livescience--2020-09-21--Wizard battles and demon circles revealed in newly translated Christian texts

Have you ever heard the story of a wizard battle that supposedly took place when an early church was constructed ?
Or how about the story of a border guard who defied King Herod 's orders and spared ' life ?
Scholars have now translated these and other `` apocryphal '' Christian texts ( stories not told in the canonical bible ) into English for the first time .
More than 300 Christian apocryphal texts are known to exist , Tony Burke , a professor of early Christianity at York University in Toronto , Canada , wrote in the book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 ) .
`` Apocryphal texts were integral to the spiritual lives of Christians long after the apparent closing of the canon and that the calls to avoid and even destroy such literature were not always effective '' wrote Burke .
Ancient Christians often debated which texts told the truth about Jesus and which did not .
By the end of the fourth century the church had 'canonized ' the texts which they thought were accurate and included them in the bible .
Related : From Jesus ' time : The 10 most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ translated texts tells of a battle against 'diabolical ' wizards who are trying to destroy an ancient church being built as a dedication to the Virgin Mary in the city of Philippi in Greece .
The text is written in Coptic , an Egyptian language that uses the Greek alphabet , and may have originally been written around 1,500 years ago , Paul Dilley , a professor of religious studies at the University of Iowa , who translated the text , wrote in the book .
The story is told in two texts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saint Macarius the Great in Egypt .
At that time , much of the population around the Mediterranean had converted to Christianity , although some still followed polytheistic faiths .
`` There was a tendency to identify the remnants of polytheism with 'magoi ' or 'wizards ' who posed dangers to the Christian community , sometimes openly , sometimes clandestinely , '' Dilley told Live Science .
In the text , the Virgin Mary comes to Bishop Basil ( who lived from A.D. 329-379 ) in a dream and tells him where to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` not made by human hands , '' the translated text says .
She also directs him to place the image in the sanctuary of her church on top of two columns , which he will find in a temple outside of Philippi .
`` These two columns have been set up since the time of the giants .
Demonic images cover them .
It is not possible for anyone to take them down except through the order of my beloved son [ Jesus ] , '' the Virgin Mary says in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Basil takes a group out to the temple he is confronted by a group of wizards who knew diabolical magic .
`` When they heard about these plans [ to move the columns ] , they went with great disturbance and wretchedness and they made some great diabolic illusions . ''
Basil takes a staff that had been placed on a `` sign of the saving cross '' and puts the staff on the columns .
`` I placed it [ the staff ] upon the two columns , and immediately a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they [ the columns ] leapt up at their bases and thus they rolled until they came to the place of the city 's stadia , '' Basil says in the text .
The wizards stop them , and the magical tug of war between the wizards and Basil 's group comes to a standstill ; as night comes , Basil decides to dismiss his group and rest .
When Basil goes to sleep , the Virgin Mary comes to him in another dream and vows that the wizards will be defeated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deed of impertinent magic , behold , they are blind , grasping , '' she says .
Later on , after Basil wakes up , water bubbles up beside the columns creating a stream that miraculously heals people .
The wizards were not so fortunate , as `` immediately the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them , '' the text says .
Basil also finds that the image has been placed on the columns by the Virgin Mary herself .
Today the two surviving copies of the text are in the Vatican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Another newly translated text tells of a bandit named Dimas ( also called Dymas/Dismas ) who was crucified next to Jesus .
The text claims that Dimas once worked as a border guard and was crucified after aiding Jesus and his family when they were fleeing to .
The text says that Jesus was a baby at the time and his family was fleeing King who wanted to kill Jesus .
This apocryphal text is written in Latin and dates back to the 12th or 13th century , said Mark Bilby , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lecturer of Religious Studies at California State University , Fullerton , who translated the text .
Bilby notes that during the Middle Ages there were a number of stories that claim to tell the story of the criminals crucified beside Jesus .
The text was likely written in a French monastery Bilby noted .
`` I think the storyline is wholly fictitious , as a legend built on top of at least 10 discrete earlier legends '' Bilby told Live Science .
In the book , Bilby noted that this story and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` to carry an implicit call for the young to leave family , join the Crusades , and become a friend of Jesus in and around the Holy Land . ''
The story takes place , according to the text , when Herod was trying to find and kill Jesus , and the guards had received orders to kill any infant boy they came across .
To watch for Jesus , Dimas and his father guarded the border between Judea and Egypt , the story goes .
In the text Dimas ' father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tells Dimas to watch the border crossing carefully .
Shortly afterward , Joseph and Mary arrive at the border carrying a poorly-clothed baby Jesus .
Dimas approaches the family and asks about Jesus .
Mary is afraid that Dimas is going to snatch Jesus away but Joseph talks to Dimas and convinces him to let them go .
Joseph convinces Dimas that a poor family posed no threat to Herod .
`` It is fitting that you all watch out for the sons of the rich men of this region who are capable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
Yet , when you see people squalid in misery , it is not appropriate to reproach them with these talks , '' Joseph says in the text .
Dimas lets them cross the border and even provides the family with some food .
When Dimas ' father finds out , he is furious .
`` What will I do now ?
Bound by oath , I will not be able to lie .
If he [ King Herod ] convicts me of treason , he will kill me in place of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
Herod later summons Dimas , who tells him of the family that was allowed to escape .
Dimas is disowned by his father and turns to banditry .
Related : Cracking codices : 10 of the most mysterious ancient manuscripts '' Expelled from his father 's house and neighborhood , he commenced engaging in banditry , and it became a tribulation , because he was hardened with weapons and perversity… '' the text says .
About 30 years later Dimas is captured during the time that was prefect ( governor ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( who is now an adult ) the text says .
When they are about to be crucified , Dimas confesses the sins he made as a bandit and is forgiven by Jesus .
The only surviving copy of the text is in the library of the Grand Séminaire in Namur , Belgium .
Another newly translated text , this one in Greek , tells how the Apostle Peter trapped seven demons who were masquerading as angels in the city of Azotus ( also called Ashdod in what is now Israel ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12th century , the story was likely originally written centuries earlier , perhaps around 1,600 years ago .
`` The narrative resonates with the context of the fourth and fifth-century speculations about sin , but its loose form and lack of regimentation seem to represent an early phase in that development '' wrote Cambry Pardee , a visiting professor of religion at Pepperdine University , London , in the book .
The author of the text `` was writing a work of fiction , valorizing the adventures of the great Christian hero Peter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the events are fictional , `` it is very likely , though , that many common Christians who encountered this legend , either as a writing or in spoken form , would have believed it to be a true account , a lost story from Peter 's life '' Pardee said .
In the text , Peter , who is suspicious of the `` , '' marks a circle around them and states `` my Lord Jesus Christ , let your glory be revealed through the Holy Spirit .
Are these , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divinity or spirits who hate what is good ? '
'' ( translation by Cambry Pardee ) Six of the demons admit to Peter that they are demons of deception , sexual immorality , falsehood , adultery , avarice and slander .
The seventh demon challenges Peter and asks why demons are treated so badly compared to humans , saying that human sins are forgiven by Christ but demon sins are not .
`` You have the partiality of Christ ; for which reason he chastises us , but he spares you when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a prostitute and a tax collector and a denier and a blasphemer and a slanderer into his kingdom , then he ought to gather all of us with you ! ''
The demon also notes that humans should stop blaming demons for their mistakes .
`` I , the devil , am not their troubler , but they themselves fall down .
For I have become weak and am without vigor .
Therefore , I no longer have a place nor an arrow , for everywhere people have become Christians .
Therefore let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the demon says .
Peter then lets the demons go .
The only surviving copy of this text is in the Biblioteca Angelica library in Rome .

