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Melting of Northern Greenland’s Ice Dome: Past Events and Future Risks

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Greenland drill cargo awaiting transport by ski plane at Prudhoe Dome

Researchers Working at Prudhoe Dome in Greenland

Caleb K. Wolcott-George

The ice dome located in northern Greenland has previously melted completely under temperatures expected to return this century. This significant discovery offers valuable insights into the speed at which melting ice sheets can influence global sea levels.

In a groundbreaking study, researchers drilled 500 meters into Prudhoe Dome, an extensive ice formation the size of Luxembourg situated in northwestern Greenland, gathering seven meters of sediment and rock core. Infrared dating indicated that the core’s surface sand was sun-bleached approximately 7,000 years ago—corroborating that the dome fully melted as the planet emerged from its last glacial maximum due to cyclical changes in Earth’s orbital dynamics.

During that era, summer temperatures were 3°C to 5°C warmer than today’s averages. Alarmingly, human-induced climate change could bring back similar temperatures by 2100.

“This provides direct evidence that the ice sheet is highly sensitive to even the modest warming seen during the Holocene,” stated Yarrow Axford, a Northwestern University researcher not involved in the study.

With the ongoing melting of Greenland’s ice sheet, projections indicate a potential sea level rise of tens of centimeters to a meter within this century. To refine these predictions, scientists must enhance their understanding of how quickly various sections of the ice sheet are dissipating.

The Prudhoe Dome core is the first of multiple cores analyzed by the GreenDrill project, funded by the National Science Foundation and featuring researchers from various U.S. universities. Their goal is to extract crucial climate data from beneath the ice sheets, one of Earth’s least-explored areas.

Notably, deposits excavated in 1966 from beneath the ice at Camp Century—a U.S. nuclear military facility operational for eight years during the Cold War—revealed that Greenland lacked ice around 400,000 years ago. Further, a rock core taken in 1993 from underneath Summit Station illustrated that the entire ice sheet has melted as recently as 1.1 million years ago.

However, the GreenDrill project extends its research deeper beneath the ice, collecting samples from multiple locations near Greenland’s northern coast.

“The crucial question is when did the edge of Greenland experience melting in the past?” posed Caleb Walcott-George, part of a new research team at the University of Kentucky. “This is where the initial sea level rise will transpire.”

Current ice sheet models indicate uncertainty regarding whether northern or southern Greenland will melt at a faster rate in the future. This study bolsters the evidence that warming post-last glacial maximum manifested earlier and with greater intensity in northern Greenland, according to Axford.

Potential explanations may involve feedback mechanisms, such as the loss of Arctic sea ice, which could have allowed more ocean heat to penetrate the atmosphere in the far north.

By confirming that Prudhoe Dome melted under a warming of 3°C to 5°C, this study adds credibility to ice sheet models that predict similar outcomes, asserted Edward Gasson, who was not part of the research at the University of Exeter, UK.

“This research is vital for recalibrating surface melting models: When will we really begin to lose this ice?” Gasson emphasized.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Parts of the US may be able to see the Northern lights this Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving might bring cool and rainy weather to many parts of the country, but a solar storm could offer some Americans a chance to witness the beauty of the Northern Lights.

Thanks to a filament eruption on Monday, a mild to moderate geomagnetic storm is expected on Thursday and Friday, as the sun releases a cloud of high-energy plasma towards Earth, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

This eruption has the potential to illuminate the night sky in the U.S. with shades of green, red, and purple over the Thanksgiving holiday.

The brightness of the aurora and how long it will be visible depends on the strength of the solar storm and whether it reaches G1 or G2 conditions, according to NOAA meteorologist Mike Betwi.

Residents in states like Washington, Montana, Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine are in prime locations to witness the Northern Lights this weekend, with those in northern parts of Idaho, Wyoming, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire also having a chance, based on NOAA’s predictions.

NOAA experts anticipate that the Northern Lights will likely be visible from Thursday evening until early Friday morning, but it’s uncertain when and where the sky will light up during the geomagnetic storm. You can monitor the latest activity and forecasts using NOAA’s Aurora Dashboard and experimental tools.

Optimal viewing conditions will be in areas with clear skies, although cloudy weather in the Northeast, much of New England, and near the Great Lakes could obstruct the view.

Unlike a previous strong solar storm earlier this year, experts do not anticipate major disruptions to communication systems in the U.S. unless the storm intensifies unexpectedly, according to Betwi.

The aurora borealis is typically visible at high altitudes, but a significant solar storm can cause it to be visible in areas much farther south than usual.

These solar storms occur when coronal mass ejections from the Sun send large plasma clouds into space, which when directed towards Earth, interact with the planet’s magnetic field and upper atmosphere, resulting in the glowing auroras.

NOAA is gearing up for the expected peak in solar activity next July, which is why the aurora has been visible further south multiple times this year.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Guide to observing the peak of the Northern Taurid meteor shower in November

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The annual Taurid meteor shower is back and it’s a two-part shooting star spectacle. The first half, Southern Taurus, already occurred in September. But if you missed it, the northern Taurid meteor shower is here!

This event is known for its bright and impressive fireball meteors that light up the sky. Learn how to accurately observe the Taurid meteor shower and discover more about its origins.

