Mission Shakti: India's ASAT test and its geopolitical implications

India announced on 27th March, 2019 that it had successfully terminated a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite in space using an indigenously developed anti-satellite missile system. The test, code-named Mission Shakti, was fully successful and achieved all parameters and met desired objectives. An ASAT test requires an extremely high degree of precision and technological capability. The test makes India the fourth country in the world after the United States, Russia and China, to acquire the strategic capability to shoot down enemy satellites in orbit.

China conducted an ASAT test in January 2007 which demonstrated the capability of shooting down satellites at an altitude of over 800 kilometres in the lower earth orbit (LEO). US was the first country to acquire the ASAT technology in 1958 followed by USSR in 1964. Anti-satellite weapons are considered to be strategic assets since they can easily cripple an enemy nation's communication links and earth-observing capabilities, thereby impacting military operations, financial transactions and broadcasting services. Much like nuclear assets, ASAT capabilities serve to act like a deterrence. The DRDO’s Ballistic Missile Defence interceptor was used in this test, which is part of India's on-going ballistic missile defence programme. Crucial support was also provided by ISRO, India's premier space research organization. The mission took only 3 minutes to complete from the time of locking on to the target satellite till the moment it was terminated.

Mission Shakti: India's ASAT Test

The government of India has stated that it has no intention of entering into an arms race in outer space. The country has always maintained that space must be used only for peaceful purposes. The government has also stated that India is against the weaponization of outer space and supports international efforts to reinforce the safety and security of space based assets. The test was done simply to verify that India has the capability to safeguard its space assets. Care was taken to ensure that test was performed in the lower earth atmosphere. This would ensure that there was no space debris. Whatever debris was generated shall decay and fall back on to the earth's surface within a few weeks, thereby reducing the possibility of damage to other active satellites in the vicinity.

The consequences of publicly announcing an ASAT capability are far-reaching. An ASAT capability can finish a war even before it starts. It is a message to India's hostile neighbours, namely Pakistan and China, that the country can defend its space assets and, if required, eliminate enemy assets to cause massive disruption during war. It is a strategic and bold move by India and reflects a tectonic shift in the nation's military doctrine. India, is now truly ready for the space age.

The Nature of Matter

What is matter? According to popular definition, anything that occupies space and has mass is known as matter. It is distinct from energy (physics), mind and spirit.

For example, a stone is made of matter; so is wood, metal, plastic, rubber, water, air, etc. Even the human body, all forms of animal and plant life, the sun, the moon and the stars above us are all made of some form of matter. The chemical composition of these various forms of matter may be different, leading to difference in appearance, texture, colour, behaviour, etc, but essentially, they are all physical entities which occupy space and have mass. One can touch matter and feel it's presence.

Having understood the basic nature of matter, it is time to dig a bit deeper and understand it's chemical composition, properties and behaviour. Matter is composed of metals and non-metals, also known as elements. Metals like copper, gold, silver and iron are lustrous, malleable and conduct electricity whereas non-metals such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, boron and chlorine are non-lustrous, non-malleable and do not conduct electricity. Matter can also be segregated into organic (carbon-based) and inorganic (non-carbon based) forms. Living organisms such as humans, animals and plants are primarily made of organic matter whereas inanimate objects are primarily made of inorganic matter.

If we split any element, we get sub-particles such as molecules, and further down, atoms. It is the atom or molecule (collection of atoms) which imparts specific properties to an element (matter) and which defines its nature and appearance. Thus, an atom of oxygen is different from an atom of gold or an atom of carbon. As science has progressed, humanity has been able to look beyond molecules and atoms. Today, we are aware that atoms are made of electrons (negatively charged particles), protons (positively charged particles) and neutrons (neutral particles with mass). Every atom has an equal number of electrons and protons, with the positively charged protons counter-balancing the negatively charged electrons. The hydrogen atom has 1 electron, the carbon atom has 6 electrons and an atom of gold has 79 electrons. They are all different in properties, appearance and behaviour and the difference is attributed to the varying number of electrons (or protons) in each type of atom. However, if we analyse the behaviour of each electron, we find no difference. An electron taken from an atom of carbon is indistinguishable from an electron taken from an atom of gold or iron. In fact, an electron taken from any form of matter (living or non-living) on Earth would be identical to an electron taken from any other form of matter anywhere in the universe. If the fundamental sub-atomic particles of matter are identical, what is it that differentiates living organisms from non-living entities? If an electron taken from a human body is identical to an electron taken from a stone or pebble, what is it that makes us, humans, intelligent, aware and conscious of our surroundings? What gives us the power of speech, thought, vision and locomotion? What drives our the growth in our bodies that the stone or pebble is not capable of? What is it that makes us "living"?

