Science / 3

Heat wave caused massive polar ice melt in 2020

September 23, 2020

Although some melting might yet occur, the centre fixed Monday as the day when the overall level of all Arctic sea ice - crucial to northern ecosystems and southern weather patterns - stops shrinking and starts growing again. The loss of ice, consequently, extends the period of time these marine mammals must fast as they wait for their feeding grounds to freeze up. Satellites captured smoke plumes from the fires spreading over the ice cap, covering an area equivalent to more than a third of ...

COVID-19 in Quebec: What you need to know on Monday

September 22, 2020

Horacio Arruda in a news conference Monday afternoon, telling people it is "very important" to cooperate with public health guidelines right now. Bars will also need to close by midnight instead of 1 a.m. Sixteen of the 22 new cases across the province are in the capital, and the number of active cases in Winnipeg has nearly tripled since the start of September to more than 280.

Lynparza scores long-term benefit data in BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer

September 22, 2020

The SOLO-1 Phase III trial, led by The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, is the first to report long term follow up for patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer. The positive recommendations from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the EMA comes more than two months after Lynparza won approval in the European Union (EU) for treating patients with a form of pancreatic cancer.

Tropical Storm Beta makes landfall in Texas

September 22, 2020

Imelda, which hit Southeast Texas past year, was one of the wettest cyclones on record. This will keep rain chances high through at least mid-week. As of late Monday night , the storm was about five miles southeast of Port O'Conner, Texas, and moved northwest at 3 mph, slowing down from its previous speed of 5 mph.

NASA reveals plans to return to Moon in 2024

September 22, 2020

Artemis II, in 2023, will take astronauts around the Moon but will not land. "We're still within the realm of possibility because we do have our work underway right now". And all of this work will lead to something even bigger, if NASA's plans come to fruition. NASA says the Artemis Lunar Exploration Program has made considerable progress over the past 18 months.

Manhattan DA seeking Trump's taxes cites 'mountain' of allegations

September 22, 2020

The filing cites reporting by The Washington Post about Trump allegedly inflating the value of his properties to lenders and investors . Lawyers working for the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. "It seems, to me, it's really very broad when you're asking for activities in New York, Dubai and so forth", Judge John Walker Jr. said at a hearing.

Venus is a 'Russian planet,' Kremlin top scientist claims

September 22, 2020

According to NASA , the temperature in Venus is 460 degrees Celsius, which means life, as we know on earth , could not survive the harsh Venusian conditions. It is also being speculated that there has to be something that is actively producing phosphine, given that clouds on Venus are so acidic that they would eliminate phosphine very quickly.

Almost 300 pilot whales stranded off Australia's coast

September 22, 2020

Marine biologists were planning the rescue of around 270 whales stranded on a sandbar off the remote west coast of the Australian island of Tasmania on Monday. 'It's ugly for people on the ground but as far as the whales go, it's ideal, ' he said. Rescuers with specialised equipment arrived at the site on Monday afternoon to assess the situation.

Rare blue moon to light up the sky on Halloween

September 20, 2020

If you miss a glimpse this year, you will have to wait until 2039 for another October 31 blue moon, McClatchy News reported. Actually, a blue moon doesn't appear to be any unique than a customary, month to month full moon. The first full moon of October isn't forgotten though, because its actually the Harvest Moon. Nevertheless, where did the term Blue Moon come from? The Universe gladly unfolds its beauties to us, and the blue Moon is another huge proof.

Jupiter, enticing moon Europa star in new Hubble photo

September 19, 2020

While it's common for storms to pop up in this region, often several at once, this particular disturbance appears to have more structure behind it than observed in previous storms. "This could hint that Red Spot Jr.is on its way to turning to a color more similar to its cousin once again", the news release states. Hubble's image shows that Jupiter is clearing out its higher-altitude white clouds, especially along the planet's equator, which is enveloped in an orangish hydrocarbon smog.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 Launches 60 Devices - New Drone Ship? | IE

September 18, 2020

Half of the payload coffin-like payload on Thursday's mission is also older than the previous two Falcon 9 / Starlink launches, according to SpaceX. To date, SpaceX has launched about 650 of its version 1.0 satellites and is now building a system of ground stations and user terminals to connect consumers directly to its network.

Ultimate Survivor: Massive Planet Spotted Closely Orbiting White Dwarf

September 18, 2020

The finding indicated that the planets could end up in or near the habitable zone of the white dwarf, and could potentially be hospitable to life even after the death of their star, the statement said . The massive planet looms over its tiny star, which it circles every 34 hours thanks to an incredibly close orbit. Maybe they could have exerted some influence on this planet that we saw back when it was orbiting far away originally because it had to be orbiting far away, or it would have ...