The texts describing the wizard battle are from the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great in Egypt. This image shows the shrine of St. Macarius in the monastery.
Have you ever heard the story of a wizard battle that supposedly took place when an early church was constructed? Or how about the story of a border guard who defied King Herod's orders and spared Jesus ' life? Scholars have now translated these and other "apocryphal" Christian texts (stories not told in the canonical bible) into English for the first time.
More than 300 Christian apocryphal texts are known to exist, Tony Burke, a professor of early Christianity at York University in Toronto, Canada, wrote in the book he edited " New Testament Apocrypha More Noncanonical Scriptures (Volume 2) " (Eerdmans, 2020). "Apocryphal texts were integral to the spiritual lives of Christians long after the apparent closing of the canon and that the calls to avoid and even destroy such literature were not always effective" wrote Burke.
Ancient Christians often debated which texts told the truth about Jesus and which did not. By the end of the fourth century the church had 'canonized' the texts which they thought were accurate and included them in the bible.
Related: From Jesus' time: The 10 most interesting biblical discoveries
Wizard battle
One of the newly translated texts tells of a wizard battle that took place at the ancient city of Philippi, in Greece. Shown here, the ruins of Philippi . (Image credit: Shutterstock)
One of the newly translated texts tells of a battle against 'diabolical' wizards who are trying to destroy an ancient church being built as a dedication to the Virgin Mary in the city of Philippi in Greece.
The text is written in Coptic, an Egyptian language that uses the Greek alphabet, and may have originally been written around 1,500 years ago, Paul Dilley, a professor of religious studies at the University of Iowa, who translated the text, wrote in the book. The story is told in two texts that were both from the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great in Egypt. At that time, much of the population around the Mediterranean had converted to Christianity, although some still followed polytheistic faiths.
"There was a tendency to identify the remnants of polytheism with 'magoi' or 'wizards' who posed dangers to the Christian community, sometimes openly, sometimes clandestinely," Dilley told Live Science.
In the text, the Virgin Mary comes to Bishop Basil (who lived from A.D. 329-379) in a dream and tells him where to find an image of her that is "not made by human hands," the translated text says. She also directs him to place the image in the sanctuary of her church on top of two columns, which he will find in a temple outside of Philippi.
"These two columns have been set up since the time of the giants. Demonic images cover them. It is not possible for anyone to take them down except through the order of my beloved son [Jesus]," the Virgin Mary says in the text.
Related: 6 Interesting facts about Jesus, the man
In this story, when Basil takes a group out to the temple he is confronted by a group of wizards who knew diabolical magic. "When they heard about these plans [to move the columns], they went with great disturbance and wretchedness and they made some great diabolic illusions."
Basil takes a staff that had been placed on a "sign of the saving cross" and puts the staff on the columns. "I placed it [the staff] upon the two columns, and immediately a great rumbling happened under the columns. Suddenly, they [the columns] leapt up at their bases and thus they rolled until they came to the place of the city's stadia," Basil says in the text.
The wizards stop them, and the magical tug of war between the wizards and Basil's group comes to a standstill; as night comes, Basil decides to dismiss his group and rest.
When Basil goes to sleep, the Virgin Mary comes to him in another dream and vows that the wizards will be defeated: "Those who did this evil deed of impertinent magic, behold, they are blind, grasping," she says.
Later on, after Basil wakes up, water bubbles up beside the columns creating a stream that miraculously heals people. The wizards were not so fortunate, as "immediately the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them," the text says. Basil also finds that the image has been placed on the columns by the Virgin Mary herself.
Today the two surviving copies of the text are in the Vatican Apostolic Library and the Leipzig University Library.
Border guard helps Jesus
Another newly translated text tells of a bandit named Dimas (also called Dymas/Dismas) who was crucified next to Jesus. The text claims that Dimas once worked as a border guard and was crucified after aiding Jesus and his family when they were fleeing to Egypt . The text says that Jesus was a baby at the time and his family was fleeing King Herod who wanted to kill Jesus.
Related: Proof of Jesus Christ? 6 pieces of evidence debated
This apocryphal text is written in Latin and dates back to the 12th or 13th century, said Mark Bilby, a senior assistant librarian of scholarly communication and lecturer of Religious Studies at California State University, Fullerton, who translated the text. Bilby notes that during the Middle Ages there were a number of stories that claim to tell the story of the criminals crucified beside Jesus. The text was likely written in a French monastery Bilby noted.
"I think the storyline is wholly fictitious, as a legend built on top of at least 10 discrete earlier legends" Bilby told Live Science. In the book, Bilby noted that this story and others like it may have been intended "to carry an implicit call for the young to leave family, join the Crusades, and become a friend of Jesus in and around the Holy Land."
The story takes place, according to the text, when Herod was trying to find and kill Jesus, and the guards had received orders to kill any infant boy they came across. To watch for Jesus, Dimas and his father guarded the border between Judea and Egypt, the story goes.
In the text Dimas' father goes off to do his rounds and tells Dimas to watch the border crossing carefully. Shortly afterward, Joseph and Mary arrive at the border carrying a poorly-clothed baby Jesus. Dimas approaches the family and asks about Jesus. Mary is afraid that Dimas is going to snatch Jesus away but Joseph talks to Dimas and convinces him to let them go.
Joseph convinces Dimas that a poor family posed no threat to Herod. "It is fitting that you all watch out for the sons of the rich men of this region who are capable of begrudging his superiority at a later time. Yet, when you see people squalid in misery, it is not appropriate to reproach them with these talks," Joseph says in the text.
Dimas lets them cross the border and even provides the family with some food. When Dimas' father finds out, he is furious. "What will I do now? Bound by oath, I will not be able to lie. If he [King Herod] convicts me of treason, he will kill me in place of the boys," Dimas' father says.
Herod later summons Dimas, who tells him of the family that was allowed to escape. Dimas is disowned by his father and turns to banditry.
Related: Cracking codices: 10 of the most mysterious ancient manuscripts
"Expelled from his father's house and neighborhood, he commenced engaging in banditry, and it became a tribulation, because he was hardened with weapons and perversity…" the text says. About 30 years later Dimas is captured during the time that Pontius Pilate was prefect (governor) of Judea and is crucified beside Jesus (who is now an adult) the text says. When they are about to be crucified, Dimas confesses the sins he made as a bandit and is forgiven by Jesus.
The only surviving copy of the text is in the library of the Grand Séminaire in Namur, Belgium.
Demon trapping
Another newly translated text, this one in Greek, tells how the Apostle Peter trapped seven demons who were masquerading as angels in the city of Azotus (also called Ashdod in what is now Israel).
Though it dates to the 11th or 12th century, the story was likely originally written centuries earlier, perhaps around 1,600 years ago. "The narrative resonates with the context of the fourth and fifth-century speculations about sin, but its loose form and lack of regimentation seem to represent an early phase in that development" wrote Cambry Pardee, a visiting professor of religion at Pepperdine University, London, in the book.
The author of the text "was writing a work of fiction, valorizing the adventures of the great Christian hero Peter," Pardee told Live Science. While the events are fictional, "it is very likely, though, that many common Christians who encountered this legend, either as a writing or in spoken form, would have believed it to be a true account, a lost story from Peter's life" Pardee said.
Related: The Holy Land: 7 amazing archaeological finds
In the text, Peter, who is suspicious of the " angels ," marks a circle around them and states "my Lord Jesus Christ, let your glory be revealed through the Holy Spirit. Are these, as they say, angels of your divinity or spirits who hate what is good?'" (translation by Cambry Pardee)
One translated text tells of Saint Peter using a circle to trap seven demons, while in the city of Azotus (Ashdod), which is shown here. (Image credit: Shutterstock)
Six of the demons admit to Peter that they are demons of deception, sexual immorality, falsehood, adultery, avarice and slander. The seventh demon challenges Peter and asks why demons are treated so badly compared to humans, saying that human sins are forgiven by Christ but demon sins are not. "You have the partiality of Christ; for which reason he chastises us, but he spares you when you repent. Therefore when he leads a prostitute and a tax collector and a denier and a blasphemer and a slanderer into his kingdom, then he ought to gather all of us with you!"
The demon also notes that humans should stop blaming demons for their mistakes. "I, the devil, am not their troubler, but they themselves fall down. For I have become weak and am without vigor. Therefore, I no longer have a place nor an arrow, for everywhere people have become Christians. Therefore let them guard themselves and not cast blame" the demon says. Peter then lets the demons go.
The only surviving copy of this text is in the Biblioteca Angelica library in Rome.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-21--New CDC guidelines say coronavirus spreads through air. Then CDC deletes them.

Once again , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) has provided guidance on COVID-19 , only to contradict itself later .
The CDC acknowledged what many scientists have been saying for months : that the novel coronavirus can spread through small airborne particles that can linger in poorly ventilated areas .
Then a few days later , the agency walked it back .
The CDC updated their guidance on Friday ( Sept. 18 ) to say that the virus can be spread through aerosols , or small particles that can linger in the air , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreads `` through respiratory droplets or small particles , such as those in aerosols , produced when an infected person coughs , sneezes , sings , talks or breathes , '' the agency website read .
If a person inhales these particles through the nose , mouth , airways and lungs , they can cause infection , according to the website .
`` This is thought to be the main way the virus spreads , '' they added .
`` There is growing evidence that droplets and airborne particles can remain suspended in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others , and travel distances beyond 6 feet ( for example , during choir practice , in restaurants , or in fitness classes ) , '' the website said .
`` In general , indoor environments without good ventilation increase this risk . ''
In addition to wearing masks , washing hands , cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and staying at least 6 feet ( 1.8 meters ) away from others , the CDC updated its recommendations to say that people should stay home , isolate when sick and `` use air purifiers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' according to CNN .
But , these new guidelines were quickly taken down from the site and the CDC 's current guidance on COVID-19 spread , as of Monday ( Sept. 21 ) no longer acknowledges or even mentions airborne transmission .
`` A draft version of proposed changes to these recommendations was posted in error to the agency ’ s official website , '' the CDC said at the top of the page.
`` CDC is currently updating its recommendations regarding airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 .
`` Once that process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be posted , the update reads .
Regardless of the CDC 's back-and-forth recommendations , mounting evidence suggests that the virus can spread through the air .
Back in July , after being urged by hundreds of scientists , the World Health Organization acknowledged that the virus can spread through aerosols , according to The Washington Post .
A number of studies support this conclusion , including one published in May in the CDC 's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that found a person infected with SARS-CoV-2 spread it to 52 others at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the latest coronavirus guidance whiplash from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) .
Last week , the agency reversed controversial coronavirus testing guidelines that had suggested being exposed to a person with COVID-19 did n't necessarily warrant a test , Live Science previously reported .