Let us take another example. A horse is a living organism which is capable of running at high speeds. A car, on the other hand, is a man-made mechanical device which is capable of high-speed locomotion. Smart Cars developed in the 21st century are capable of autonomous locomotion as well. Does that mean that a car and a horse are similar in nature? Can we treat the car as a living entity although the underlying sub-atomic electrons are identical in both? Popular belief and perception would say no. According to ancient wisdom and spiritual thought, there exists a life-force, a creative energy, an intelligence and consciousness which pervades every atom in the universe. It is this spark of creative energy or life force manifesting itself as intelligence, awareness and growth, which creates the distinction between living and non-living entities. Then again, if the universal consciousness and creative energy pervades every atom in the universe, it must be present in the atoms of non-living entities as well. Does this mean that the human perception of living and non-living is not well-defined? Does this mean that what may appear to be non-living in plain sight, may actually turn out to be an intelligent and "living" entity? We must remember that trees and plants were not considered to be living organisms until a renowned Indian scientist, Jagadish Chandra Bose, proved the contrary. It may, therefore, be possible that all forms of matter in this universe have an inherent creative force and consciousness embedded in them. In some entities it is manifested as "life" while, in others, it is dormant. How we communicate with that consciousness is a matter of debate and introspection.

Multiverse and Multiple Dimensions

The Human mind can perceive only four dimensions. The first three being physical dimensions such as length, breadth and height, and the fourth being the Time dimension. That is why we can see, hear, feel and touch only those entities which exist in the three dimensional world. Our sensory organs control how we perceive the universe that we live in and we believe in the reality that our mind presents before us.

Multiverse

The multiverse is a hypothetical group of multiple universes including the universe in which we live. Together, these universes comprise everything that exists: the entirety of space, time, matter, energy, and the physical laws and constants that describe them. The different universes within the multiverse are called "parallel universes", "other universes", or "alternate universes". The idea of different worlds and dimensions floating around might seem absurd and bewildering to some, but it is not just some random idea that scientists came up with. This is a hypothesis which has solid physics and mathematical evidence to back it up and which, if true, holds answers to several anomalies and discrepancies in quantum physics. There are numerous theories (e.g.: The String Theory) that point to the fact that there are multiple parallel universes out there, and some experts believe that chances are high that hidden universes actually exist in plain sight.

Concepts of a multiverse are also evident in the cyclical infinite worlds of ancient Hindu cosmology. According to Hindu Vedic cosmology, there is no absolute start to time, as it is considered infinite and cyclic. Similarly, the space and universe has neither start nor end, rather it is cyclical. The current universe is just the start of a present cycle preceded by an infinite number of universes and to be followed by another infinite number of universes.

It is also possible for each universe to have multiple dimensions and not just the four we humans can perceive. According to the Puranas and the Atharvaveda, our universe consists of 7 upper (Vyahrtis) and 7 lower (Patalas) planes of existence: Satya-loka, Tapa-loka, Jana-loka, Mahar-loka, Svar-loka, Bhuvar-loka, Bhu-loka, Atala-loka, Vitala-loka, Sutala-loka, Talatala-loka, Mahatala-loka, Rasatala-loka and Patala-loka. The concept of multiple planes or dimensions is echoed in several other religions such as Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Thus, it is evident that the concept of multiple universes and/or multiple dimensions is not new. It is something which has been known or pondered upon since antiquity.

Let us take the example of fire or a burning flame. It has neither length nor breadth nor any thickness. Yet, we can see the the light emanating out of the flame and feel its warmth. We cannot physically touch it or hold it, yet we get burnt by the flame if we come in contact. Can we define its existence in any of the three dimensional physical planes? We cannot; yet, we know it exists. It is possible that the flame exists in a different dimension and is perceivable to us only by our sense of sight. If we were not able to see the flame, it would not be possible for us to sense its existence. We might have felt its warmth but we could have never identified the location of the flame if it was not visible to us. Similarly, there might be an infinite number of dimensions around us which our limited senses are not able to perceive but it does not mean that they do not exist. It is possible that we may be able to travel or move to these other dimensions or planes in future once we achieve a certain level of technological and psycho-physiological advancement. This could also potentially explain the sudden appearance and disappearance of Gods and other worldly beings as depicted in several religious and historical scriptures across the world. It may be that these evolved beings had the capability to transcend our three dimensional world and move between various planes of existence. Modern science explores such a possibility by means of wormholes.

