Science | Common News Update

Apr242019 by adminNo Comments

InSight lander detects Marsquake for the first time

April 23 (UPI) -- For the first time, a tremor has been detected on the surface of Mars. The so-called marsquake was detected by the InSight lander's SEIS seismometer. The seismic quake was so small it wouldn't have registered on Earth's surface, but because the Martian surface is so still, the instrument's sensor was able to detect the slight tremor. Unfortunately, the tremor was so small that it's signature failed to offer any insights into Mars' interior. Scientists aren't sure what caused the miniature quake, but they're fairly certain it originated from inside Mars and wasn't caused by wind. Researchers are working to confirm what exactly triggered the vibrations. Studying the structural makeup of the Red Planet's interior is the main scientific mission of NASA's Insight lander. Whi...

Apr232019 by adminNo Comments

Greta Thunberg: Teen activist says UK is ‘irresponsible’ on climate

Science

Teenage activist Greta Thunberg has described the UK's response to climate change as "beyond absurd".In a speech to MPs, the Swedish 16-year-old criticised the UK for supporting new exploitation of fossil fuels and exaggerating cuts to carbon emissions.She was invited to Westminster after inspiring the school climate strikes movement.Environment Secretary Michael Gove said "we have not done nearly enough".In her speech in Parliament on Tuesday, Miss Thunberg said the UK was supporting shale gas fracking, greater exploitation of North Sea oil and gas fields and expanding airports."This ongoing irresponsible behaviour will no doubt be remembered in history as one of the greatest failures of humankind," she said.She also described t...

Apr232019 by adminNo Comments

Extinction Rebellion: How might ministers win over the protesters?

Science

Protests by Extinction Rebellion's seemingly inexhaustible army of activists made plenty of headlines last week.They say politicians are out of touch with climate reality. But what do they want, and can ministers realistically make it happen?Let's consider XR's three core demands: for the government to "tell the truth about climate change", to create a citizens' assembly to oversee progress, and to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2025. If Mrs May regularly referred to a "climate crisis" or "climate emergency", that might fulfil their wish that the government should "tell the truth" A citizens' assembly looks unlikely, especially during the current constitutional mayhem of Brexit The third objective of cutting CO2 emissions to almost zero by 2025 is sur...

Apr222019 by adminNo Comments

Britain breaks coal-free power record over Easter weekend

Science

Britain has broken its record for the longest continuous period without generating electricity from coal.National Grid said that the coal-free period lasted more than 90 hours before coming to an end on Monday afternoon.It is the longest period since the industrial revolution and breaks the previous record set in April 2018 of 76 hours and 10 minutes.The government plans to phase out Britain's last coal power plants by 2025 to cut greenhouse gases.Duncan Burt, director of operations at National Grid, told BBC Radio 5 Live it was "a really big deal". Record Easter temperatures in three nations Britain lasts three days without coal "It's all about the sunny weather we've been seeing, so energy demand is low. There has been lots o...

Apr212019 by adminNo Comments

Mysterious river dolphin could provide new insights into marine mammal communication

Science

April 19 (UPI) -- A mysterious river dolphin in Brazil, previously thought to be relatively silent, could offer new insights into the evolutionary origins of marine mammal communication. It turns out, the river dolphin scientists thought was solitary and mostly speechless actually boasts an impressive vocabulary. "We found that they do interact socially and are making more sounds than previously thought," Laura May Collado, a biologist at the University of Vermont, said in a news release. "Their vocal repertoire is very diverse." Because Araguaian dolphins are skittish, they're difficult to study. But Gabriel Melo-Santos, a biologist from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, found a riverside fish market in Brazil where the normally shy animals come to be fed fish by the locals. R...