Once again, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided guidance on COVID-19, only to contradict itself later. The CDC acknowledged what many scientists have been saying for months: that the novel coronavirus can spread through small airborne particles that can linger in poorly ventilated areas. Then a few days later, the agency walked it back.
The CDC updated their guidance on Friday (Sept. 18) to say that the virus can be spread through aerosols, or small particles that can linger in the air, according to CNN. The virus commonly spreads "through respiratory droplets or small particles, such as those in aerosols, produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, talks or breathes," the agency website read. If a person inhales these particles through the nose, mouth, airways and lungs, they can cause infection, according to the website. "This is thought to be the main way the virus spreads," they added.
"There is growing evidence that droplets and airborne particles can remain suspended in the air and be breathed in by others, and travel distances beyond 6 feet (for example, during choir practice, in restaurants, or in fitness classes)," the website said. "In general, indoor environments without good ventilation increase this risk."
Related: Coronavirus Live Updates
In addition to wearing masks, washing hands, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and staying at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) away from others, the CDC updated its recommendations to say that people should stay home, isolate when sick and "use air purifiers to help reduce airborne germs in indoor spaces," according to CNN.
But, these new guidelines were quickly taken down from the site and the CDC's current guidance on COVID-19 spread, as of Monday (Sept. 21) no longer acknowledges or even mentions airborne transmission.
"A draft version of proposed changes to these recommendations was posted in error to the agency’s official website," the CDC said at the top of the page. " CDC is currently updating its recommendations regarding airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2."Once that process is completed, the updated language will be posted, the update reads.
Regardless of the CDC's back-and-forth recommendations, mounting evidence suggests that the virus can spread through the air.
Back in July, after being urged by hundreds of scientists, the World Health Organization acknowledged that the virus can spread through aerosols, according to The Washington Post. A number of studies support this conclusion, including one published in May in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that found a person infected with SARS-CoV-2 spread it to 52 others at a choir practice in Washington.
This is the latest coronavirus guidance whiplash from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Last week, the agency reversed controversial coronavirus testing guidelines that had suggested being exposed to a person with COVID-19 didn't necessarily warrant a test, Live Science previously reported.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-21--An aurora that lit up the sky over the Titanic might explain why it sank

Glowing auroras shimmered in skies over the northern Atlantic Ocean on April 15 , 2012 — the night the RMS sank .
Now , new research hints that the geomagnetic storm behind the northern lights could have disrupted the ship 's navigation and communication systems and hindered rescue efforts , fueling the disaster that killed more than 1,500 passengers .
Eyewitnesses described aurora glows in the region as the Titanic went down , with one observer testifying that `` the northern lights were very strong that night , '' Mila Zinkova , an independent weather researcher and photographer , reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aug. 4 in the journal .
Related : In Photos : Stunning shots of the Titanic shipwreck Auroras form from solar storms , when the sun expels high-speed streams of electrified gas that hurtle toward .
As the charged particles and energy collide with Earth 's atmosphere , some travel down magnetic field lines to interact with atmospheric gases , glowing green , red , purple and blue , .
These charged particles can also interfere with electrical and magnetic signals , causing surges and oscillations , according to NASA .
A solar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) powerful enough to produce an aurora may also have affected compasses and wireless communication on the Titanic , and on nearby ships trying to come to her aid .
Even a small disruption might have been enough to doom the vessel , Zinkova said in the study .
And the northern lights were highly visible when the Titanic sank .
James Bisset , second officer of the RMS Carpathia ( the ship that would rescue Titanic survivors ) wrote in his log on the night of April 14 , 1912 : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aurora Borealis glimmered like moonbeams shooting up from the northern horizon . ''
In an entry made five hours later , Bisset noted that he could still see `` greenish beams '' of the aurora as the Carpathia neared the Titanic 's lifeboats , Zinkova reported .
Survivors also described spotting the northern lights from their lifeboats at around 3 a.m. local time .
The glow `` arched fanwise across the northern sky , with faint streamers reaching towards the Pole-star , '' Titanic survivor Lawrence Beesley wrote .
At the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were generating a pretty light show , they could also have been tugging at the Titanic 's compass .
A deviation of only 0.5 degrees would have been enough to steer the ship away from safety and place it on its fatal collision course toward an iceberg , Zinkova said in the study .
`` This apparently insignificant error could have made the difference between colliding with the iceberg and avoiding it , '' she wrote .
Radio signals that night were also `` freaky , '' operators on the ocean liner RMS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the ships that responded to the Titanic 's distress call , but the RMS Carpathia got there first , according to the at Baylor University in Waco , Texas ) .
SOS signals sent by the Titanic to nearby ships went unheard , and responses to the Titanic were never received , according to Zinkova .
Related : Infographic : Why and how the Titanic sank '' The official report of the Titanic sinking suggested amateur radio enthusiasts had caused interference , by jamming the airwaves , and so prevented the accurate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the vicinity , '' she wrote .
`` However , at the time they had incomplete knowledge of the influence that geomagnetic storms may have on the and disruption to communication .
It is proposed here that the ongoing moderate to strong geomagnetic storm near the aurora had a negative impact upon the receipt of accurate SOS signals by nearby vessels , as well as interference from amateur radio operators . ''
If geomagnetic disruption from a solar storm did take place , `` it could have affected all aspects of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that caused the iceberg collision , and the failed SOS communications that delayed the arrival of rescue ships , Zinkova wrote .
Though the Titanic sank more than 100 years ago , the tale of that fateful voyage and its tragic conclusion continues to intrigue and fascinate .
Objects recovered from that fateful day command hefty price tags at auction , such as from April 14 that sold for $ 88,000 in 2015 , and the of a passenger and survivor that sold for $ 62,500 in 2019 .
But while the ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself is rapidly disintegrating .
When a team of explorers visited the Titanic in August of 2019 , the first divers to do so in 14 years , they found that part of the ship 's starboard side — where many of the state rooms were located — had been eroded by powerful ocean currents , metal-destroying microbes and corrosive salt , .

The RMS Titanic departing Southampton on April 10, 1912, four days before the disaster that claimed more than 1,500 lives.
Glowing auroras shimmered in skies over the northern Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912 — the night the RMS Titanic sank. Now, new research hints that the geomagnetic storm behind the northern lights could have disrupted the ship's navigation and communication systems and hindered rescue efforts, fueling the disaster that killed more than 1,500 passengers.
Eyewitnesses described aurora glows in the region as the Titanic went down, with one observer testifying that "the northern lights were very strong that night," Mila Zinkova, an independent weather researcher and photographer, reported in a new study, published online Aug. 4 in the journal Weather .
Related: In Photos: Stunning shots of the Titanic shipwreck
Auroras form from solar storms, when the sun expels high-speed streams of electrified gas that hurtle toward Earth . As the charged particles and energy collide with Earth's atmosphere, some travel down magnetic field lines to interact with atmospheric gases, glowing green, red, purple and blue, NASA says . These charged particles can also interfere with electrical and magnetic signals, causing surges and oscillations, according to NASA.
A solar storm (also called a geomagnetic storm) powerful enough to produce an aurora may also have affected compasses and wireless communication on the Titanic, and on nearby ships trying to come to her aid. Even a small disruption might have been enough to doom the vessel, Zinkova said in the study.
And the northern lights were highly visible when the Titanic sank. James Bisset, second officer of the RMS Carpathia (the ship that would rescue Titanic survivors) wrote in his log on the night of April 14, 1912: "There was no moon, but the Aurora Borealis glimmered like moonbeams shooting up from the northern horizon." In an entry made five hours later, Bisset noted that he could still see "greenish beams" of the aurora as the Carpathia neared the Titanic's lifeboats, Zinkova reported.
Survivors also described spotting the northern lights from their lifeboats at around 3 a.m. local time. The glow "arched fanwise across the northern sky, with faint streamers reaching towards the Pole-star," Titanic survivor Lawrence Beesley wrote.
At the same time that the solar storm's charged particles were generating a pretty light show, they could also have been tugging at the Titanic's compass. A deviation of only 0.5 degrees would have been enough to steer the ship away from safety and place it on its fatal collision course toward an iceberg, Zinkova said in the study.
"This apparently insignificant error could have made the difference between colliding with the iceberg and avoiding it," she wrote.
The sinking of the RMS Titanic as described by survivor Jack Thayer and sketched by L.P. Skidmore, a passenger on the RMS Carpathia, on April 15, 1912. (Image credit: Public Domain)
"Freaky" signals
Radio signals that night were also "freaky," operators on the ocean liner RMS Baltic reported (the Baltic was one of the ships that responded to the Titanic's distress call, but the RMS Carpathia got there first, according to the Armstrong Browning Library at Baylor University in Waco, Texas). SOS signals sent by the Titanic to nearby ships went unheard, and responses to the Titanic were never received, according to Zinkova.
Related: Infographic: Why and how the Titanic sank
"The official report of the Titanic sinking suggested amateur radio enthusiasts had caused interference, by jamming the airwaves, and so prevented the accurate dissemination of emergency signals to other ships in the vicinity," she wrote.
"However, at the time they had incomplete knowledge of the influence that geomagnetic storms may have on the ionosphere and disruption to communication. It is proposed here that the ongoing moderate to strong geomagnetic storm near the aurora had a negative impact upon the receipt of accurate SOS signals by nearby vessels, as well as interference from amateur radio operators."
If geomagnetic disruption from a solar storm did take place, "it could have affected all aspects of the tragedy," including the navigation errors that caused the iceberg collision, and the failed SOS communications that delayed the arrival of rescue ships, Zinkova wrote.
Though the Titanic sank more than 100 years ago, the tale of that fateful voyage and its tragic conclusion continues to intrigue and fascinate. Objects recovered from that fateful day command hefty price tags at auction, such as a first-class lunch menu from April 14 that sold for $88,000 in 2015, and the battery-illuminated "flashlight cane" of a passenger and survivor that sold for $62,500 in 2019.
But while the ship's fame is undimmed, the wreck itself is rapidly disintegrating. When a team of explorers visited the Titanic in August of 2019, the first divers to do so in 14 years, they found that part of the ship's starboard side — where many of the state rooms were located — had been eroded by powerful ocean currents, metal-destroying microbes and corrosive salt, Live Science previously reported .
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-21--Black doctors have created a task force to make sure COVID-19 vaccines are safe

