Science Wrap: Hamas' use of drugs, Jupiter's jet stream, and India's lunar mission

This week's science news covers revelations about a specific medication used by individuals affiliated with Hamas during their actions, and goes all the way to India's ambitious goal to send Indian astronauts to the Moon by 2040.

Here are a few of the top science news of the week:

Captagon used by Hamas

Hamas militants involved in a surprise attack on October 7 were discovered to have been influenced by Captagon, a synthetic amphetamine-like stimulant.

• This substance, known colloquially as the "cocaine for the poor," is believed to have been secretly manufactured in southern Europe and smuggled through Turkey to reach consumer markets in the Arabian Peninsula.
• The revelation comes from a report by Nir Dvori of Channel 12.
• These pills were recovered from the pockets of several militants who lost their lives on Israeli soil.

This potent stimulant not only induced a sense of calmness and indifference in the terrorists but also kept them exceptionally alert for prolonged periods while curbing their appetite.

• In 2015, Captagon gained infamy for its use by ISIS fighters to quell fear before carrying out terror acts.
• As terrorist group influence waned, Lebanon and Syria took over production and distribution of this drug on a large scale.

Nasa's Juno captures Lo

Nasa's Juno spacecraft recently shared incredible images of Jupiter's moon Io, taken during an October 15, 2023 flyby. Io, the solar system's most active volcanic body, is now showcased in detail. 

• The pictures reveal its scarred surface with swirls, dark spots, and molten-red lava patches, resembling a cosmic tie-dye pattern.

• Citizen scientists played a crucial role in enhancing our comprehension of this mysterious celestial object by processing raw spacecraft data.
• JunoCam gathered valuable information during the encounter, giving scientists and space enthusiasts a distinct view of Io's ever-changing landscape.

• The public can access these images and data through Nasa's online portals. 
• Nasa is actively promoting citizen scientists to engage with and utilize the raw data, fostering a collaborative effort to study Jupiter and its moons.

James Webb Telescope discovers jet stream on Jupiter

Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope has unveiled a groundbreaking revelation in Jupiter's atmosphere. 

• The James Webb Space Telescope has detected a previously unseen high-speed jet stream, spanning over 5,000 kilometers in width, situated above Jupiter's equatorial cloud decks. 

• A recently found high-speed jet stream on Jupiter, situated approximately 25 miles above the clouds in the planet's lower stratosphere, reaches speeds of around 500 kilometers per hour. 
• This velocity is twice that of a Category 5 hurricane on Earth.

• Previously, what seemed like indistinct haziness in Jupiter's atmosphere has now transformed into distinct, trackable features as the planet rapidly rotates.
• Through a comparison of high-altitude wind data from Webb and deeper layer wind data from Hubble, the research team quantified the speed of wind fluctuations with altitude, resulting in wind shear calculations.

This breakthrough provides fresh insights into Jupiter's intricate atmosphere and showcases the remarkable tracking abilities of the Webb telescope.

India to send astronaut to Moon by 2040

India is aiming to send an astronaut to the moon by 2040, and they're working on a space station set to be ready by 2035. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared these plans in a recent high-level meeting discussing India's space missions, including the Gaganyaan Mission for manned space exploration.

The plans

• At the meeting, the Space Department revealed detailed plans for the Gaganyaan Mission, highlighting cutting-edge technology. 
• These plans encompass various Chandrayaan missions, NGLV rocket technology, a fresh launch facility, and dedicated human exploration laboratories.

• On October 21, a crucial test of the Crew Escape System is scheduled, marking a significant milestone on the path to the 2025 launch.

A detailed lunar exploration plan is underway for the 2040 moon mission. 

The elements of the plan includes:

• several Chandrayaan missions,
• upgraded launch vehicles, 
• a fresh launch site, and 
• cutting-edge human-centric laboratories.