Failure For Biodiversity Convention As The World Flunks On All 2020 Targets

September 18, 2020

Be it tackling pollution or protecting coral reefs , not one of the 20 goals known as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets will be fully met by 2020. Numerous actions needed have already been identified and agreed upon under global treaties like the Paris Climate Change Agreement (which the United States is now withdrawing from).

Major fire threatens historic observatory near Los Angeles

September 18, 2020

In addition to the observatory, founded in 1904 and which has a 254 cm diameter Hooker telescope with which the existence of other galaxies in the universe was demonstrated, the fire threatens some communities located in these hills, as well as the antennas of several stations of radio and television, valued in billions of dollars.

Lego replacing plastic packaging from 2021 amid £310m sustainable drive

September 18, 2020

Pressure has been growing on retailers to reduce their use of plastic bags and packaging. The company is testing how to use bio-polyethylene for the hard bricks. Christiansen , CEO of Lego, said in a statement. Lego said on Tuesday that it plans to stop using plastic bags inside of box sets and replace them with paper ones.

Astronomers spy phosphine on Venus, a potential sign of life

September 18, 2020

Taking a cue from the results, U.S based space agency NASA is considering launching a mission to Venus to probe and find substantial evidence of life if any. This won't be the first Photon trip beyond Earth orbit, by the way; NASA has booked Electron and Photon to fly a small satellite to the moon in early 2021 .

California fires have burned almost all of Puerto Rico

September 18, 2020

This disaster has brought the climate crisis into sharper focus in the US political discourse weeks before the upcoming presidential election. Democratic challenger Joe Biden called Trump a "climate arsonist" who has ignored a "central crisis" facing the nation.

Part of Three Mile Bridge is missing after Hurricane Sally

September 18, 2020

In Orange Beach, Alabama , the wind blew out the walls in one corner of a condominium building, exposing at least five floors. The storm is believed to have killed one person in Alabama . East of where the center tracks, some tornadoes were possible. Elsewhere in Georgia, sheriffs reported numerous trees down and some highways and streets closed because of high water.

Smoke blankets S.California due to wildfires

September 18, 2020

Forest Service. Flames can be seen approaching the Mt. Wilson Observatory as the Bobcat Fire approached the historic site on September 15, 2020. 14, 2020. The observatory made solar observations before Hale set his sights on bigger things - first a 60-inch (152-centimeter) reflector telescope that began being used in 1908 and then a 100-inch (254-centimeter) telescope that saw first light in 1917.

Most Vikings WEREN’T blond after all: New Danish research debunks popular myth

September 18, 2020

In response, stories about mighty, blonde and uniquely Scandinavian Vikings who sailed out and conquered the world became increasingly popular. According to Kasper Andersen, a historian at Moesgaard Museum who is an expert in the Viking ethnicity and identity, this fits well with written sources that cite numerous examples of people from other parts of Europe taking part in the Viking raids, including Anglo-Saxons and Franks.

European space agency signs deal for asteroid defence mission

September 18, 2020

The ESA is moving forward with its plans to probe one particular asteroid , and the agency has awarded a Germany-based space company OHB a £118 million contract. Asteroids make close passes to Earth many times a year, since there are many thousands of them in our solar system. From now until the end of the year, only one asteroid - RZ6 - will get closer to Earth than our moon.

The sun has entered its 25th solar cycle

September 18, 2020

Sunlight based Cycle 25 has started. However, despite being predicted as generally "calm", Solar Cycle 25 should not be considered as completely harmless. Deep inside the Sun, electrified gases flow in currents that generate the Sun's magnetic field, which fuels its mighty outbursts. This means we can hope to see plenty of sunspots , and possibly even some solar eruptions during the next total solar eclipse to cross the continental U.S.

Google beats Microsoft to eliminating carbon legacy by 30 years

September 17, 2020

Now, Google has announced that it has successfully eliminated its entire carbon legacy, beating other tech giants. "We are already feeling those impacts today from historic wildfires in the United States to devastating flooding in many parts of the world".

Dismay as huge chunk of Greenland's ice cap breaks off

September 17, 2020

And as climate change continues, scientists say the sea ice is unlikely to recover to past levels. Observations from local weather stations have shown that the average air temperatures have been consistently high for the past two years, creating the ideal circumstances for extended melt conditions.

Death toll in West Coast wildfires reaches 35, officials anxious about winds

September 15, 2020

Dozens of conflagrations have raged more than 1.6 million hectares in Oregon , California and Washington state since August, laying waste to several small towns, destroying thousands of homes and killing at least 35 people. Trump has made little comment about the massive blazes in recent weeks, drawing loud criticism for not acknowledging the crisis. The state is also deploying its National Guard to flattened neighbourhoods and up to 1,000 troops will be there by the weekend, the head ...