A wormhole is a theoretical passage through space-time that could create shortcuts for long journeys across the universe. Wormholes are predicted by the theory of general relativity and may offer a plausible explanation and solution for inter-galactic travel through the space-time continuum. If this hold true, then we should probably not limit our search for extra terrestrial intelligence within our perceptible universe or three dimensional world. It is time to explore and revisit our perception of reality and undertake research to create break-through technologies which may be able to transcend physical barriers.

The Multiverse and Multi-dimensional universe are possibilities not yet proven by science but accepted by many as a possible reality. The sooner we accept it the better it would be for the evolution of mankind.

The Alien Theory

Since time immemorial, humanity has been perplexed about the possibility of extra terrestrial life and visitors from outer space. There have been numerous reports of sightings of spaceships and natural phenomenon which did not have any logical explanation and which could not be attributed to any other event or source.

Cave painting in Chhattisgarh, India.

Cave paintings and inscriptions on rocks found across the world indicate that we have had alien visitors since antiquity. Several religious scriptures also indicate the presence of other worldly beings. However, if aliens or extra terrestrial life forms have been visiting us for a long time, why have we, in recent history, not encountered them up close or had any meaningful interaction? One possibility could be that humanity is not yet ready, either culturally or technologically.

Petroglyphs in Barrier Canyon, Utah, USA.

A significant portion of modern human society still believes that the origin of Man was an act of God and that we are alone in this universe. But have we ever wondered that if God could create humans and establish life on Earth, could he not have done the same in other Worlds? Is it not unlikely that life never originated in any of the billions of galactic systems in the ever-expanding and infinite universe?

A particular school of thought suggests that life on Earth was seeded or implanted by technologically advanced visitors from outer space. They tweaked their own DNA and started the process for human evolution. This explains why many rock paintings and early scriptures depict alien visitors as having physical forms similar to that of modern humans.

Nourlangie, Kakadu National Park, Australia

Their purpose, according to proponents of this theory, was to use planet Earth as a laboratory or testing ground for studying various life-forms, primarily human, in an effort to create perfectly evolved intelligent beings. Just like scientists visit their laboratory experiments from time to time to record progress and observations, our alien creators also visited us and continue to do so to study and record the progress of human civilization. This theory lines up with frequent sightings of spaceships and records of alien visitors in cave paintings and inscriptions since antiquity.

It also explains reported abductions of human beings by extraterrestrial beings. Indications of extra-terrestrial contact and presence of technological inventions, which were much ahead of their time, have been reported in Egyptian hieroglyphs as well as in archaeological findings across the World. Depictions of modern-day helicopters, tanks, submarines and spaceships in carvings dating back several thousands of years have no logical explanation except for the fact that early civilizations had contact with extra terrestrial beings. Now, coming back to theory of human civilization being an experiment; if an experiment goes wrong, or if the results are not as per expectation, scientists usually terminate the project and sanitize the laboratory for a new experiment. This is probably what happened with the dinosaurs (the meteorite collision theory is not well-proven) and this is what probably might happen to humans as well, in future.

Egyptian Hieroglyphs

Another example of unexplainable natural phenomenon would the Nazca lines of Peru. They are a group of very large geoglyphs formed by depressions or shallow incisions made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. They were created between 500 BCE and 500 CE. Most lines run straight across the landscape, but there are also figurative designs of animals and plants, made up of lines. It is not just the sheer size of such patterns but also the geometric alignment and coordination, which surprises us, even to this day.

The Condor, Nazca Desert, Peru.

Some of the Nazca lines form shapes that are best seen from the air (~1,500 ft), though they are visible from the surrounding foothills and other high places as well and are usually made from one continuous line. Could it be that these lines or patterns were merely some form of ancient art or irrigation system? Or, could it be that these were some sort of marking for our aerial visitors, similar to landing strips for aircraft and spaceships? We do not have an answer.

Questions have also been raised on Darwin's theory of evolution. It is said that modern humans evolved from apes. But apart from the ape-to-human evolution lineage, we do not see similar and drastic change in appearance and intelligence in other life-forms on planet Earth. For example, sharks have been around for more than 450 million years according to available archaeological evidence, while primates diverged from other mammals around 85 million years ago. The Hominina sub-tribe (humans and biped ancestors) separated later about 4-7.5 million years ago.

