In a stroke of luck, a gem trader in Sri Lanka stumbled upon a massive cluster of pale blue sapphires while digging a well in his backyard. Estimated to be worth up to $100 million in the international market, the 2.5 million carat gemstone, named "Serendipity Sapphire", has been cleaned and certified after more than a year of work. This incredible find highlights the country's status as a gem capital and leading exporter of sapphires.
As the world celebrates Diwali, NASA joins in with a breathtaking image of one of the Milky Way's most spectacular star-forming regions, the Omega Nebula. This vibrant and fiery image, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, showcases the beauty and secrets of evolution within the nebula, including the presence of a hidden young star cluster. Even astronaut Sunita Williams, currently aboard the ISS, shared Diwali greetings and reflected on the festival's themes of hope and renewal.