A professional society of Black physicians has formed a task force to assess COVID-19 vaccines and treatments , in light of concerns that federal agencies may approve vaccines and drugs without adequate proof that they work , .
The National Medical Association ( NMA ) , which represents Black physicians and health professionals in the U.S. , formed the task force following recent , controversial actions taken by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) .
For instance , the CDC that close contacts of infected people should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show symptoms , even though asymptomatic people can spread the ; the FDA authorized the widespread use of plasma therapy for COVID-19 with little proof it works , and recently revoked its emergency authorization of after patients developed serious heart , kidney and liver problems , according to the agency 's website .
`` There is a concern that some of the recent decisions by the Food and Drug Administration have been unduly influenced by politicians , '' Dr. Leon McDougle , a family physician and president of the National Medical Association , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump has teased that a COVID-19 could be available before November 3 , raising concerns that the vaccine approval process might be dangerously rushed before data shows the vaccine works , according to The New York Times .
To address this growing uncertainty , the NMA task force plans to double-check that any approved drug or vaccine is truly safe and effective .
Related : 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history '' I think this will help to increase uptake in the African American community , if members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ green light , '' McDougle told Stat News .
`` What we 've seen in terms of political interference in the FDA and CDC has really undermined what little trust the Black community had , '' added emergency physician Dr. Uché Blackstock , the founder and CEO of the consulting firm Advancing Health Equity , who is not a member of NMA .
In addition to reviewing the safety and effectiveness of approved vaccines and drugs , the task force will look at whether clinical trial participants accurately represent the demographics of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News .
If the FDA approves a drug or vaccine without releasing all the relevant data , McDougle told Stat News that he hopes that NMA members involved with federal agencies could still get access to those reports .
While some experts agree that the task force is greatly needed , others worry that it could undermine acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines , in general , if the NMA 's assessments clash with the official guidance of the CDC and FDA .
The thought is that too much uncertainty could deter people from getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panel confirms it 's safe .
Read the full story at Stat News .

A professional society of Black physicians has formed a task force to assess COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, in light of concerns that federal agencies may approve vaccines and drugs without adequate proof that they work, Stat News reported .
The National Medical Association (NMA), which represents Black physicians and health professionals in the U.S., formed the task force following recent, controversial actions taken by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For instance, the CDC initially issued guidance that close contacts of infected people should only get tested for COVID-19 if they show symptoms, even though asymptomatic people can spread the virus ; the FDA authorized the widespread use of plasma therapy for COVID-19 with little proof it works , and recently revoked its emergency authorization of hydroxychloroquine after patients developed serious heart, kidney and liver problems, according to the agency's website .
"There is a concern that some of the recent decisions by the Food and Drug Administration have been unduly influenced by politicians," Dr. Leon McDougle, a family physician and president of the National Medical Association, told Stat News. In addition, President Donald Trump has teased that a COVID-19 vaccine could be available before November 3, raising concerns that the vaccine approval process might be dangerously rushed before data shows the vaccine works, according to The New York Times . To address this growing uncertainty, the NMA task force plans to double-check that any approved drug or vaccine is truly safe and effective.
Related: 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history
"I think this will help to increase uptake in the African American community, if members of our task force give it the green light," McDougle told Stat News. "What we've seen in terms of political interference in the FDA and CDC has really undermined what little trust the Black community had," added emergency physician Dr. Uché Blackstock, the founder and CEO of the consulting firm Advancing Health Equity, who is not a member of NMA.
In addition to reviewing the safety and effectiveness of approved vaccines and drugs, the task force will look at whether clinical trial participants accurately represent the demographics of the broader U.S. population, according to Stat News. If the FDA approves a drug or vaccine without releasing all the relevant data, McDougle told Stat News that he hopes that NMA members involved with federal agencies could still get access to those reports.
While some experts agree that the task force is greatly needed, others worry that it could undermine acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines, in general, if the NMA's assessments clash with the official guidance of the CDC and FDA.
The thought is that too much uncertainty could deter people from getting any approved vaccine, even if the panel confirms it's safe. Read the full story at Stat News.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-21--Climate fires and hurricanes collide in this shocking NASA satellite image

Smoke meets cyclones in a jarring new series of satellite images posted to .
In the images , which combine recent observations of the United States taken by several different NASA satellites from Sept. 14 to 16 , orange-tinted smoke from an immense series of wildfires on the West Coast sails clean across the country to collide with tropical cyclones on the other side .
One image , from Sept. 15 , shows the two weather catastrophes directly interacting , as churning winds from Hurricane Paulette literally block wildfire smoke in the upper atmosphere from flowing further into the Atlantic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Gulf Coast at the time — pushes the smoke plume further north .
When Paulette dissipated the following day , the smoke continued its eastward journey over the ocean .
Related : In photos : Devastating look at raging wildfires in Australia These composite pictures clearly paint the intensity of the ongoing and wildfire seasons battering North America , both of which have already made history .
have already burned more than 3.6 million acres ( 1.4 million hectares ) of land as of Sept. 21 , nearly doubling the previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 768,000 hectares ) set in 2018 , , the state government 's firefighting agency .
Six of the state 's top 20 largest fires have occurred this year , the agency reported , and some smoke plumes rose more than 10 miles ( 17 kilometers ) into the air — another fire record in North America .
And wildfire season is n't even over yet .
The hurricane season , meanwhile , is smashing records of its own .
On Wednesday ( Sept. 16 ) Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bringing `` historic and catastrophic flooding , '' according to the National Hurricane Center ( NHC ) .
Hurricanes Sally and Paulette ( which made landfall in Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane on Sept. 14 ) were just two of five named tropical cyclones that developed simultaneously in the Atlantic Ocean earlier this week ; only once , in 1971 , were this many storms recorded in the Atlantic at the same time .
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has been so active , the government has literally for new storms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tropical Storm Wilfred became the 23rd named storm of the season , exhausting the official , alphabetical list of names for the year .
With months left to go in the season , the NHC has moved to Greek letters for the next 24 named storms .
formed near the coast of Portugal later on the same day .
Meanwhile , is strengthening and is predicted to hit the Gulf Coast today ( Sept. 21 ) .
Both the record wildfire and hurricane seasons have been exacerbated by ongoing global climate change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's how is making and more intense every year .

Smoke meets cyclones in a jarring new series of satellite images posted to NASA's Earth Observatory website .
In the images, which combine recent observations of the United States taken by several different NASA satellites from Sept. 14 to 16, orange-tinted smoke from an immense series of wildfires on the West Coast sails clean across the country to collide with tropical cyclones on the other side.
One image, from Sept. 15, shows the two weather catastrophes directly interacting, as churning winds from Hurricane Paulette literally block wildfire smoke in the upper atmosphere from flowing further into the Atlantic Ocean. Meanwhile, Hurricane Sally — bearing down on the Gulf Coast at the time — pushes the smoke plume further north. When Paulette dissipated the following day, the smoke continued its eastward journey over the ocean.
Three satellite maps from Sept. 14 (top), 15 and 16 show the gargantuan smoke plume from the West Coast wildfires brushing past hurricanes in the Gulf Coast and East Coast. In the middle image (Sept. 15), Hurricane Paulette blocks the smoke from traveling further east over the Atlantic ocean. (Image credit: Joshua Stevens/ NASA)
Related: In photos: Devastating look at raging wildfires in Australia
These composite pictures clearly paint the intensity of the ongoing hurricane and wildfire seasons battering North America, both of which have already made history.
Wildfires in California have already burned more than 3.6 million acres (1.4 million hectares) of land as of Sept. 21, nearly doubling the previous all-time record of 1.9 million acres (768,000 hectares) set in 2018, according to Cal Fire , the state government's firefighting agency. Six of the state's top 20 largest fires have occurred this year, the agency reported, and some smoke plumes rose more than 10 miles (17 kilometers) into the air — another fire record in North America. And wildfire season isn't even over yet.
The hurricane season, meanwhile, is smashing records of its own. On Wednesday (Sept. 16) Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama, as a Category 2 hurricane, bringing "historic and catastrophic flooding," according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Hurricanes Sally and Paulette (which made landfall in Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane on Sept. 14) were just two of five named tropical cyclones that developed simultaneously in the Atlantic Ocean earlier this week; only once, in 1971, were this many storms recorded in the Atlantic at the same time.
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has been so active, the government has literally run out of names for new storms. On Friday (Sept. 18), Tropical Storm Wilfred became the 23rd named storm of the season, exhausting the official, alphabetical list of names for the year. With months left to go in the season, the NHC has moved to Greek letters for the next 24 named storms. Tropical Storm Alpha formed near the coast of Portugal later on the same day. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Beta is strengthening and is predicted to hit the Gulf Coast today (Sept. 21).
Both the record wildfire and hurricane seasons have been exacerbated by ongoing global climate change, according to climate researchers. Here's how climate change is making wildfires and hurricanes more intense every year.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-21--What if Earth had rings?