Evolution of Sharks

Apart from a reduction in size (probably due to scarcity of food resources) and some minor changes in appearance, sharks have not evolved much. On the other hand, the evolution from primates to humans has been dramatic and significant in terms of changes in appearance, behaviour and intelligence in a much shorter period of time. Does it not bring forth the obvious question - were humans destined for such rapid evolution or was it deliberately brought about by external influence and assistance?

The last couple of centuries have witnessed the emergence of break-through technologies and inventions in science and space research; technologies, which enable us, humans, to peer into the vast galactic wilderness beyond our Earth. Spaceships, solar-powered satellites and interstellar probes have already started visiting nearby planets, satellites and asteroids for research and for seeking possible signs of extra-terrestrial life. Humans have already landed on the Moon and a manned mission to Mars is on the cards. If humans could achieve so much in so little time, would it not be possible for extra-terrestrial civilizations, who may be light years ahead of us in evolution and technological advancement, to visit us and maybe, even guide us towards a higher form of evolution? A recent observation suggests so.

Artist's impression of Oumuamua.

Oumuamua, (which means “scout” or “messenger” in Hawaiian), is an elongated space object, which was discovered speeding past the sun in 2017. It is the only celestial body known to have visited our solar system from another. Oumuamua is believed to be an exotic type of comet or asteroid, but it is such an oddity that some astronomers have speculated it could be an alien spacecraft. The interstellar object's origin, path of motion, non-gravitational acceleration and strange reflecting properties have baffled scientists across the world. Several theories have been proposed which indicate that Oumuamua could be an alien light-sail or space probe.

Acceptance of the concept of extra terrestrial beings has become more common in the modern day due to the emergence of the internet and the viral nature of conspiracy theories and sightings. The recent spate of western movies dealing with concepts of inter-galactic journey, genetically evolved super-human beings and time-travel have helped promote the alien theory, but the pertinent question still remains: If aliens created humans, who created the aliens? It may now be time to acknowledge the fact that we are probably not alone in this universe. There is a higher intelligence, in whatever form that might be, observing us and probably guiding us, through to our destiny.

Tata Tigor Petrol Review 2018 Refresh

The Tata Tigor is a compact sedan from the stables of Tata Motors. Powered by a 1.2 litre 3-cylinder Revotron petrol engine, this smart-looking car is a head-turner. This brief review is for the manual top-end variant (XZ+) of the petrol version of the car.

The Tigor stands out for its distinctly fresh appearance, bold lines and aggressive stance. The top variant comes with dual-chambered projector head-lamps, fog lamps and LED tail-lamps. Auto-retractable ORVM(s) are a handy feature which are usually available in high-end full-featured sedans but Tata Motors has introduced this feature in the Tigor and it is a welcome addition.

The ground clearance of 170 mm and dual-tone 15-inch alloy wheels help the Tigor tide over bumpy roads and obstacles like a breeze. Handling and suspension are superb and power-delivery is smooth. Contrary to what some would say, the Tigor offers sufficient power (84 bhp @ 6000 rpm) and torque (114 Nm @ 3500 rpm) for both city rides as well as long trips on the highway. The engine uses latest technology and offers two modes: City (for better power and torque) and Economy (for better fuel-efficiency).

Cooling and air-conditioning is impressive and the 8-speaker Harman-Kardon music system is a real treat for the occupants of the car. Safety has always been on the priority list of Tata Motors and the Tigor is no exception. The build-quality is excellent and this leads to the overall heavy weight of the car. Although this may compromise the fuel-efficiency of the car by a couple of kilometres to the litre, it increases the stability of the car and guarantees peace of mind.

The Tigor XZ+ comes with a 7-inch integrated infotainment system compatible with Android Auto. The fully automated climate control feature integrates into the large touch-screen system and the controls are super-responsive. The dashboard is nicely designed and the gear shifts are slick. The tilt power steering offers good control and balance and it comes integrated with bluetooth and audio controls. Overall, the cabin is spacious and the seats are ergonomically comfortable.

In comparison to the other compact sedans in its class, which are more expensive, The Tigor is a well-built package and is a good value-for-money proposition. Considering the safety aspects, fuel-efficiency and on-board features, it is definitely recommended for those who wish to be a part of the sedan experience.

Top 10 ways to secure your website from hackers and spammers

In today’s world, a website is an essential and, sometimes, the most important component of any business, organization, community or group. Websites range from small sites owned by individuals to large enterprise domains and e-commerce platforms dealing with sensitive customer and commercial data.

