damaged | Common News Update

Jan242021 by adminNo Comments

UK students create 3D-printed coral structures that could rebuild world’s damaged reefs

Technology

Students at the University of Exeter have developed an environmentally friendly technique that could help to rebuild coral reefs.The project, called CalcifEXE, uses genetically modified bacteria to make calcium carbonate, which can then be shaped into coral "backbones" using a 3D printer. The scientists hope they can then attach live coral to the backbones, before placing them in the ocean to grow new reefs."It will be lovely to think that it's going to become a new weapon in the fight against climate change," Dr Mark Hewlett, the students' supervisor, told Sky News. Image: Using genetically modified bacteria to make calcium carbonate produces no emissions, the scientists say Production of high quality calcium carbonate usually requir...

Aug122020 by adminNo Comments

Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico damaged by broken cable

Science

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The Arecibo Observatory, the world's most powerful radio space telescope, incurred significant damage when a cable that stabilizes its radio antenna snapped. Observatory engineers worked Tuesday to secure the partially wrecked facility, which was damaged the day before, said managers of the Puerto Rican landmark, who are based at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Advertisement No injuries were reported, in large part because the damage occurred about 2:45 a.m. when no one was present. "We've informed the science community that we're not doing any astronomy observation for at least two weeks," said Ray Lugo, director of the university's space institute. "Our first priority is to put the dome, antennae and suspended platform in the most secure place in case we ...

Jul32018 by adminNo Comments

Water companies have damaged trust, regulator Ofwat says

Business

High levels of payments to bosses and investors by water companies have damaged customer trust, the regulator Ofwat has said.It has published new rules that will force firms to explain how executive pay is linked to performance and to prioritise customers' interests.It comes as the bosses of several water firms prepare to be quizzed by MPs.The company chiefs will be facing the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee later. Ofwat chief executive Rachel Fletcher said: "The decisions some water companies have made on dividends, financial structures and top executive pay have damaged customer trust."She added the move was "an important step in making sure water companies put customers' interests and those of future generations, at the heart of all the d...

Sep32017 by adminNo Comments

Harvey may have damaged one million cars

World

As many as one million vehicles may have been damaged by floodwaters across Texas following Hurricane Harvey, experts have said.State Farm, one of the largest car insurers in the US, said it has already received almost 20,000 claims from the Houston area.Images from the city showed cars in the street with water up to their roofs for several days, with most likely to be total write offs.Many people returning to their homes may find their insurance does not cover any repairs that might be possible.Insurers will turn the vehicles over to salvage yards or auctions, with undamaged parts saved and many of the flooded vehicles set to be scrapped.Image:Cars sit up to their engines in standing water in Orange, TexasThe storm will have caused extensive damage to homes and businesses in the region.Te...

Jul182017 by adminNo Comments

NASA communications satellite damaged 3 weeks before launch

Technology

NASA's newest, slickest communications satellite has been damaged, just three weeks before its planned August launch.NASA said Monday that one of the antennas on the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, or TDRS-M (T-driss-M), was damaged last Friday. The accident occurred inside a payload processing building near Cape Canaveral, Florida, as the satellite was being packed for launch. Officials are providing no details. But the mishap could delay what was supposed to be an Aug. 3 liftoff aboard an Atlas V (five) rocket. In a brief statement, NASA says the mission team is assessing the damage and flight schedule. TDRS-M is the third-generation in this satellite series. The orbiting network links ground controllers with the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope and other space...