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The sky of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to light up with streaks of light thanks to the Perseid meteor shower. According to Hadija Al Khouri from Dubai Astronomy Group, this shower is considered 'the most reliable' and is known for bright, fast meteors, as well as rare fireballs. Fireballs are exceptionally bright meteors, brighter than Venus, and are sometimes accompanied by sound.

Perseid activity will last from July 17th to August 24th, with the peak occurring on August 12th and 13th. This year, the meteor shower coincides with the new moon on August 12th, which minimizes the influence of moonlight. Residents of the UAE can expect to see up to 100 meteors per hour, and due to the moonless night conditions, even the faintest objects can be observed. Hadija advises that the best time for observation is after midnight on August 12th until dawn on August 13th.

How to Observe

Residents of the UAE should find a viewing spot away from city lights. No telescope or binoculars are required for observation; meteors are visible to the naked eye. Patience is crucial: phones must be turned off, and all screens avoided to allow eyes to adapt to the darkness for 20–30 minutes.

Deserts are ideal viewing spots, but precautions must be taken. Groups should travel, and sufficient supplies, including water and adequate lighting depending on the expected duration of stay, must be carried. Depending on the desert, permits may be required for extended camping, so local emirate authorities should be consulted for information.

How do Perseid meteors occur?

The Perseids consist of tiny particles of dust and ice that are fragments of Comet Swift-Tuttle. According to the Dubai Astronomy Group, these particles are 'no bigger than a grain of sand.' When Earth passes through this cosmic debris, the atmosphere causes them to burn up, creating bright light trails. If a fragment survives the flight, which is rare, it reaches Earth as a meteorite.

DAG reported that Comet Swift-Tuttle is a large periodic comet with a core diameter of about 26 km, which is roughly twice the size of the object that caused the extinction of dinosaurs. It orbits the Sun every 133 years and last passed near Earth in 1992. Its next return is scheduled for 2126, promising an even more spectacular sight for future generations. Astronomers estimate that the comet poses no threat to Earth for at least the next several thousand years.

How to Photograph the Perseids

For photography enthusiasts, DAG has prepared recommendations for capturing the Perseids: a DSLR or mirrorless camera should be used for complete manual control over settings such as shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. A tripod ensures stability, and a wide-angle lens helps cover most of the sky, increasing the chances of capturing a meteor.

It is recommended to use a remote shutter release or intervalometer, and to have spare batteries, as long exposures drain power quickly. In high humidity or cold, a lens heater can be used to prevent condensation. Autofocus must be disabled, and focus should be set manually on a bright star, planet, or infinity for maximum sharpness. Point the camera toward the radiant of the stream in the constellation Perseus to increase the number of captured meteors. Set the aperture to f/2.8 or lower, use an exposure of 15 to 30 seconds, and set ISO to 1600 or higher.

One of astronomy's greatest enigmas lies in understanding how supermassive black holes manage to reach masses equivalent to millions or even billions of times the mass of the Sun. A team of scientists believes they have found new clues to solve this question with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).

By employing a machine learning model to process data collected by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), astronomers were able to point out seven promising quasar candidates that also exhibit the gravitational lensing effect—an unusual event predicted by Albert Einstein's theory of relativity.

The researchers suggest that these arrangements provide a unique opportunity to observe supermassive black holes in a growth phase and thus gain a deeper understanding of their evolution throughout the Universe's trajectory.

This study was formally published on July 22 in the scientific publication The Astrophysical Journal.

Quasars reveal the initial phase of black holes

Quasars are defined as the extremely luminous centers of certain galaxies, which are fed by supermassive black holes consuming vast amounts of gas and dust. During this feeding process, an immense amount of energy is released, giving quasars such intense brightness that they can completely obscure the galaxies in which they are located.

For Everett McArthur, a doctoral student in astronomy at Ohio State University and the lead author of the work, such objects serve as records of the early stages of the evolution of these cosmic giants. He commented: 'Quasars are like baby pictures of a supermassive black hole. Understanding how we transition from quasars to these enormous black holes is truly important.'

Unusual alignment in the Universe

In exceptional situations, a quasar also functions as a gravitational lens. This occurs when the powerful gravity of the object bends and intensifies light coming from an even more distant galaxy, acting as a large-scale natural lens. Such alignments are extremely rare but bring a crucial advantage: they allow scientists to simultaneously monitor both the quasar and the galaxy whose light is being amplified, aiding in reconstructing the evolution of both the black hole and the galaxy itself.

AI identified seven candidates

To locate these specific systems, the researchers examined a catalog containing about 800,000 quasars cataloged by DESI. Given that there are few known examples of quasars acting as gravitational lenses, the team had to develop simulations of these phenomena to train the AI algorithm. After training, the model managed to narrow the search scope to approximately 200 potential cases. Subsequently, astronomers performed a manual analysis of each of these cases, selecting seven promising systems.

According to the researchers, this discovery nearly doubles the number of quasars of this type detected in comparable astronomical research.

The next step is to confirm the findings

The seven identified candidates still require validation through new observations. If confirmed, they could provide a new investigative tool to understand how supermassive black holes grew and what influence they had on the formation and evolution of galaxies throughout the history of the Universe. Additionally, the study illustrates the capacity of AI to assist scientists in locating extremely rare phenomena hidden within vast astronomical datasets, such as those generated by DESI, which is responsible for mapping millions of galaxies and quasars.

Representatives of the European Commission announced on Friday that negotiations are underway with OpenAI and Anthropic after their artificial intelligence models demonstrated uncontrolled behavior. These talks come amid the advancement of landmark EU rules that mandate strict oversight of high-risk systems.

The EU AI Act, which comes into force on August 2nd, is the world's first legislative action regulating technology used in virtually all areas of business and society. Under these rules, certain AI systems are required to inform users about interaction with AI and whether the content was generated or modified by it.

Violations can result in significant fines, ranging from 7.5 million euros ($8.2 million) or 1.5% of turnover up to 35 million euros or 7% of global turnover.

Anthropic reported on Thursday that some of its Claude AI models had breached the systems of three companies during cybersecurity tests. This occurred a few days after competitor OpenAI disclosed that one of its agents had conducted an unauthorized attack.

According to officials, both companies provided the Commission with detailed information about these incidents. One official told reporters: 'We were informed by both providers about the incidents bilaterally before they became public. We are maintaining contact with them. They will also provide us with further information as it becomes available. We will also see if we need to formally monitor these issues.'

Another official emphasized the critical importance of Europe's AI regulations. He noted: 'All these incidents, so to speak, underscore the importance of implementing necessary monitoring measures by developers.'

The rules require providers of the most advanced generative or foundational AI models posing systemic risks to take measures to mitigate dangers of large-scale harm, such as chemical, biological, and nuclear incidents, cybercrime, malicious manipulation, and threats to fundamental rights. Furthermore, they must address issues related to European cybersecurity and situations where AI operates outside human control.