Whatever be the size of a website, security is at the core of any online platform and webmasters need to ensure the safety and availability of their site at all times.

The following list details ten simple ways to secure any website from hackers and spammers:

1. File-system permissions on the host server.

A website may be developed in HTML, PHP, .Net, Java or any other web language but, irrespective of the design, all websites have application files deployed on the web server. It is our duty to ensure that all application files are readable and writable only by the owner of the file. All other users such as group owners and general public should only have read access to the application files. A Unix or Linux file system should have the permissions set to 644 for proper security. In case of a shared hosting service, connect with the hosting provider to ensure that proper file system permissions are in place.

2. SSL certificates.

Install SSL certificates on the web server. This will ensure that all data transferred to and from the website is encrypted and cannot be easily compromised by hackers. SSL certificates are not very expensive and adds credibility to a site. It is also said to improve search engine ranking.

3. Complex long-length password.

Ensure that all user and database passwords are at least 8 characters in length or more with a mix of alphanumeric characters and symbols. Alphabets should be used in both uppercase and lowercase format. Refrain from using personal information such as date of birth, address or phone number.

4. Minimize the use of plugins and theme add-on(s) in CMS platforms.

Most CMS platforms such as WordPress and Joomla use themes, plugins and add-on(s) to enhance the functionality and look and feel of a website. It is recommended to minimize the use of plugins as much as possible. Plugins slow down a website and may also contain malicious code which may compromise your website’s security features. It is advisable to download essential plugins from trusted and official sources only rather than from third-party sites. If possible, a review of the plugin code for external references can further aid your security checks.

5. Use Google ReCaptcha, Invisible Captcha or any other Captcha service.

This will minimize brute-force attacks for sign-up/login screens and minimize or eliminate spam email from contact forms.

6. Scrutinize freely available PHP/Javascript/Perl codes.

Adding new functionalities to a website and customizing its look is something we all desire. But we should maintain caution while copying snippets of code from the internet and deploying them on a live server, especially if it contains references to external Javascripts.

7. Configure the “robots.txt” file properly.

This will prevent search engines from indexing restricted or private folders containing credentials and other sensitive information.

8. Use the “.htaccess file” judiciously.

This may be used to enable a variety of security restrictions on a website. However, the changes must be reviewed by an expert or the hosting service provider so as not to hamper the normal functioning of the website.

9. Do not use common user names such as “admin” or “administrator”.

Use something unique. For example “abc_master” or “abc_admusr” sounds a bit different.

10. For CMS sites such as WordPress or Joomla, change the default login/admin url.

This can be achieved through custom code or by using a plugin and is a great way to stave off brute-force attacks.

The above listed techniques, although not fool-proof, should help to reduce hacking and spam attacks significantly on any website.

https://knowhowspot.com/technology/information-technology/top-10-ways-to-secure-your-website-from-hackers-and-spammers/

What is a Black Hole?

A black hole is a region of space-time exhibiting such strong gravitational effects that no particle or electromagnetic radiation, such as light, can escape from inside it. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass can deform space-time to form a black hole. The boundary of the region from which no escape is possible is called the event horizon.

Black holes of stellar mass are expected to form when very massive stars collapse at the end of their life cycle. After a black hole has formed, it can continue to grow by absorbing mass from its surroundings. By absorbing other stars and merging with other black holes, supermassive black holes of millions of solar masses may form. There is general consensus that supermassive black holes exist in the centers of most galaxies. At the same time, we may also have Black Holes about the size of an atom but with the mass of a very large mountain.

Despite its invisible interior, the presence of a black hole can be inferred through its interaction with other matter and with electromagnetic radiation such as visible light. When an object falls into a black hole, any information about the shape of the object or distribution of charge on it is evenly distributed along the horizon of the black hole, and is lost to outside observers.

At the center of a black hole, as described by general relativity, lies a gravitational singularity, a region where the spacetime curvature becomes infinite. For a non-rotating black hole, this region takes the shape of a single point and for a rotating black hole, it is smeared out to form a ring singularity that lies in the plane of rotation. In both cases, the singular region has zero volume. It can also be shown that the singular region contains all the mass of the black hole solution. The singular region can thus be thought of as having infinite density.

Black holes are extremely perplexing entities and the scientific community is continuously trying to explore its true nature and unravel its mysteries.

https://knowhowspot.com/science/astronomy/what-is-a-black-hole/