What if Earth had rings?

The series `` Imaginary Earths '' speculates what the world might be like if one key aspect of life changed , be it related to the planet or to humanity itself .
The rings of grant it a majesty befitting a planet named after the king of the Titans .
Made almost completely of bits and chunks of ice and spanning thousands of miles wide , Saturn 's rings are its most spellbinding feature ; they have mesmerized humans ever since Galileo discovered them with a telescope in 1610 .
What might be like crowned with rings ?
Space and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how the sky might look if Earth possessed rings of the same proportions to our planet as Saturn 's are to it .
The most stable place for rings is around a planet 's equator , so the appearance of the rings would vary by latitude .
For instance , near the equator at Quito , Ecuador , you would see the rings from the inner edge on , so they would look like a thin line rising straight up from the horizon .
Related : What If ?
22 Crazy Hypothetical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comparison , near the Arctic Circle , the rings might look like a hump on the horizon .
At more temperate latitudes , the rings would look like a giant arch , crossing from one end of the sky to the other .
These glittering rings would neither rise nor set , and would always appear in the exact same place in the sky .
These cosmic landmarks would be visible both day and night .
Earth 's hypothetical rings would differ in one key way from Saturn 's ; they would n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the sun than Saturn does , so radiation from our star would cause any ice in Earth 's rings to sublime away .
Still , even if Earth 's rings were made of rock , that might not mean they would look dark .
Moon rock is largely grey , and the moon reflects only about 12 % of the light falling onto it .
But the full moon `` looks really bright because there 's a lot of light falling on it , and because it 's so close to us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of astrobiology at Columbia University in New York City .
How bright might Earth 's rings get ?
`` About 1,300 watts of sunlight per square meter hits the top of , '' Scharf told Live Science .
`` If rings reflected even 10 % of that , we 're talking about each square meter reflecting as much light as produced by a 130-watt light bulb . ''
How close might the rings get to Earth ?
Would they interfere with airplanes ?
The absolute closest the rings could get is somewhere above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which reaches up as high as 620 miles ( 1,000 km ) , according to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research .
So , commercial airplanes , which typically fly up to 7 miles ( 11 km ) , would be fine .
( We 'll discuss satellites and space travel later . )
Meanwhile , atmospheric drag would bring down any ring matter that descended too low .
If this happened , the rocky material would burn up like a shooting star in a fiery streak .
Just how far might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ object orbiting within a certain distance of Earth , known as its Roche limit , will break apart due to the force of Earth 's .
Once broken , these shattered objects would join the rocky ring .
For instance , any object the size of Earth 's moon that fell below about 7,365 miles ( 11,850 km ) from Earth 's surface would disintegrate , forming a ring around the planet .
All in all , Earth 's outer rings would likely orbit even closer to our planet than does Earth 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one ring or many depends on whether Earth also possessed `` shepherd moons , '' small moons that clear gaps between rings and help keep particles confined within a ring , much like a sheepdog keeps sheep from wandering astray .
Saturn 's rings possess a number of shepherd moons , such as Prometheus .
Shepherd moons in Earth 's rings might resemble shining pearls circling around the edges of the rings .
It 's unlikely Earth could have long-lasting rings if it continues to possess as large a moon as it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gravitational forces the moon exerts on Earth to cause tides might disrupt the rings , causing them to fall apart , he explained .
Depending on the time of day , the season and the latitude the viewer is located , Earth 's shadow might fall on the rings .
Earth 's shadow would look oval-shaped on its rings , `` and move as time goes by , '' Scharf said .
( Earth 's shadow would look oval-shaped instead of circular for much the same reason that your shadow looks stretched out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equinoxes , the sun would lie on the same plane as the rings .
At these times , at Earth 's middle latitudes , the planet 's shadow would appear to stretch across the rings to its greatest extent , plunging large portions of the rings into darkness .
At the equator , the rings would appear to divide the sun , casting a dramatic shadow over half the world .
Likewise , the rings themselves would cast shadows on Earth .
During the in the Northern Hemisphere and the in the Southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shadows on the Southern Hemisphere , and vice versa .
This could mean that winters in both hemispheres might be colder and more severe than they are on our Earth .
However , at the same time , `` ringshine '' might increase the total light Earth receives , `` so the climate effects are tricky to pinpoint , '' Scharf said .
As celestial landmarks that never change their position in the sky , the rings would almost certainly play a key role in mythologies .
At temperate latitudes , one might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an arch might symbolize a bridge between heaven and Earth .
Since the rings ' appearance changes with latitude , so too might people 's interpretations of them .
Given how wars on Earth have stemmed from opposing views of religious doctrine , one might wonder what might have happened as ancient people started roaming the planet and seeing the rings change in appearance .
And the rings might very well entice people to wander the world .
Given how the rings can resemble giant arches , explorers might want to see where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a person aspires to see what 's at the ends of a rainbow .
In addition , Scharf noted that around the edges of Earth 's shadow on the rings , one would see light that was filtered through Earth 's atmosphere .
`` You might get some funky colors at the shadow 's edges , maybe a , '' he said .
`` I could imagine all sorts of mythologies built around that . ''
Moreover , depending on the latitude and the season , the path of the sun may cross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the rings would likely scatter the sun 's light , making it appear hazy or veiled .
`` It 's interesting to think what spiritual significance a civilization might ascribe to the sun going behind the rings , '' Scharf said .
The rings might potentially serve as extraordinary navigational aids .
One might wonder how they might support travel , exploration , trade , migration and invasion .
For example , for centuries , sailors had trouble pinpointing their exact position on the Earth in latitude and longitude when they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land .
Navigators long had ways of finding their latitude using astronomy — by looking at the altitude of the sun by day or the or Southern Cross by night — but finding took a breakthrough in timepiece engineering .
Rings in the sky could potentially help navigators estimate longitude a number of ways .
Shepherd moons could trek around Earth along predictable orbits , like moving hands on a clock .
The rings of Saturn possess , likely related to Saturn 's magnetic field , and any spokes on Earth 's rings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clock face .
The way that Earth 's shadow moves on the rings could also serve as a giant cosmic timepiece .
`` You could really get a sophisticated kind of timekeeping system with the rings , '' Scharf said .
Depending on the placement of the rings , satellites and spacecraft could , in principle , orbit underneath them .
For instance , the International Space Station orbits about 250 miles ( 400 km ) above Earth 's surface , potentially below the rings , whereas geostationary satellites orbit about 22,235 miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surface , likely well above the rings .
However , the rings would likely scatter any radio signals from satellites and spacecraft in equatorial orbits , limiting their usefulness .
Still , the rings would likely interfere with astronomy , hindering ground views of the nighttime sky , Scharf said .
That might in turn limit what scientists on a ringed planet might know about key details of the cosmos , such as the existence of other galaxies , or the .
The rings of Mars and Earth How likely is it that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work found that Mars ' moon Phobos might once have existed as rings around the Red Planet .
As Phobos gets closer to Mars over time , it will likely get torn into a ring again , over the course of millions of years .
It 's possible thatEarth already possessed a ring .
Our planet was born about 4.5 billion years ago , and previous research suggests the moon arose a short time later .
The prevailing explanation for is that it resulted from the collision of two protoplanets , or embryonic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newborn Earth , and the other was a Mars-size rock called Theia , named after the mother of the moon in Greek mythology .
The impact would have generated that eventually coalesced into the moon .
In essence , although the vision of a ringed Earth might seem like a fantasy , it might have once — for a moment in time — been true .

