Thursday, July 10News That Matters

Breaking News

Snow to West Coast Bomb Cyclone and Atmospheric River Bring Heavy Rain

Snow to West Coast Bomb Cyclone and Atmospheric River Bring Heavy Rain

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment
The West Coast's rainy season has arrived with a dramatic start as an atmospheric river carrying tropical moisture collides with a powerful bomb cyclone off the Pacific Northwest coast. This weather duo is unleashing widespread heavy rainfall, strong winds, and mountain snow from Northern California to Washington. On Nov. 19, 2024, heavy wet snow began blanketing mountain regions while bursts of rain battered the coasts of Oregon and Northern California. Winds exceeding 70 mph have been recorded in parts of Washington as the bomb cyclone intensifies offshore. This storm’s strength is driven by the meeting of two potent weather phenomena. The atmospheric river a "river in the sky" transporting moisture from the subtropics feeds the bomb cyclone, a rapidly intensifying low-pressure sys...
Earth’s Magnetic North Pole Drifts Rapidly Towards Russia: Scientists Raise Concerns

Earth’s Magnetic North Pole Drifts Rapidly Towards Russia: Scientists Raise Concerns

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
The Earth's magnetic North Pole is moving toward Russia at an accelerating pace, raising concerns about its impact on navigation systems, technological infrastructure, and even life on Earth. British scientists tracking the pole’s movements report it has shifted 2,250 kilometers from Canada to Siberia and is now traveling at a speed of 50-60 kilometers per year up from just 15 kilometers per year in the 1990s. The magnetic North Pole is critical for modern navigation, including planes, ships, and smartphones, which rely on the Earth's magnetic field for direction. Scientists warn that continued rapid movement could cause compasses to point east of true north by 2040, requiring recalibrations across industries. The British Geological Survey (BGS), which monitors the pole, emphasizes t...
SpaceX’s Sixth Starship Test Flight Marks Key Milestone for NASA’s Artemis Program

SpaceX’s Sixth Starship Test Flight Marks Key Milestone for NASA’s Artemis Program

Breaking News, Space, Tech
SpaceX achieved another major milestone on Wednesday with the successful sixth flight test of its Starship spacecraft. Launched from SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas, the uncrewed mission demonstrated the spacecraft's advanced capabilities, achieving a suborbital trajectory before reentering over the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, the Super Heavy booster executed a planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. “Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting sixth flight test of Starship!” the company announced on X (formerly Twitter). The mission tested Starship’s endurance under extreme conditions, including a steeper reentry angle and reduced protective shielding. The spacecraft's Raptor engines successfully restarted in space, a critical step toward achieving orbit...
Great Barrier Reef Faces Record Coral Mortality Amid Bleaching Crisis

Great Barrier Reef Faces Record Coral Mortality Amid Bleaching Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments
The Great Barrier Reef, a global icon of marine biodiversity, has suffered unprecedented coral loss, with Australian researchers reporting the highest mortality on record. Surveys conducted by the Australian Institute of Marine Science revealed up to 72% coral mortality across 12 reefs, driven by a summer of extreme weather, including mass bleaching, two cyclones, and flooding. Severe Decline in Northern Reefs In the reef's northern section, a third of hard coral perished the largest annual decline in 39 years of monitoring. Scientists fear similar devastation may have occurred in other parts of the 2,300-kilometer-long reef, known as the world's largest living structure. Mass bleaching occurs when rising sea temperatures force corals to expel the microscopic algae (zooxanthellae)...
Lonely Dolphin Found “Talking” to Himself Scientists Unveil Fascinating Findings

Lonely Dolphin Found “Talking” to Himself Scientists Unveil Fascinating Findings

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
In an extraordinary discovery, researchers studying marine life have documented a solitary bottlenose dolphin, named Delle, engaging in a peculiar behavior: seemingly talking to himself. Found in the Baltic Sea’s Svendborgsund channel near Denmark, Delle has been living in isolation since September 2019, far outside the usual range of bottlenose dolphins, which are known to thrive in social pods. This remarkable behavior was highlighted in a study published in the journal Bioacoustics last month. Despite being social animals, dolphins like Delle, who live alone, are rarely studied in detail due to their perceived outcast status. However, researchers took an unconventional approach, placing underwater recording devices to observe his behavior over 69 days between December 2022 and Februa...
Deep-Sea Discovery Underwater Volcano-Like Structure Found Near Alaska