Aliens Exist? Astronomers Detect Potential Signs of Life on Venus

September 15, 2020

Astronomers have speculated for decades that high clouds on Venus could offer a home for microbes - floating free of the scorching surface but needing to tolerate very high acidity. Venus is known to be hot and acidic, which is why the conditions on the ground would make any kind of life nearly impossible, but the environment on its upper cloud decks is reported to be habitable.

'I don't think science knows': Donald Trump questions climate change

September 15, 2020

Woodward had 18 interviews with Trump for the book. Weather conditions are not expected to improve any time soon as high winds of up to 40 miles per hour are forecast in the coming days in parts of California. "It was worse than the Camp Fire, which I didn't think was possible". After sharing the video of the exchange online, Jamie Henn, co-founder of 350.org who now runs Fossil Free Media, said: "I thought I'd find it amusing watching this, but instead it's just chilling: as the West ...

Musk's SpaceX set for debut astronaut mission, renewing NASA's crewed launch program

September 14, 2020

The dry dress rehearsal will encompass every aspect of launch day, from putting on the spacesuits to climbing into the Crew Dragon capsule . Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken, the NASA astronauts who will ride to orbit in the Crew Dragon, attended a series of technical briefings and spent time with their families on the eve of their historic launch, a flight marking the resumption of USA astronaut flights after almost a decade.

Scientists confounded by new findings on universe's mysterious dark matter

September 13, 2020

Image credit: NASA, European Space Agency, b. As researchers around the world investigate the nature and composition of this mysterious substance, a study published in the journal Science suggests dark matter theories may be missing an important component.

Colorado secretary of state sues Postal Service over 'false statements'

September 13, 2020

The USPS postcard also incorrectly advises voters to "mail your ballot at least 7 days before Election Day", even though voters in some states - including Colorado- are told by local election officials to mail them back sooner. Idahoans who want to vote by mail, however, do need to request absentee ballots by October 23 and must register to vote by October 9. The postcards should arrive in Pierce County mailboxes this weekend.

Tom Cruise planning to shoot action movie in space

September 12, 2020

That's fortunate, as up to this point, Space X has launched only unmanned missions of its Dragon 2 craft, which is created to transport astronauts to the International Space Station . On May 27, SpaceX's spacecraft, Crew Dragon, is expected to complete its first astronaut mission to the station in nearly a decade. It is thought that Liman has written a screenplay that is based on the International Space Station.

Climate change not stopped despite COVID-19 pandemic

September 12, 2020

The Climate Assembly UK report , published on Thursday, backed proposals including the large-scale planting of trees to capture carbon, reduced auto usage and increased reliance on solar and wind energy. Their report recommended that government and industry encourage "a voluntary change in diet" so meat and dairy consumption in the United Kingdom is cut by between 20 and 40 per cent.

NOAA: Tropical Depression 19 Track, Spaghetti Models

September 12, 2020

The one with the highest chances of becoming a tropical depression (60 percent, up from 50 percent earlier today) was over the Bahamas on Friday. Otherwise, after the system reaches the eastern Gulf of Mexico, steady intensification is expected through the weekend due to expected light wind shear and very warm water.

NASA wants to buy moon resources from private companies

September 12, 2020

All activities and expeditions taking place away from our home planet are now governed by the United Nations Outer Space Treaty of 1967 , a document that prohibits extraterrestrial military bases or nuclear weapons and necessitates nations to go forth in peace and clean up after themselves, but there's no exact language revolving around outer space mining.

More than 1 billion people face displacement by 2050

September 11, 2020

It is expected that the world population will increase to nearly 10 billion by 2050. According to IEP, aid can be used as a mechanism to build resilience to ecological shocks such as droughts, water stress and food insecurity in developing countries.

Historical peak of hurricane season today: here's what we're tracking

September 11, 2020

The first system is the closest - located in an area in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and it has a 20% chance of development in the western Gulf over the next five days. "While the exact details of Paulette's track and intensity near the island are not yet known, the risk of strong winds, storm surge and heavy rainfall on Bermuda continues to increase", forecasters wrote.

Humans have triggered 'catastrophic' collapse of wildlife, WWF warns

September 11, 2020

The report, compiled every two years as a comprehensive study of trends in global biodiversity and the health of the planet, takes into account that 75 per cent of earth's ice-free land has been significantly altered, most of the oceans polluted and over 85 per cent area of wetlands lost ~ all due to human activity.