What the sky might look like if Earth had rings like Saturn, from the perspective of Guatemala.
The series "Imaginary Earths" speculates what the world might be like if one key aspect of life changed, be it related to the planet or to humanity itself.
The rings of Saturn grant it a majesty befitting a planet named after the king of the Titans. Made almost completely of bits and chunks of ice and spanning thousands of miles wide, Saturn's rings are its most spellbinding feature; they have mesmerized humans ever since Galileo discovered them with a telescope in 1610.
What might Earth be like crowned with rings? Space and science-fiction illustrator Ron Miller created extraordinary images of how the sky might look if Earth possessed rings of the same proportions to our planet as Saturn's are to it.
The most stable place for rings is around a planet's equator, so the appearance of the rings would vary by latitude. For instance, near the equator at Quito, Ecuador, you would see the rings from the inner edge on, so they would look like a thin line rising straight up from the horizon.
Related: What If? 22 Crazy Hypothetical Questions (and their Answers)
What the sky might look like if Earth had rings like Saturn, from the perspective of Quito, Ecuador. (Image credit: Ron Miller)
In comparison, near the Arctic Circle, the rings might look like a hump on the horizon.
What the sky might look like if Earth had rings like Saturn, from the perspective of the Arctic Circle. (Image credit: Ron Miller)
At more temperate latitudes, the rings would look like a giant arch, crossing from one end of the sky to the other.
If you were in Washington, D.C., rings on Earth might arc like an out-of-this-world rainbow. (Image credit: Ron Miller)
These glittering rings would neither rise nor set, and would always appear in the exact same place in the sky. These cosmic landmarks would be visible both day and night.
Bright rock
Earth's hypothetical rings would differ in one key way from Saturn's; they wouldn't have ice. Earth lies much closer to the sun than Saturn does, so radiation from our star would cause any ice in Earth's rings to sublime away.
Still, even if Earth's rings were made of rock, that might not mean they would look dark. Moon rock is largely grey, and the moon reflects only about 12% of the light falling onto it. But the full moon "looks really bright because there's a lot of light falling on it, and because it's so close to us," said Caleb Scharf, director of astrobiology at Columbia University in New York City.
How bright might Earth's rings get? "About 1,300 watts of sunlight per square meter hits the top of Earth's atmosphere ," Scharf told Live Science. "If rings reflected even 10% of that, we're talking about each square meter reflecting as much light as produced by a 130-watt light bulb."
What the sky might look like during an equinox if Earth had rings. (Image credit: Ron Miller)
Closer than the moon
How close might the rings get to Earth? Would they interfere with airplanes?
The absolute closest the rings could get is somewhere above the atmospheric layer known as the thermosphere, which reaches up as high as 620 miles (1,000 km), according to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. So, commercial airplanes, which typically fly up to 7 miles (11 km), would be fine. (We'll discuss satellites and space travel later.) Meanwhile, atmospheric drag would bring down any ring matter that descended too low. If this happened, the rocky material would burn up like a shooting star in a fiery streak.
Related: Amazing infographic: Earth's atmosphere top to bottom
Just how far might the rings extend from Earth? Any object orbiting within a certain distance of Earth, known as its Roche limit, will break apart due to the force of Earth's gravity . Once broken, these shattered objects would join the rocky ring. For instance, any object the size of Earth's moon that fell below about 7,365 miles (11,850 km) from Earth's surface would disintegrate, forming a ring around the planet.
All in all, Earth's outer rings would likely orbit even closer to our planet than does Earth's moon.
Ring or rings? Moon or moons?
Whether or not Earth sported one ring or many depends on whether Earth also possessed "shepherd moons," small moons that clear gaps between rings and help keep particles confined within a ring, much like a sheepdog keeps sheep from wandering astray. Saturn's rings possess a number of shepherd moons, such as Prometheus. Shepherd moons in Earth's rings might resemble shining pearls circling around the edges of the rings.
It's unlikely Earth could have long-lasting rings if it continues to possess as large a moon as it does now, Scharf said. The same gravitational forces the moon exerts on Earth to cause tides might disrupt the rings, causing them to fall apart, he explained.
Falling shadows
Depending on the time of day, the season and the latitude the viewer is located, Earth's shadow might fall on the rings. Earth's shadow would look oval-shaped on its rings, "and move as time goes by," Scharf said. (Earth's shadow would look oval-shaped instead of circular for much the same reason that your shadow looks stretched out compared to you.)
(Image credit: Ron Miller)
During the equinoxes, the sun would lie on the same plane as the rings. At these times, at Earth's middle latitudes, the planet's shadow would appear to stretch across the rings to its greatest extent, plunging large portions of the rings into darkness. At the equator, the rings would appear to divide the sun, casting a dramatic shadow over half the world.
(Image credit: Ron Miller)
Likewise, the rings themselves would cast shadows on Earth. During the summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the winter in the Southern Hemisphere, the rings would cast their shadows on the Southern Hemisphere, and vice versa. This could mean that winters in both hemispheres might be colder and more severe than they are on our Earth. However, at the same time, "ringshine" might increase the total light Earth receives, "so the climate effects are tricky to pinpoint," Scharf said.
The mythologies surrounding the rings
As celestial landmarks that never change their position in the sky, the rings would almost certainly play a key role in mythologies. At temperate latitudes, one might imagine that the rings' appearance as an arch might symbolize a bridge between heaven and Earth.
Since the rings' appearance changes with latitude, so too might people's interpretations of them. Given how wars on Earth have stemmed from opposing views of religious doctrine, one might wonder what might have happened as ancient people started roaming the planet and seeing the rings change in appearance.
And the rings might very well entice people to wander the world. Given how the rings can resemble giant arches, explorers might want to see where the arches touch down, much like a person aspires to see what's at the ends of a rainbow.
In addition, Scharf noted that around the edges of Earth's shadow on the rings, one would see light that was filtered through Earth's atmosphere. "You might get some funky colors at the shadow's edges, maybe a blood-red rim ," he said. "I could imagine all sorts of mythologies built around that."
Moreover, depending on the latitude and the season, the path of the sun may cross behind the rings. The particles making up the rings would likely scatter the sun's light, making it appear hazy or veiled. "It's interesting to think what spiritual significance a civilization might ascribe to the sun going behind the rings," Scharf said.
A guide for navigators
The rings might potentially serve as extraordinary navigational aids. One might wonder how they might support travel, exploration, trade, migration and invasion.
For example, for centuries, sailors had trouble pinpointing their exact position on the Earth in latitude and longitude when they were at sea and out of sight of land. Navigators long had ways of finding their latitude using astronomy — by looking at the altitude of the sun by day or the North Star or Southern Cross by night — but finding a way to calculate longitude took a breakthrough in timepiece engineering.
Rings in the sky could potentially help navigators estimate longitude a number of ways. Shepherd moons could trek around Earth along predictable orbits, like moving hands on a clock. The rings of Saturn possess mysterious spokes , likely related to Saturn's magnetic field, and any spokes on Earth's rings could act like time markers on a clock face. The way that Earth's shadow moves on the rings could also serve as a giant cosmic timepiece. "You could really get a sophisticated kind of timekeeping system with the rings," Scharf said.
The rings and space
Depending on the placement of the rings, satellites and spacecraft could, in principle, orbit underneath them. For instance, the International Space Station orbits about 250 miles (400 km) above Earth's surface, potentially below the rings, whereas geostationary satellites orbit about 22,235 miles (35,786 km) above Earth's surface, likely well above the rings. However, the rings would likely scatter any radio signals from satellites and spacecraft in equatorial orbits, limiting their usefulness.
Still, the rings would likely interfere with astronomy, hindering ground views of the nighttime sky, Scharf said. That might in turn limit what scientists on a ringed planet might know about key details of the cosmos, such as the existence of other galaxies, or the expansion of the universe .
The rings of Mars and Earth
How likely is it that rocky worlds could possess rings? Previous work found that Mars' moon Phobos might once have existed as rings around the Red Planet . As Phobos gets closer to Mars over time, it will likely get torn into a ring again, over the course of millions of years.
It's possible thatEarth already possessed a ring. Our planet was born about 4.5 billion years ago, and previous research suggests the moon arose a short time later. The prevailing explanation for the moon's origin is that it resulted from the collision of two protoplanets, or embryonic worlds. One of those was the newborn Earth, and the other was a Mars-size rock called Theia, named after the mother of the moon in Greek mythology. The impact would have generated a ring of debris around Earth that eventually coalesced into the moon.
In essence, although the vision of a ringed Earth might seem like a fantasy, it might have once — for a moment in time — been true.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-21--Live Science podcast 'Life's Little Mysteries' Episode 49: Mysterious Bacteria

In this episode of Life 's Little Mysteries , we 'll take a closer look at the mysterious single-cell microbes that are simpler than most other organisms , yet are still intriguingly complex : bacteria .
What are bacteria and what do they look like ?
How long have bacteria been around ?
How do scientists study bacteria , and how do such simple organisms eat and reproduce ?
Listen to Life 's Little Mysteries Episode 49 : Mysterious Bacteria , to find out !
You 'll also hear about why bacteria are necessary for our health ( though some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how carpenter ants and Blochmannia bacteria have a bond that goes back 51 million years .
Now , neither can live without the other .
Guest scientist : Ehab Abouheif , professor of biology at McGill University in Montreal , Canada Listen to Life 's Little Mysteries , Episode 49 : Mysterious Bacteria below or on Audioboom , or subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify , so you don ’ t miss out on new episodes .
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for even more Life 's Little Mysteries , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Little Mysteries articles .
You can also join the conversation in our forums , where you can pose Life 's Little Mysteries questions of your own , or even suggest topics for upcoming podcast episodes .

