Nasa has confirmed that there are over 5,000 exoplanets beyond our solar system.
The exoplanet census surpassed this milestone with a new batch of 65 confirmed exoplanets, triggering excitement across the globe.
“It’s not just a number,” Exoplanet Archive science lead Jessie Christiansen said in a statement as reported by CNET.
“Each one of them is a new world, a brand new planet. I get excited about every one because we don’t know anything about them.”
It’s been 30 years since scientists discovered the first planets orbiting another star. Today, exoplanets are so common that astronomers expect most stars host at least one, astronomer Aurora Kesseli of Caltech was quoted as saying by Science News.
“One of the most exciting things that I think has happened in the last 30 years is that we’ve really started to be able to fill out the diversity of exoplanets,” Kesseli added.
Some exoplanets look like Jupiter or Earth. The 5,005 confirmed exoplanets include nearly 1,500 giant gassy planets, roughly 200 that are small and rocky and almost 1,600 “super-Earths,” which are larger than our solar system’s rocky planets and smaller than Neptune, according to Science News.
While discovering these exoplanets, scientists try to find out if they are habitable or not. James Webb Space Telescope is working to go beyond the diameters, masses and densities of these planets. It will gather information about their atmospheres.
NASA’s newest exoplanet hunter, the TESS mission, has confirmed more than 200 planets, with thousands more yet to verify, Kesseli pointed out. “There’s tons of exoplanets out there,” Kesseli said, “and even more waiting to be discovered”.
Motorists in Abu Dhabi are being advised to expect delays this weekend after Abu Dhabi Mobility announced a partial closure on Arabian Gulf Street (E20).
According to officials, the closure affects the left lane heading towards Abu Dhabi and is part of ongoing traffic and infrastructure improvement works across the capital.
The temporary closure began at 12am on Friday, May 8, and will remain in effect until 5am on Monday, May 11.
Authorities have urged drivers to plan journeys ahead of time, allow for extra travel time and follow directional signs in the affected area to avoid congestion.
The latest traffic update comes as Abu Dhabi continues infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving traffic flow and road safety across key routes in the emirate.
Delivery riders in Abu Dhabi will soon face new road restrictions aimed at improving safety and easing traffic flow across key highways in the capital.
From May 15, authorities will ban delivery riders from using roads with speed limits of 120kph or higher, according to an announcement by Integrated Transport Centre, also known as Abu Dhabi Mobility.
The new rule also applies to a busy stretch of Sheikh Zayed Street between Sheikh Zayed Bridge and Sheikh Zayed Tunnel.
Officials said the move is designed to enhance road safety and improve traffic movement on some of the emirate’s most heavily used routes.
The decision follows similar measures introduced in Dubai last year, where delivery riders were restricted from using fast lanes on major highways.
Under Dubai’s rules, riders are not allowed to use the two leftmost lanes on roads with five lanes or more. On roads with three or four lanes, the leftmost lane is also off limits.
Authorities across the UAE have increasingly focused on delivery rider safety as the sector continues to grow rapidly alongside demand for food delivery and e-commerce services.
DP World has launched a first-of-its-kind cargo war risk insurance solution designed to help businesses navigate growing disruption across Middle East trade routes.
The new offering aims to solve a major challenge facing global shippers, as traditional war risk insurance has become increasingly expensive, fragmented and, in some cases, difficult to access amid ongoing regional tensions.
Unlike conventional policies that typically cover only one stage of a shipment’s journey, DP World’s solution provides continuous protection across the full supply chain, from ocean or air transit to port storage and inland delivery.
Coverage across the full journey
The insurance covers physical loss or damage caused by war-related risks, including conflict, civil unrest, seizure and derelict weapons. Valid claims will be settled with zero deductible, according to the company.
“This is about solving a real, immediate problem for global trade,” said Yuvraj Narayan, Group CEO of DP World.
“Supply chains don’t stop at the port or the shoreline, and neither should insurance.”
Key trade routes included
The programme is available to companies trading in or through the Middle East. It is designed to support supply chain continuity across major trade corridors, including the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea and nearby inland routes.
Businesses can choose several coverage options, including:
End-to-end cargo protection across sea, air and land transit
Standalone ocean, air or land policies
Automatic port storage cover for up to 14 days
Coverage limits of up to $400 million per shipment
Lower premiums for businesses
DP World said it was able to secure more competitive pricing than standard market war risk premiums by leveraging its global scale and relationships across international insurance markets.
The move comes as businesses continue to face rising logistical risks, rerouting challenges and insurance costs linked to geopolitical instability across key global shipping lanes.
