Breaking News Archives - Page 193 of 194

Dec222023 by disastersNo Comments

Understanding and Managing Cascading Disasters in the Himalayas

Breaking News, Disasters, Thoughts & Talks

On October 4, 2023, a tragic event unfolded in the Himalayas, as a cloudburst above Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim triggered a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). This disaster claimed over 30 lives, obliterated the 1,200 MW Urja Hydroelectric Chungthang dam, and left a trail of destruction downstream. A stark reminder of the compounding and cascading risks induced by climate change, the Sikkim GLOF exemplifies the fragility of the Himalayan mountainous region and the severe threats it faces. Unveiling GLOF and Cloudburst Dynamics in Himalayas Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) stem from the sudden rupture of glacial lake dams. The Sikkim Himalayas, particularly the Teesta basin, are home to a plethora of such glacial lakes. South Lhonak Lake, one of the largest and fastest-growing gl...

Dec222023 by disastersNo Comments

Fukushima Nuclear Plant Worker Found with Elevated Radiation Levels in Nose

Breaking News, Tech

A worker at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant has been discovered with elevated radiation levels in his nose, raising concerns about the ongoing challenges associated with the decommissioning process of the plant. The worker is suspected to have removed their full-face mask after completing tasks, potentially exposing themselves to radioactive materials. Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) reassured that the employee is not facing immediate health issues, and a comprehensive full-body scan showed no signs of internal contamination. This incident follows a similar one three months ago when four workers were splashed with water containing radioactive materials, resulting in hospitalization for two of them. The Fukushima nuclear plant suffered a major disaster in 2011 after a massive earthquake and...

Dec222023 by disastersNo Comments

Australia to Unveil DeepSouth: World’s First Supercomputer to Simulate Human Brain Networks

Breaking News, Tech

Australian researchers are on the verge of unveiling the world’s first supercomputer designed to simulate brain networks at an unprecedented scale. Named DeepSouth, this groundbreaking supercomputer is being developed by Western Sydney University, with the potential to revolutionize our understanding of how the human brain processes information with incredible energy efficiency. The human brain, consuming a mere 20 watts of power, achieves the processing equivalent of an exaflop, or a billion-billion mathematical operations per second. DeepSouth, set to go online next year, will boast a remarkable capability of 228 trillion synaptic operations per second, rivaling the estimated rate of operations in the human brain. The primary objective of DeepSouth is to unravel the mysteries of th...

Dec222023 by disastersNo Comments

Octopus DNA Reveals Evidence of West Antarctic Ice Sheet Collapse During Last Warm Spell

Breaking News, Environment

In a groundbreaking study published in Science, scientists have turned to the DNA of octopuses living in Antarctica’s frigid waters to uncover evidence of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet’s (WAIS) collapse during the Last Interglacial, a warm period 129,000 to 116,000 years ago. Lead author Sally Lau from James Cook University and her team analyzed the genes of geographically-isolated populations of Turquet’s octopus, discovering genetic mixing that indicated the existence of trans-West Antarctic seaways connecting the Weddell, Amundsen, and Ross seas. The findings suggest that WAIS collapsed during the Last Interglacial when global temperatures were approximately 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels, reflecting current conditions due to human-induced climate change. The st...

Dec222023 by disastersNo Comments

Cosmic Slide-Whistle: Mysterious Signal from Deep Space Baffles Scientists

Breaking News, Space

In a cosmic symphony of peculiar signals, scientists have captured an unprecedented occurrence within the depths of the cosmos. Amidst the repetition of fast radio bursts (FRBs), researchers have identified a drop in the center frequency of the signals, likened to a cosmic slide-whistle when translated into musical notes on a xylophone. The mysterious nature of fast radio bursts, or FRBs, continues to intrigue scientists, defying easy explanations and offering glimpses into the enigmatic workings of the universe. FRBs are powerful bursts of radio emission lasting from microseconds to seconds, each releasing energy equivalent to 500 million Suns. While elusive and challenging to study, a select few FRB sources exhibit a unique behavior—they repeat, allowing for detailed analysis and pote...

Dec222023 by disastersNo Comments

Australia’s Submerged Ancient Landscapes Revealed: Northwest Shelf’s Hidden History

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments

Recent research published in Quaternary Science Reviews unveils the hidden history of Australia’s Northwest Shelf, which was once an expansive, habitable landscape connecting the Kimberley and western Arnhem Land. This submerged continental shelf, stretching nearly 390,000 square kilometers, formed a unique cultural zone during a significant part of Australia’s human history, around 18,000 years ago. As the last ice age concluded, rising sea levels submerged this vast area, creating a complex landscape that remained undiscovered until now. The study used high-resolution maps and projections of past sea levels to reveal an archipelago, lakes, rivers, and a large inland sea that existed on the Northwest Shelf. This region, previously thought to be environmentally unproductive, turns ou...

Dec222023 by disastersNo Comments

2°C Global Temperature Rise Could Make Indus Valley Uninhabitable for 2.2 Billion

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments

A new study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences warns that if global temperature rise by 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, about 2.2 billion people living in the Indus River Valley in northern India and eastern Pakistan may face prolonged periods of heat exceeding human tolerance. The research indicates that regions including northern India, eastern Pakistan, eastern China, and Sub-Saharan Africa will experience high-humidity heatwaves, which are even more dangerous due to reduced evaporative cooling capabilities. These areas are primarily home to lower-to-middle-income countries, where many individuals lack access to air conditioning or effective means to combat the health risks associated with extreme heat. Beyond specific thresholds of he...

Dec222023 by disastersNo Comments

Growing Threat: Zoonotic Infections Could Kill 12 Times More People in 2050

Breaking News, Idea & Innovations

A recent study published in BMJ Global Health warns that zoonotic infections, diseases that transfer from animals to humans, are poised to become a grave global health threat. The research indicates that by 2050, these infections could potentially claim twelve times more lives than they did in 2020, necessitating urgent action to address this growing menace. This concern arises in the backdrop of heightened awareness following the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in animals and swiftly spread worldwide. The study reveals that the environmental and population changes observed over the last six decades have led to an increase in “spillover events” – instances where diseases jump from animals to humans. These events are responsible for the emergence of pandemics. The research analyzed e...

Dec222023 by disastersNo Comments

UN Report says Global Emission Reductions Fall Short of Climate Goals by 2030 including worst impacts

Breaking News, Thoughts & Talks

A new report by the United Nations warns that global emissions are predicted to decrease by only 2 percent below 2019 levels by 2030, significantly below the required 43 percent reduction to avert the worst impacts of climate change. The report comes ahead of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, where countries are expected to push for stronger climate action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent by 2030 is crucial to limit temperature rise and avoid severe climate impacts such as droughts, heatwaves, and rainfall extremes. The report analyzed the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of 195 countries to the Paris Agreement, including 20 new or...

Dec222023 by disastersNo Comments

Iceland Declares State of Emergency Amidst Seismic Surge: Volcanic Eruption Imminent?

Breaking News, Idea & Innovations

Iceland, known for its stunning landscapes, is on high alert as a series of powerful earthquakes strike the Reykjanes peninsula, prompting the declaration of a state of emergency. The seismic activity near Grindavik has raised concerns about a potential volcanic eruption, leading to the evacuation of the village and heightened vigilance across the region. Iceland’s Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management has declared a state of emergency due to intense earthquake activity, particularly at Sundhnjukagigar north of Grindavik. The seismic events have not only damaged infrastructure but also heightened the risk of a volcanic eruption. Authorities warn that the earthquakes could escalate, emphasizing the need for immediate civil defense measures. Seismic Surge Points to Poss...