In this episode of Life's Little Mysteries, we'll take a closer look at the mysterious single-cell microbes that are simpler than most other organisms, yet are still intriguingly complex: bacteria.
What are bacteria and what do they look like? How long have bacteria been around? How do scientists study bacteria, and how do such simple organisms eat and reproduce? Listen to Life's Little Mysteries Episode 49: Mysterious Bacteria, to find out!
You'll also hear about why bacteria are necessary for our health (though some species can cause deadly diseases), and how carpenter ants and Blochmannia bacteria have a bond that goes back 51 million years. Now, neither can live without the other.
Co-hosts: Jeanna Bryner (Live Science editor-in-chief) and Mindy Weisberger (Live Science senior writer)
Guest host: Yasemin Saplakoglu (Live Science staff writer)
Guest scientist: Ehab Abouheif, professor of biology at McGill University in Montreal, Canada
Listen to Life's Little Mysteries, Episode 49: Mysterious Bacteria below or on Audioboom, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, so you don’t miss out on new episodes.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for even more Life's Little Mysteries, and catch up on the latest Life's Little Mysteries articles. You can also join the conversation in our forums, where you can pose Life's Little Mysteries questions of your own, or even suggest topics for upcoming podcast episodes.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-20--Amazing images: The best science photos of the week

Each week at Live Science we find the most interesting and informative articles we can .
Along the way , we uncover some amazing and cool images .
Here you 'll discover the most incredible photos we found this week , and the remarkable stories behind them .
Just after the turn of the first millennium A.D. , a young child living in Egypt contracted a deadly illness — most likely — and died .
His tiny body was prepared for and burial ; some of his organs were removed , his remains were wrapped in criss-crossed linen bindings and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the front of his mummy .
This so-called `` mummy portrait '' was part of a popular tradition among some Egyptians in Greco-Roman times , from about the first through the third centuries A.D .
But how accurate were these portraits ?
To find out , a team of scientists in Austria and Germany this little boy 's body and created a 3D digital reconstruction of his face .
The CT scan revealed that the boy 's brain and some of his abdominal organs had been removed , a common practice during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the boy 's age at his death , showing he was about 3 or 4 years old ( significantly younger than his portrait made him look ) .
Read more : Facial reconstruction reveals Egyptian 'mummy portrait ' was accurate except for one detail Feast your eyes on some of the most amusing animal photos ever , as the finalists are unveiled for the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2020 .
The competition is designed to raise awareness of the need for conservation , and it 's run in association with Born Free .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on October 22 , but for now , have a chortle at these amazing photos -- including a smiley Mediterranean parrotfish ( Sparisoma cretense ) , a photo-bombing giraffe and a majestically barfing penguin .
Read more : These could be the funniest animal pictures ever One of the largest , most unstable glaciers in is sliding into the ocean .
That 's due , in large part , to hidden rivers of warm water that lubricate its underbelly , more so now than ever in the era of .
Now , researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nathaniel B Palmer ( pictured here ) know what those unseen channels look like .
By using equipment that can measure fluctuations in gravity , radar and seismic waves , scientists were able to map precisely where these glacier-melting channels cut through the deep seabed .
`` It was fantastic to be able to map the channels and cavity system hidden beneath the ice shelf ; they are deeper than expected — some are more than 800 meters [ 2,600 feet ] deep , '' study lead researcher Tom Jordan , an aero-geophysicist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` They form the critical link between the ocean and the glacier . ''
The oldest known sperm in the world has been discovered , locked in a piece of amber that solidified when behemoths like Spinosaurus dominated the .
The giant sperm comes from a much more miniscule creature than the toothy Spinosaurus : an ostracod , a crustacean that looks like a shrimp dressing up as a clam for Halloween .
Known colloquially as `` seed shrimp , '' ostracods typically grow just a few tenths of an inch long .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shell , from which tiny , crab-like appendages sometimes protrude .
There are thousands of ostracod species alive today , and many boast giant sperm cells , the longest of which unspools to a jaw-dropping 0.46 inches ( 11.8 millimeters ) , far longer than the animal that produces it .
Now , scientists have found an example of this enormous sperm in an ostracod from the , 100 million years ago .
It 's the oldest unambiguous example of any animal sperm by 50 million years .
Read more : 100 million-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And it 's giant Divers from Finland have made an unexpected discovery while exploring the depths of the Baltic Sea , finding an incredibly well-preserved shipwreck dating back almost 400 years .
Volunteer divers from the nonprofit Badewanne team more often come across wrecked 20th-century relics sunk during the sea battles of World War I and WWII , so uncovering what appears to be a largely undamaged Dutch merchant vessel from the 17th century was a huge surprise .
The ship , an example of a Dutch 'fluit ' ( or ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gulf of Finland , in the easternmost waters of the Baltic .
Showing only minor damage sustained from subsequent pelagic trawling with fishing nets , the vessel is otherwise frozen in a kind of 17th-century stasis , the team says , thanks to the properties of the water in this part of the sea — where a combination of low levels of salinity , temperature , and light can enable sunk wrecks to .
Read more : Eerily well-preserved 17th-century ship found in the dark waters of the Baltic Sea Gin brewed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flavored with the smoked dung of Icelandic sheep .
This beverage collection sounds like a menu at the world 's worst Happy Hour , but it 's actually part of a new exhibit at the aptly named Disgusting Food Museum in Malmö , Sweden .
The museum is already known for its , such as maggoty cheese from Sardinia , Icelandic fermented shark flesh and Peruvian frog smoothies .
For the new three-month-long exhibit , which opened to the public on Sept. 5 , `` we have found the strangest , most interesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' museum director Andreas Ahrens said in a statement .
One highlight is a Scottish beer that is the strongest beer in the world , with a staggering 55 % alcohol by volume , or ABV ( on average , beer is usually about 4.5 % ABV ) .
But the high alcohol content is n't the weirdest aspect of this Scottish beer — the intoxicating brew is served inside a taxidermy squirrel .
Read more : Squirrel beer , ant gin and poop wine are served up in Disgusting Food Museum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , two that had likely dozed off in an underground burrow drew their last breaths before they were buried alive , possibly by a volcanic eruption , a new study finds .
The pristinely preserved remains of these two nearly 4-foot-long ( 1.1 meters ) reptiles looked so serene that researchers named the newly discovered species Changmiania liaoningensis , which means `` eternal sleeper from Liaoning '' in Chinese .
`` It is tentatively hypothesized that both Changmiania liaoningensis specimens were suddenly entrapped in a collapsed underground burrow while they were resting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postures '' and why their remains were n't damaged by the elements or by scavengers , the researchers wrote in the study .
Read more : New 'eternal sleeper ' dinosaur species was entombed while still alive An unexplained chemical has turned up in the upper atmosphere of Venus .
Scientists are tentatively suggesting it could be a sign of life .
The unknown chemical is phosphine gas ( PH3 ) , a substance that on mostly comes from anaerobic ( non- -breathing ) bacteria or `` anthropogenic activity '' — stuff humans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ atmospheres of gas giant planets , due to chemical processes that occur deep in their pressurized depths to bind together three and a atom .
Scientists do n't have any explanation for how it could appear on Venus ; no known chemical processes would generate phosphine there .
And yet , it seems to be there , and no one knows of anything that could make phosphine on Venus except for living organisms .
But phosphine on Venus does n't necessarily mean life on Venus , the authors wrote .
They raised the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only known way of making phosphine on a planet without a gas giant 's super-high atmospheric pressures .
But it 's just as possible that some previously-unknown chemical process is producing the gas .
Read more : Possible hint of life discovered on Venus One of Germany 's most famous ancient artifacts may not be what it seems , if a new study is to be believed .
Fierce debate over the Nebra Sky Disk has been reignited by a new study that suggests it is at least 1,000 years younger than previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any of the elaborate meanings proposed for it .
The 12-inch-wide ( 30 centimeters ) bronze disk inlaid with gold circles , arcs and crescents was reportedly unearthed in 1999 near the town of Nebra , in Germany 's Saxony-Anhalt state .
It was widely hailed as one of the most stunning ancient artifacts ever found .
But controversy has surrounded it since its discovery .
Writing this month in the journal Archäologische Informationen , archaeologists argue that the artifact could not have been unearthed at the location near Nebra , .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the sky disk 's provenance is that scientific evidence suggests it was not part of a hoard of Bronze Age axes , swords and bracelets allegedly unearthed by treasure hunters near Nebra in 1999 , although it was initially thought to be .
Archaeological evidence , soil analysis and studies of trace isotopes ( variations of an element with different numbers of neutrons ) in the metals of the disk show it must have been found somewhere else , and then sold as part of the hoard from Nebra .
Read more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' thought to be oldest representation of the heavens Reindeer hunters in Siberia have unearthed the remains of an extinct ice age beast : a mummified — the only adult of its species ever discovered that still has intact soft tissues , including its fur and even its black nose , according to news reports .
The hunters found the cave bear ( Ursus spelaeus ) mummy on Bolshoy Lyakhovsky island , in the East Siberian Sea .
Meanwhile , on the mainland in the Republic of Sakha ( also known as Yakutia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a cave bear cub , according to a statement from the North-Eastern Federal University ( NEFU ) in Yakutsk .
`` This is the first and only find of its kind — a whole bear carcass with soft tissues , '' Lena Grigorieva , a molecular paleontologist at NEFU , said in the statement , referring to the mummy found on Bolshoy Lyakhovsky island .
`` It is completely preserved , with all internal organs in place '' Read more : Cave bear mummy discovered in Siberia still has its internal organs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Above : 101 Stunning Images from Orbit • From Big Bang to Present : Snapshots of Our Universe Through Time

