Two new discoveries, Perseverance rover and Russia getting close to vaccine

Credit: Karen Osborn, Smithsonian Institution

Ultra-black fish discovered deep in the oceans

A new ultra-black fish going by the name Pacific Black-dragon has been discovered in the waters of Monterey Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Marine scientist Karen Osborn and her team recently published the story in their research paper.

According to studies, the fish lives in the lower parts of the oceans which are impenetrable to light. As a result, many organisms in such environments produce bioluminescence from their bodies to navigate. But the ultra-black fish exploits this technique to lure in its prey while their body remains hidden due to the presence of dark pigments. The Black-dragon absorbs more than 99.5 percent of light that falls on it, making it almost impossible to be detected.

NASA to give an update on the Perseverance rover

Artist's depiction of the Perseverance rover collecting samples on Mars. Credit : NASA

On July 20, 1 p.m. EDT, NASA's leadership group is going to participate in what is being called a virtual discussion with the Space Foundation on the upcoming Mars Perseverance rover launch. The event, called Roving the Red Planet, will be live streamed on the agency's website and NASA Television.

The Space Foundation will be moderating the discussion, which also features NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. Mr Bridenstine will be talking about how NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover mission will help prepare humanity for its next giant leap – human exploration of Mars. 

The Mars 2020 mission is scheduled to launch from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 7:50 a.m. EDT Thursday, July 30. It will land at Jezero Crater on Mars on Feb. 18, 2021.

A giant cockroach species discovered

At 20 inches, it is the second largest isopod ever discovered

A new species of cockroach has been found at the bottom of the Indian Ocean. The isopod was discovered during a project led by Peter Ng of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum of the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The cockroach has 14 legs and has been named 'Bathynomus Raksasa', where Raksasa is referred to as evil by the locals of the area. At 20 inches in length, it is now the second-largest isopod ever discovered.

The research was focused near the coast of Banten for two weeks, covering 63 areas using high-tech coring and dredging devices. Thousands of samples were extracted from the ocean at a depth of between 800 meters to 2100 meters below sea level. Incredibly, 12 other unidentified species were also found.

Bathynomus Raksasa has been identified as a 'giant isopod'. While it looks more like a land cockroach, it is actually more closely related to crabs and shrimp. Also much like land cockroaches, Raksasa can go on for extended periods of time without eating.

Russia might just do it

The Gamaleya National Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Moscow, Russia, is reportedly claiming to have developed a Coronavirus vaccine candidate good enough to be out for the general public during the third phase of its clinical trials. Earlier, there were reports that the vaccine had cleared its first stage of clinical trials which started on June 18 and is now in the second stage. Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko has also said that even before the completion of third phase trial of the vaccine, it will be made available in the market, according to reports from a Russian news channel.

According to Murashko, additional clinical research on the approved vaccine will be carried on simultaneously. This approach is expected to test a new format of vaccine safety and efficacy, the report quoted Murashko as saying. The Russian government could also be planning to amplify the new approach once it has some substantial data on the vaccinated patients which could help paint a better picture of the immunity status among patients.