Scientists Find , Further Evidence of , Water on Mars.
New evidence suggests that Mars
may be home to liquid water.
.
'The Independent' reports that the finding represents
a major breakthrough in the search for proof of water
on Mars and potential alien life on the red planet.
According to scientists, this is the first time
that evidence of water has been found
using data that did not come from radar.
Researchers used lasers on spacecraft
to identify small changes in
the height of the Martian ice caps.
Those patterns were then compared to
a computer model used to predict how a body
of water would change the surface of the ice caps.
The team's findings reportedly provide
a second piece of evidence that Mars
possesses liquid water under its South Pole.
The research was led by the University
of Cambridge and included scientists from
the Open University and the University of Sheffield.
The team's paper, 'Surface topographic impact of
subglacial water beneath the south polar ice cap
of Mars,’ was published in the journal 'Nature Astronomy.'.
This study gives the best indication yet
that there is liquid water on Mars today
because it means that two of the key
pieces of evidence we would look for
when searching for subglacial lakes
on Earth have now been found on Mars, Dr Frances Butcher, second author of the study from
the University of Sheffield, via 'The Independent'.
Liquid water is an essential ingredient
for life, although it does not necessarily
mean that life exists on Mars, Dr Frances Butcher, second author of the study from
the University of Sheffield, via 'The Independent'
Mars, often dubbed the "red planet," has once again intrigued scientists with a new discovery. NASA's Perseverance rover, tirelessly exploring Mars' Jezero Crater since early 2021, has stumbled upon a peculiar sight: thousands of white rocks scattered across the crater's surface. Recent images transmitted by the rover reveal over 4,000 light-toned pebble-sized rocks strewn throughout the crater floor. "These rocks are highly unusual, and we're actively working to unravel their origins," remarked Candice Bedford, a planetary scientist at Purdue University and member of the Mars 2020 science team, speaking at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) last month. Concurrently, NASA is wrapping up an architectural review of its Mars Sample Return (MSR) program, which aims to retrieve Martian rocks for detailed analysis back on Earth.
#NASA #PerseveranceRover #MarsDiscovery #WhiteRocks #JezeroCrater #SpaceExploration #MartianGeology #RedPlanet #MarsResearch #ScienceDiscovery
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Upcoming , Lyrid Meteor Shower , May Be Hard to See.
'The Independent' reports that skywatchers
looking to catch the Lyrid meteor shower
may be foiled by the moon. .
This year's peak activity occurs
on April 21 and 22, with up to
20 meteors expected per hour. .
Potential viewing should
last through April 29. .
However, the American Meteor Society
warns that strong moonlight
may interfere with viewing. .
Every year, multiple meteor showers
occur and don't require special
equipment to see them. .
For the most part, meteor showers originate
from debris left behind by comets, like the Lyrids,
which come from the comet Thatcher. .
As these space rocks enter the Earth's atmosphere,
air resistance makes them extremely hot,
which causes the air around them to glow.
This glow leaves a fiery trail behind
the meteor, which can be observed
from the ground as a "shooting star.".
Look to the northeast and just
keep staring at the same spot
in the sky. It's always impressive
when you see these things, Don Pollacco, University of Warwick
astronomer, via 'The Independent'.
The Lyrids are best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere,
while the upcoming Eta Aquarids meteor shower
can best be seen from the Southern Hemisphere.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Microsoft Makes $1.5 Billion , Investment in Leading , UAE Technology Firm.
Microsoft Makes $1.5 Billion , Investment in Leading , UAE Technology Firm.
'The Independent' reports that Microsoft has announced
a $1.5 billion investment in a leading United Arab
Emirates-based artificial intelligence firm. .
'The Independent' reports that Microsoft has announced
a $1.5 billion investment in a leading United Arab
Emirates-based artificial intelligence firm. .
The deal, overseen by the UAE's powerful national security
adviser, will see Microsoft president Brad Smith join
technology holding company G42's board of directors.
The deal, overseen by the UAE's powerful national security
adviser, will see Microsoft president Brad Smith join
technology holding company G42's board of directors.
The UAE's national security adviser,
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is the
current chairman of G42's board of directors. .
