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Europe Seeks to Attract Scientists Following Trump’s Freeze on U.S. Funds

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On Monday, the European Union kicked off its initiative to draw scientists and researchers to Europe through grants and new policy proposals following the freezing of government funding related to diversity, equity, and inclusion by the Trump administration.

“A few years back, it would have seemed unimaginable that one of the world’s major democracies would terminate a research initiative simply because it included the word ‘diversity,'” stated French President Emmanuel Macron at the “Choose Science” event in Paris.

“No one would have believed it possible for a significant democracy to hinder a researcher’s chances of obtaining a visa,” Macron remarked. “Yet, here we are.”

Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, joined Macron at Sorbonne University, announcing a new “super grant” program aimed at offering “long-term perspectives and a prime viewpoint” in various disciplines.

She specified plans to allocate 500 million euros ($566 million) between 2025 and 2027 to “make Europe a beacon for researchers,” with funds directed to the European Research Council, which boasts a budget exceeding 16 billion euros ($18 billion) from 2021 to 2027.

Von der Leyen emphasized that the 27 EU nations aim to “institutionalize the freedom of scientific inquiry” with new legislation. “As global threats increase, Europe will not compromise on this principle,” she asserted.

Macron announced that the French government will shortly present new initiatives to bolster investments in science and research.

Recently, hundreds of university researchers in the U.S. faced funding cuts from the National Science Foundation due to an executive order from President Trump, impacting programs focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and misinformation.

To date, over 380 grant projects have been eliminated, including efforts to combat internet censorship in China and Iran, as well as initiatives working with Indigenous communities to study environmental changes in Alaska’s Arctic.

Several of the affected grants aimed to diversify the demographics of individuals pursuing studies in science, technology, and engineering, prompting protests from scientists, researchers, and doctors in the streets.

While not explicitly naming the Trump administration, von der Leyen characterized the undermining of free and open research as a “huge miscalculation.”

“Science knows no borders, gender, ethnicity, or political affiliation,” she declared. “We believe that diversity is a vital human asset and the lifeblood of science. It is among the most valuable global resources and must be safeguarded.”

With von der Leyen seizing this opportunity, she is promoting European scientific avenues and leveraging the shift in U.S. policies. Trade relations have altered since Trump took office in January, including a tariff war that began last month.

The former German defense minister and trained medical doctor has committed to addressing obstacles faced by scientists and researchers, particularly regarding excessive bureaucracy and business access.

Macron stated that scientific research should not be dictated by a limited number of individuals.

Macron concluded, asserting that Europe “must become a sanctuary” for scientists and researchers, sending a clear message: “If you value freedom, come here to support our research, help us improve, and invest in our future.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Moon freeze may solve Stonehenge mystery in rare event

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Stonehenge, an ancient prehistoric temple in southern England, remains a fascinating mystery. Construction began around 5,000 years ago, but the purpose of this enigmatic site remains unknown as its builders left no written records.

Analysis has shown that the massive stones of Stonehenge were transported from distant quarries, some weighing over 20 tonnes.

The alignment of Stonehenge with the sun during the solstices is well-documented, but its potential connection with the moon has intrigued experts. Scholars are exploring whether Stonehenge was not only designed to align with the sun but also with the moon, a remarkable achievement for a society predating the invention of the wheel.

On June 21, 2024, experts are investigating the relationship between Stonehenge and the lunar cycles as a rare lunar standstill event unfolds.

Professor Michael Parker Pearson, a renowned expert in British prehistory, speculates that Stonehenge’s builders may have aimed to unify people, ancestors, land, and the cosmos by linking the movements of the sun and moon.

The lunar standstill, occurring once every 18.6 years, results in the moon reaching its most extreme northern and southern positions in the night sky. This phenomenon, unlike the annual solstices tied to the sun, creates a unique celestial display.

While Stonehenge’s alignment with the solstices is well-known, its relationship with the lunar cycles remains less understood. Research indicates that burials at Stonehenge predate the arrival of the large stones, and possible alignments suggest a connection with the lunar standstill phenomenon.

An ongoing study by experts from Oxford, Leicester, and Bournemouth universities aims to delve into the significance of the moon in Stonehenge’s construction, potentially reshaping our understanding of this ancient monument.

Experts like Professor Parker Pearson, Professor Ruggles, and Dr. Chadburn are at the forefront of unraveling the mysteries of Stonehenge and its celestial connections.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Winter causes Mars’ largest volcano to freeze

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View of the frost on Mount Olympus

ESA/DLR/Free University of Berlin

As winter mornings dawn on Mars, the summits of the planet’s largest volcanoes are covered in frost — another indication of the presence of water on the Red Planet.

We already know that Mars has large deposits of ice in the form of polar ice caps and possibly buried beneath the surface near the equator, but scientists have yet to observe surface water anywhere else on the planet.

Now, Admas Valantinus Valantinas, of Brown University in Rhode Island, and his colleagues found frost, which appears to form only in the mornings during the Martian winter, near the summits of volcanoes in the Tharsis region, including Olympus Mons, one of the solar system’s largest volcanoes. “This is really exciting, because it not only shows how dynamic the Martian water system is, but also that water could be found in varying amounts basically everywhere on Mars,” Valantinas says.

He and his team used a color camera on the European Space Agency’s Trace Gas Orbiter, which studies the Martian atmosphere, to take morning photographs of the icy volcano’s summit and found widespread blue frost. They calculated the surface temperature and found that it was too hot for carbon dioxide to freeze, and that similar-looking frozen carbon dioxide was not the cause.

Ice could form from gases erupting from volcanoes, but if so, do Valantinas and his team expect to see it year-round? Instead, the fact that it only appears during the colder parts of the year makes it more likely that the frost is the result of water vapor in the atmosphere freezing.

Knowing where ice forms on the Martian surface, especially from atmospheric processes, is crucial for accurate weather forecasting, he said. Susan Conway A researcher at the University of Nantes in France, she says we know that polar ice flows into the atmosphere, but we don’t know where it goes. “This is a really cool observation, because now we actually know where it goes.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com