Astro Biologists Awards

Black holes and neutron stars are two incredible outcomes of stellar death. Both form when massive stars exhaust their nuclear fuel and explode in powerful supernova events. The remaining core, depending on its mass, collapses under gravity into either a neutron star or a black hole. These objects are small in size but have incredibly high mass and density, making them some of the most extreme environments in the universe. A neutron star forms when a star with a mass between about 8 and 20 times that of the Sun collapses. The force of gravity squeezes protons and electrons together, forming neutrons. The result is an object only around 20 kilometers wide but with a mass greater than the Sun. Neutron stars have powerful magnetic fields and can spin rapidly, emitting radiation as pulsars that can be detected from Earth. A black hole forms when the core left after a supernova is so massive that even neutron pressure cannot stop the collapse. This leads to the creation of a singularit...

  China’s recent export restrictions have created disruptions in the global fertiliser market. This situation particularly affects di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), a vital fertiliser for crop development. The restrictions are aimed at prioritising domestic agricultural needs and supporting the growing demand for phosphates in electric vehicle battery production . Current Supply Challenges India is facing a critical shortage of DAP. Opening stocks for the current kharif planting season stood at 12.4 lakh tonnes, lower than previous years. China has reduced its exports drastically. In 2023-24, India imported 22.9 lakh tonnes of DAP from China, but this figure plummeted to 8.4 lakh tonnes in 2024-25. No imports from China have been recorded in 2025. Price Surge and Market Dynamics The tightening of the phosphate market has led to rising prices. Recent contracts from Jordan show a landed price of $781.5 per tonne, up from $515-525 last year. Other suppliers like Saudi Arabia are quoting pr...