The world's largest digital camera could unlock mysteries of the universe

September 11, 2020

The world's largest and most powerful digital camera has been in the works at the US Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory since 2015. The single image of Romanco, which is made of 2.2 billion pixels, is the largest ever taken in a single shot. This will enable Rubin Observatory to deliver next-generation astronomical science.

Police charge 77 over Extinction Rebellion newspaper protests

September 11, 2020

It comes as Home Secretary Priti Patel is looking at cracking down on the group, which has brought the capital to a standstill in previous protests. 'And together we must all stand firm against the guerrilla tactics of Extinction Rebellion and that means adapting to the threat they pose and ensuring that justice is served'.

Quebec reports 163 new COVID-19 cases as regional alert system introduced

September 11, 2020

The news came as the province introduced a regional alert system in the hopes of stifling a potential second wave of the novel coronavirus. Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube speaks to the media as he unveils a new alert system for affected regions of the province Tuesday, September 8, 2020 in Montreal.

Ontario logs 170 new COVID-19 cases, majority in Toronto area

September 10, 2020

There are 36 confirmed cases among residents and 39 among staff. The premier rejected any provincewide measure to reduce bar hours or the size of public gatherings, noting about half of all public health units reported no new cases. Since the end of March, an emergency order under the federal Quarantine Act has required most people arriving from outside Canada to isolate themselves for 14 days, even if they don't have symptoms.

Tropics remain active ahead of peak of hurricane season

September 10, 2020

First is Tropical Storm Paulette . The tropical Atlantic continued to be quite busy on Wednesday, with two tropical storms and two tropical waves to watch. The National Hurricane Center gives the system a 70% chance of developing into a tropical storm in the next five days and said it is likely to form later this week or over the weekend.

Sensors of world’s largest digital camera snap first 3,200-megapixel images

September 10, 2020

The camera itself was built and assembled in SLAC , which is the National Accelerator Laboratory operated by Stanford University for the U.S. Department of Energy and located in Menlo Park, California. "The observatory can be an exquisite facility for a broad vary of science - from detailed research of our photo voltaic system to research of faraway objects towards the sting of the seen universe", Ritz mentioned.

Musclebound Mice Thrived In Space With The Help Of A Drug : Shots

September 09, 2020

Lee, Germain-Lee and their colleagues detailed their findings on-line September 7 within the journal Proceedings of the Nationwide Academy of Sciences. After returning to Earth, mice receiving the receptor treatment also showed an enhanced recovery of muscle mass. A team led by Dr Se-Jin Lee of the Jackson Laboratory added 40 young female black mice to the cargo of a SpaceX rocket sent to the ISS late a year ago.

Trump delivers remarks about the environment in Florida

September 09, 2020

For the federal budget year beginning October 1, the White House said, Trump asked Congress for $250 million in annual funding to accelerate construction of infrastructure for the Everglades as part of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration.

Tropical Storm Rene producing heavy rains, gusts in west Atlantic

September 09, 2020

As of 4 p.m. CDT Tuesday, Tropical Storm Paulette was located about 1,230 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands and was moving northwest at 8 mph. Out of those 17 storms, five have become hurricanes , and three of those (Hanna, Isaias and Laura) have struck the U.S. TD 18 had winds of 35 miles per hour and could become a tropical storm later today or tonight, around the time it is expected to pass near or over some of the islands.

President Trump to discuss environmental policies in Jupiter

September 09, 2020

Trump narrowly won both states in the 2016 presidential election. Trump arrived in Jupiter by motorcade. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference on the North Portico of the White House, Monday, Sept. The announcement also received some pushback from the offshore energy industry. The National Ocean Industries Association, an industry group, complained that the move limits production of domestic energy and raw materials for plastics, such as those used for protection against ...

Extinction Rebellion Jews join week of protest outside Parliament

September 08, 2020

Twenty-six people have been charged with aggravated trespass following protests at three printing presses owned by Rupert Murdoch's News UK. Home secretary Priti Patel described it as "an attack on our free press, society and democracy" and Boris Johnson said it was "completely unacceptable to seek to limit the public's access to news in this way".

Chandrayaan-3 launch may take place in early 2021

September 08, 2020

After the "Hard Landing" of Chandrayaan-2 on the lunar floor in September final yr, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) deliberate one other mission for the ultimate months of this yr. The minister said that the images sent by " Chandrayaan 1 " have helped scientists understand the possible impact of Earth's atmosphere and that American space agency NASA has also recognised this.

First homegrown Photon satellite of Rocket Lab is dispatched

September 06, 2020

The California-based organization now has a shuttle in Earth circle - the first of its Photon satellite line, which is meant to carry client payloads to an assortment of objections, including the moon and Venus. Rocket Lab introduced its Photon plans a couple of 12 months in the past, however the thought has been within the works for for much longer than that.

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