Deep-Sea Discovery Underwater Volcano-Like Structure Found Near Alaska

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
In a groundbreaking discovery scientists aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Healy have identified a massive underwater volcano-like formation deep beneath the Arctic Ocean near Alaska. This remarkable structure, sitting more than 1,600 meters below the ocean's surface, was revealed during a seafloor mapping project aimed at improving navigation safety in the region. The team aboard the Healy, which included researchers from the National Science Foundation, University of New Hampshire, and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), detected a potential gas plume rising from the formation. While details are still emerging, the discovery sheds light on the largely unexplored underwater terrain of the Arctic, offering new avenues for scientific exploration. Captain Meghan McGover...
Discovery of ‘Red Monster’ Galaxies Challenges Understanding of Early Universe Formation

Discovery of ‘Red Monster’ Galaxies Challenges Understanding of Early Universe Formation

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space
Astronomers have uncovered three colossal galaxies dubbed "red monsters" from the early Universe, defying existing models of galactic formation. Almost as large as the Milky Way, these galaxies were discovered using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and are believed to have formed during the Cosmic Dawn, within the first billion years after the Big Bang. Galactic Giants in the Cosmic Dawn The findings have raised significant questions about how galaxies could have grown so rapidly in the nascent stages of the Universe. “This is akin to finding a toddler weighing 100 kilograms,” remarked Ivo Labbé, an astronomer from Swinburne University of Technology. “JWST has now proven monsters do roam the early Universe.” Conventional theories suggest galaxies form gradually, as dark matte...
Ethiopia Ranks Among Top Countries Feeling Unthreatened by Climate Change Despite Rising Risks

Ethiopia Ranks Among Top Countries Feeling Unthreatened by Climate Change Despite Rising Risks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
According to the Lloyd's Register Foundation World Risk Poll, Ethiopia ranks second globally among countries where a significant proportion of people feel unthreatened by climate change. The poll reveals that 39% of Ethiopians believe climate change is "not a threat at all" to their safety, while 40% see it as a threat, including 16% who regard it as "very serious." Additionally, 21% are unsure whether climate change poses a threat. This perception contrasts starkly with scientific projections about the country's climate future. The UN Development Programme's Human Climate Horizons platform predicts Ethiopia’s average annual temperature could rise from 20°C (68°F) to 24°C (75°F) by the century’s end. It also forecasts up to 71 days annually exceeding 35°C (95°F), exacerbating the nation...
Tonga Strengthens Disaster Preparedness With Tsunami Drills

Tonga Strengthens Disaster Preparedness With Tsunami Drills

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
According to our sources Residents of Tonga including students participated in a series of tsunami drills designed to enhance awareness and preparedness for future natural disasters. The drills focused on rapid evacuation and community coordination, crucial skills for the island nation, which is highly vulnerable to tsunamis. These exercises reflect Tonga's commitment to building resilience against climate-induced disasters. Preserving Pacific Heritage: Coconut Leaf Weaving Traditions Across the Pacific, the art of coconut leaf weaving continues to thrive, preserving a centuries-old cultural tradition. This intricate craft holds different meanings for Pacific communities, from practical uses like roofing and baskets to symbolic significance in ceremonies. Efforts to pass on this skil...
Delhi’s Air Pollution Disrupts Flights and Trains Amid Smog Crisis

Delhi’s Air Pollution Disrupts Flights and Trains Amid Smog Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
Severe smog blanketed Delhi on Monday, reducing visibility and causing significant disruptions to train and flight operations. The worsening air quality, classified as “severe plus,” led to delays across the city’s transportation network. Over 160 flights, including 118 departures and 43 arrivals, were delayed at Indira Gandhi International Airport by 8:30 am due to reduced visibility, according to Flightradar24. The airport activated low visibility procedures and issued an advisory urging passengers to stay updated with their airlines about flight statuses. Smog also disrupted train operations, delaying over 28 trains arriving at New Delhi and Anand Vihar Railway stations by two to nine hours. Passengers were seen waiting outside stations amid the confusion. Severe Air Quality Tr...