In a statement released on April 16, Microsoft
said the deal “was developed in close consultation
with both the UAE and U.S. governments.”.
In a statement released on April 16, Microsoft
said the deal “was developed in close consultation
with both the UAE and U.S. governments.”.
G42, which runs data centers in the Middle East
and elsewhere, has built the world's leading
Arabic-language AI model, Jais. .
According to Microsoft, G42 will move its
AI applications and services over to the U.S.
tech giant's cloud computing platform. .
According to Microsoft, G42 will move its
AI applications and services over to the U.S.
tech giant's cloud computing platform. .
The deal will also look to bring digital infrastructure
to regions that G42 has already established
a presence, including the Middle East and Africa.
'The Independent' reports that G42 previously cut ties with
Chinese hardware suppliers to limit U.S. concerns that
the company was closely tied to the Chinese government.
'The Independent' reports that G42 previously cut ties with
Chinese hardware suppliers to limit U.S. concerns that
the company was closely tied to the Chinese government.
Prior to Microsoft's investment, the company
reportedly faced allegations of spying for its
connection to a mobile phone app identified as spyware.
The tech company also faced accusations
that it gathered genetic material from
U.S. users for the Chinese government. .
The tech company also faced accusations
that it gathered genetic material from
U.S. users for the Chinese government.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
EPA Takes Aim at, US Chemical Emissions, That Are Likely Carcinogens.
'The Independent' reports that over 200 chemical
plants in the United States will be required
to reduce toxic emissions under a new rule. .
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
released the new rule regarding toxic
emissions likely to cause cancer on April 9.
The rule is meant to deliver critical health protections
for communities faced with industrial pollution from
dangerous chemicals, such as chloroprene and ethyl oxide.
The rule will significantly reduce
emissions from the Denka Performance
Elastomer facility in LaPlace, Louisiana.
The facility is the largest producer of
chloroprene emissions in the U.S., according
to EPA Administrator Michael Regan.
Every community in this country
deserves to breathe clean air.
That’s why I took the Journey
to Justice tour to communities
like St. John the Baptist Parish,
where residents have borne
the brunt of toxic air for far too long, Michael Regan, EPA Administrator, via 'The Independent'.
We promised to listen to folks that
are suffering from pollution and act
to protect them. Today we deliver
on that promise with strong final
standards to slash pollution,
reduce cancer risk and ensure
cleaner air for nearby communities, Michael Regan, EPA Administrator, via 'The Independent'.
According to officials, the changes
are meant to reduce ethylene oxide and
chloroprene emissions in the U.S. by nearly 80%.
'The Independent' reports that the rule updates
several regulations on chemical plant emissions
that have not been altered in nearly 20 years.
The EPA said that the new rule will reduce a total of over
6,200 tons of toxic air pollutants annually in an effort
to address health risks in neighboring communities
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Scientists Capture , Radio Signals , From Long-Dormant Star.
'The Independent' reports that scientists have
been puzzled after receiving unprecedented
radio signals from a previously dormant star.
The star, named XTE J1810-197, is a magnetar. .
Magnetars are a type of neutron star and are
the most powerful magnets in the universe.
XTE J1810-197 is the nearest known magnetar
to Earth, about 8,000 light years away.
Now, scientists have received radio
pulses from the dormant star that
do not fit previous expectations.
Unlike the radio signals we’ve
seen from other magnetars,
this one is emitting enormous
amounts of rapidly changing
circular polarisation. We had never
seen anything like this before, Marcus Lower, Postdoctoral fellow
at Australia’s national science agency,
CSIRO, via 'The Independent'.
Scientists discovered that the new pulses are emitting
a type of spiraling light that is different from the
polarized light emitted by most other magnetars.
In 2003, XTE J1810-197 became
the first known magnetar to
produce a radio signal.
After being discovered, the magnetar
then went silent for over a decade. .
The team that discovered it said that
the findings could change our
understanding of intense magnetic fields.
The signals emitted from
this magnetar imply that
interactions at the surface
of the star are more complex than
previous theoretical explanations, Manisha Caleb, University of Sydney,
a co-author on the study, via 'The Independent'.
The team's findings were published
in the journal 'Nature Astronomy.'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published