring.

    The panel reached strong agreement on these major changes:

    • Lower the neutrophil threshold for stopping clozapine

    • Reduce the frequency of blood tests from weekly to monthly after the first 18 weeks, and discontinue routine testing altogether after 2 years, unless clinical concerns arise

    • Rather than focus just on neutrophils, we recommended broader side-effect monitoring – including weight gain, sedation, constipation, reflux, and more – using a simple checklist reviewed every 3 months.

    Listening to people who take clozapine

    We didn’t just rely on clinical opinion. We also ran focus groups with people taking clozapine.

    Their message was clear: while they valued clozapine’s benefits, they wanted more say in how their care was managed.

    Patients described the blood tests as a significant burden – particularly when travelling or working.

    They were open to continuing some health checks, if it felt relevant and necessary.

    Many welcomed the idea of a side-effect checklist to guide conversations with their doctors, helping raise sensitive topics like involuntary urination or sexual side-effects that can otherwise go undiscussed.

    Considering the whole body when monitoring clozapine

    Adverse drug reactions associated with clozapine are not just inconvenient – they can be deadly.

    Constipation and pneumonia, for example, are the two leading causes of clozapine-related deaths.

    Other adverse reactions such as sedation, reflux and urinary issues significantly affect quality of life and physical health.

    There is a risk that if health services stop monitoring neutrophils, they might stop monitoring everything else.

    But neutrophil monitoring is just one part of a bigger picture. What is essential is not less monitoring overall, but better-targeted monitoring that focuses on the most pressing risks to health and safety.

    That’s why the panel recommended long-term monitoring of a comprehensive set of adverse drug reactions.

    The new guidelines promote a shared-care model, where GPs and psychiatrists work together to monitor clozapine’s effects.

    This includes regular checks for metabolic health, cardiovascular symptoms and gastrointestinal side effects, among others, every 3 months.

    Routine ECGs or echocardiograms aren’t recommended unless there are clinical concerns.

    Where possible, monitoring clozapine levels in the blood can help fine-tune dosing – particularly if patients get sick, change smoking habits, or start new medications.

    These changes can reduce unnecessary treatment interruptions, lower health system costs, and, most importantly, improve patient experience.

    What’s next?

    Many health systems still mandate outdated monitoring rules and updating these policies won’t be easy but it is necessary.

    The evidence is clear: continuing lifelong, intensive monitoring is not supported by data, and it risks harming the very people clozapine is meant to help.

    It’s time to bring clozapine care into the 21st century – grounded in evidence, shaped by patients, and delivered with compassion.

    The research is published in Lancet Psychiatry.

    Source:

    The University of Queensland

    Journal reference:

    Siskind, D., et al. (2025). Absolute neutrophil count and adverse drug reaction monitoring during doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(25)00098-7.

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  • Two ‘never seen’ stars explode into sky in extremely rare event

    Two ‘never seen’ stars explode into sky in extremely rare event



    Technology


    This is without question an extremely rare event





    (Web Desk) – Two new stars have suddenly appeared in the night sky, caused by some of the most powerful explosions in the universe.

    Two distant stellar explosions have burned so bright that we can now see them from Earth with the naked eye.

    It is the first time in recorded history that more than one of these luminous outbursts has been visible to humans at the same time, according to scientists.

    The first nova, dubbed V462 Lupi, was first spotted 12 June in the Lupus constellation.

    The distant star that existed before the dramatic transformation was 3 million times dimmer than it is now.

    Then on 25 June, astronomers detected another nova, dubbed V572 Velorum, within the Vela constellation, according to EarthSky.org.

    A classic nova – a space explosion that is shorter-lived than a supernova – typically appears in the night sky once a year at most.

    More than one of these events simultaneously are almost unheard of.

    “This is without question an extremely rare event, if not an historical one,” astronomer and author Stephen O’Meara, told Spaceweather.com.

    “I have yet to find an occurrence of two simultaneous nova appearing at the same time.”

    The last time we came close to simultaneous novas visible to the naked eye was in 1936 – but both V630 Sgr and V368 Aql were still weeks apart.

    O’Meara, who has been trawling historical records for similar events, added: “They were not at maximum brightness at the same time.”

    V572 Velorum shines with brilliant blue-white light, while V462 Lupi has a purple hue, according to Live Science.

    Eventually, the stars will turn red before disappearing, as the longer blue-colored wavelengths of light fade first.

    V462 Lupi’s brightness peaked on 20 June, at a magnitude of +5.5 – which is how the brightness of stars is measured.

    That would make it dimmer than Polaris and Sirius, the brightest stars in the sky.

    Since then, the star has weakened slightly but remains above the +6 magnitude threshold, which means it is detectable by the naked eye.

    V572 Velorum is brighter, peaking at +4.8 on 27 June.

    Both the Lupus and Vela constellations are in the southern sky – which means they are below the horizon in the UK but visible in some parts of North America, including Mexico, California and Texas. 

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