Each week at Live Science we find the most interesting and informative articles we can. Along the way, we uncover some amazing and cool images. Here you'll discover the most incredible photos we found this week, and the remarkable stories behind them.
Gargantuan "growlers"
(Image credit: RAF)
In July 2017, a gargantuan iceberg spanning five times the area of New York's five boroughs snapped off the coast of Antarctica and began to drift northward.
Though its edges have crumbled considerably since then, the iceberg — named A-68a — is still the largest on Earth , and it's currently barreling toward an island wildlife refuge in the South Atlantic Ocean. New aerial footage taken by the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF) reveals just what that island might be up against.
For starters, the RAF footage really drives home how massive this ice giant is. (As of early April, A-68a measured about 2,000 square miles, or 5,100 square kilometers, in area, Live Science previously reported ). The berg's steep walls tower 100 feet (30 meters) above the sea, according to RAF News , and are gouged with tunnels, fissures and caves. Huge chunks of ice, or "growlers," are rapidly cracking off on all sides, leaving behind a trail of debris that could impede boat traffic in the future.
[Read more: World's largest iceberg still barreling toward penguin habitat, new footage confirms ]
Clear head, nine arms, can't lose
(Image credit: Kyodo News via Getty Images)
A nine-armed octopus caught off Japan's coast nearly ended up being dinner, until the family preparing it noticed its extra limb and sent it to a museum instead, according to news sources. While unusual, this extra appendage — which wasn't fully formed, but a small offshoot on a regular arm — isn't unheard of in octopuses, said Michael Vecchione, an invertebrate zoologist at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., who was not involved with this octopus's discovery.
Octopuses are capable of regenerating their arms, but "sometimes regeneration doesn't work quite right," Vecchione told Live Science. "If an arm gets damaged, it might regenerate wrong; it could wind up with extra tissue growing out, and that extra tissue could turn into an arm."
The nine-armed oddity was caught in a trap with three other octopuses on Nov. 13 in Shizugawa Bay, in the northeastern town of Minamisanriku, Japan, according to The Mainichi , a Japanese newspaper.
[Read more: Rare 9-armed octopus found off Japan coast ]
The sound of a supernova
(Image credit: NASA)
In space, nobody can hear you scream — or explode, or collapse, or slowly collide with a neighboring galaxy. But now, thanks to a new " data sonification " program at NASA, you can at least get a sense of what some of the most extreme phenomena in the universe might sound like when converted to sound played by Earthly instruments.
To hear what that sounds like, we turn to NASA's Chandra X-ray center — which has been imaging distant galaxies with its Chandra X-ray observatory for 20 years now. In their new initiative, Chandra researchers have taken three iconic images from their archives and translated different frequencies of light into different pitches of sound.
The first video shows the crab nebula (a supernova remnant powered by a windy neutron star , shown above). In NASA's data sonification of the nebula, X-ray light (blue and white) is represented by brass instruments; optical light (purple) is played by string instruments; and infrared light (pink) is represented by woodwinds. The sounds converge near the center of the nebula, where a rapidly swirling pulsar is blasting gas and radiation in all directions. Listen to this cosmic symphony (and two others) at the link below.
[Read more: This is what a supernova sounds like, according to NASA ]
Pterosaur's missing cousin
(Image credit: Rodolfo Nogueira)
Nearly nothing is known about the family tree of pterosaurs — iconic reptiles that flew alongside the dinosaurs . These now-extinct beasts appear in the fossil record with already developed wings and senses adapted for flying, with researchers having nary a clue about their immediate evolutionary history.
But now, the pterosaur's family tree has a new branch; an enigmatic group of small reptiles, known as lagerpetids, might be the closest-known pterosaur relatives on record, the researchers of a new study say.
Unlike pterosaurs, however, lagerpetids did not fly. "Now, we have an idea of what a flightless pterosaur relative would look like," study co-researcher Sterling Nesbitt, an associate professor of geosciences at Virginia Tech, told Live Science.
[Read more: Missing link in pterosaur origins discovered ]
The changing face of ice
(Image credit: NOAA/Photo courtesy of Caitlin Bailey, GFOE, The Hidden Ocean 2016: Chukchi Borderlands)
From vanishing sea ice to blistering air temperatures to zombie fires , climate change is reshaping the Arctic. And that transformation may be permanent, researchers said on Tuesday (Dec. 8) at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).
The Arctic has warmed and melted at an alarmingly accelerating pace over the last 15 years, and the impacts are accumulating so rapidly that "there's no reason to think that in 30 years anything will be as it is today," Rick Thoman, an Alaska climate specialist with the International Arctic Research Center (IARC) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), said at the conference, held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Tuesday.
This year's news was not good: June snow cover across the Eurasian Arctic was at its lowest in 54 years; coastal permafrost erosion is increasing; and glaciers and ice sheets in Greenland continued a trend "of significant ice loss," according to the report.
[Read more: Dramatic transformation of the Arctic landscape may be permanent ]
Starship down
(Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX's Starship spaceflight system just took a big step on its path to Mars. The latest Starship prototype, a shiny silver vehicle known as SN8, launched on an epic high-altitude test flight on Dec. 9, taking off at 5:45 p.m. EST from SpaceX's facility near the South Texas village of Boca Chica.
The goal was to soar about 7.8 miles (12.5 kilometers) into the sky, perform some complex aerial maneuvers — including a "belly flop" like the one the final Starship will perform when coming back to Earth on operational flights — and then land safely near the launch stand. The 165-foot-tall (50 meters) SN8 appeared to notch all of these big milestones, except for the final one: The vehicle hit its landing mark but came in too fast, exploding in a dramatic fireball 6 minutes and 42 seconds after liftoff.
SN8's rapid unplanned disassembly did nothing to dampen the spirits of SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk, who was thrilled by the results of today's flight.
[Read more: SpaceX's Starship SN8 prototype soars on epic test launch, with explosive landing ]
Amazonian universe
Billions of lasers shot from a helicopter flying over the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest have detected a vast network of long-abandoned circular and rectangular-shaped villages dating from 1300 to 1700, a new study finds.
The round villages all had remarkably similar layouts, with elongated mounds circling a central plaza, like marks on a clock. "These latter elongated mounds, when seen from above, look like the rays of the sun, which gives them the common name of 'Sóis,'" the Portuguese word for "suns," the researchers wrote in the study.
The discovery is part of a new archaeological focus on the pre-Columbian Amazon. Within the past 20 years, researchers have learned that the rainforest's southern rim was home to a great diversity of soil-sculpting cultures that engineered the landscape before the Europeans arrived. Within the past decade, scientists have uncovered the remnants of so-called "mound villages," which are shaped as circles or rectangles, and connected by road networks.
[Read more: Archaeologists find vast network of Amazon villages laid out like the cosmos ]
The sky is falling
(Image credit: ESA)
Have you ever seen 40,000 shooting stars blaze across the sky at the same time?
If you'd like to, the European Space Agency (ESA) is offering you two options: Either stare at the night sky for about half a million years as our solar system drifts steadily through the Milky Way (some patience required) — or, watch a new 60-second time-lapse simulation of the same thing, courtesy of the ESA's Gaia space observatory.
In the new simulation, 40,000 stars — all located within 325 light-years of Earth's sun — whiz through space, leaving long trails of light behind them. Each point of light represents one real object in the Milky Way, and each shining trail shows that object's projected movement through the galaxy over the next 400,000 years. Brighter, faster streaks are located closer to our solar system, while dimmer, slower ones live much farther away.
[Read more: Epic time-lapse shows what the Milky Way will look like 400,000 years from now ]
Gold in the garden
(Image credit: © The Trustees of the British Museum)
A family in England was weeding their garden when they unearthed a valuable treasure — a buried hoard of gold coins dating back to the 1400s, depicting English monarchs from Edward IV to Henry VIII.
The hoard — a stash of 63 gold coins and one silver coin — contains money minted over a period of nearly 100 years, from the late 15th to the 16th centuries. Four of the coins feature Henry VIII and, curiously, one of the initials of three of his wives: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour.
Upon finding the cache, the family, in the New Forest district of Hampshire, a county in southeastern England, notified the British Museum, which runs the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS). This program partners with local people who find historical artifacts in the United Kingdom, so the findings can be documented and studied, the British Museum said in a statement Thursday (Dec. 10).
[Read more: Gold coin stash from time of Henry VIII found in English garden ]
Enigma of the deep
(Image credit: Florian Huber/WWF)
Divers trying to remove old fishing nets from the Baltic sea have accidentally stumbled on a Nazi code-making machine. The Enigma machine, as it's called, looks a bit like a typewriter. In fact, the diver who found the device on the ocean floor initially thought that's what the artifact was, according to AFP . But the diving team, on assignment for the conservation group World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), quickly realized that they had something much stranger.
During World War II, Enigma machines were used to encode German military messages, in hopes of preventing Allied powers from learning about troop movements and other plans. The devices consisted of a keyboard and a series of rotors that did the encoding. The rotors substituted different letters for the ones typed in; different Enigma machines used between three and eight rotors, which moved independently after each keystroke so that the same initial letter typed into the machine would appear as multiple different letters in the final code.
The Enigma machine found by the WWF diving crew was at the bottom of the Bay of Gelting in northeast Germany. It had three rotors, making it the type used on warships, not U-boats. That suggests that the machine may have been tossed overboard in the final days of World War II, in an attempt to keep the technology out of enemy hands, historian Jann Witt of the German Naval Association told the DPA news agency.
[Read more: Nazi 'Enigma' machine found at the bottom of the Baltic Sea ]
Originally published on Live Science.