When will the Taurid meteor shower occur in 2024?

The Northern Taurid meteor shower will peak on the night of November 11, 2024 in the UK, US, and other countries. This is the time to see the most fireball shooting stars.

In 2024, Taurus in the North will be active from October 20th to December 10th. The closer you are to the peak, the more shooting stars you will witness.

Where should I look to see a fireball?

You can see Taurid meteors streaking across the sky, so lie down and look up. The shooting stars originate from the constellation Taurus, visible in winter near Orion.

To locate Taurus, look towards Orion’s belt and find Aldebaran. Use astronomy apps for guidance and view from a location with minimal light pollution for the best experience.

How many meteors can you see?

Most years, the Taurid meteor shower is weak, with only a few meteors visible per night. However, there can be more under perfect conditions, with up to five meteors per hour. These meteors often produce dramatic fireballs.

The Taurid meteor shower is a gamble – each night can bring a few small meteors or a display of fireballs.

What causes the Taurid meteor shower?

The Taurid meteor shower originates from Comet Encke, with the northern variation likely from an Encke offshoot known as 2004 TG10. Earth passes through the remains of asteroid 2004 TG10, creating the spectacle we see in the sky.

Comet Encke is believed to be a fragment of a larger comet that broke up thousands of years ago.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

From Northern Trains to Dolly Parton: Why Some Institutions Just Can’t Quit Faxing

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TThere’s not much that Dolly Parton and the head of Northern Rail can claim to have in common. Frustrated commuters from Manchester to Middlesbrough may complain that train services barely run from 9 to 5. What ties them together is that neither can live without their fax machine.

Banned by England’s NHS and banned from the Premier League after too many player transfers failed due to poor communications, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham this week announced that the screeching and buzzing They blamed the constant use of fax machines for making commuting miserable.

After listening to Northern executives explain the service’s dismal performance for half an hour, he thundered: “I heard that you still use fax machines…is that true?”

The bosses admitted that it was. They explained that a quarter of a century after email became popular and 40 years after faxing, in 2024 manning and crew processing is still done by fax. Burnham could hardly believe it. Faxes deliver epic news, such as Michael Jordan’s return to the NBA in 1995 (“I’m back,” he faxed) and archival invitations to Prince William and Duchess Kate’s wedding in 2011. There was a time when it was delivered. But this was a source of embarrassment. Mr Burnham was furious, saying the use of faxes showed “disrespect for the traveling public”.

“It looks like the rail industry will respond once the fax arrives,” he said.

The Science Museum in London and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington have fax machines in their collections, but Northern is not the only one that continues to use them.

Country superstar Parton refuses to text, sticking to her fax machine even when sending a message to her goddaughter Miley Cyrus. Miley Cyrus sometimes has someone scan her fax and send it to her via text. Scores of fax machines were still rotating at hospitals in Wales, a response to a Freedom of Information request in 2022 revealed. A survey published in July found that a quarter of companies in Germany still use faxes frequently, and many German hospitals use fax machines. Officials in Japan, who are “fax enthusiasts,” still use them, saying their technology, which turns streams of sound into pulses of ink, lowers the risk of hacking.

Jason Fitzpatrick, who runs the Gadget Museum in Suffolk and has a collection of 40 fax machines, said: “There are computers that have been working since the 1970s, and outdated technology is widely used in places like the Underground. “It’s part of what keeps us going,” he said. It is difficult to extract because it is very complex and custom designed. ‘There are some military systems that are still powered by decades-old computers,” he added.

Approval by fax for railway operators shows the extreme change in today’s technological advancements. This week, Elon Musk claimed that artificial intelligence “will probably be able to do anything that humans can do, probably within the next year or two.” But the rail group, which carries 85 million passengers a year, still relies on technology long since surpassed by computers.

Guardian readers haven’t completely given up on technology either. One person still sends faxes to his aunt, who is over 100 years old.

“Her arthritis makes it difficult for her to type text messages on the small, unwieldy buttons on her cell phone. The same goes for her hearing and phone calls. So we write to each other instead. ,” she said. “We type chatty messages, but she writes by hand in very large letters and uses very few wasted words. Now that most organizations don’t have fax numbers, she feels a little left out. I think you feel it.”

Another reader who works for a power company said, “It’s used as an emergency measure to secure last-minute wholesale energy deals when there’s an internet problem. Women’s lives are threatened.”

In 2018, then Health Secretary Matt Hancock ordered the removal of fax machines from the NHS, calling the technology “outdated” and claiming that “others got rid of their fax machines years ago”. NHS England does not know whether Mr Hancock’s order to “not collect data on the number of fax machines” was followed.

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Phil Collins is perhaps one of the most famous fax users ever since he was inaccurately reported to have said via fax in 1996 that he was divorcing his wife.

“I was in Frankfurt and the phone kept dying so I sent a fax,” he told an interviewer in 2016. “I was arranging a time to see the children and I mentioned that fact. [the marriage] It was over, but the fax translated that the relationship with me was over. I don’t know how it got into the newspaper. Well, I think so. I never asked her. ”

Last year, Britain’s telecoms regulator Ofcom announced that British Telecom would no longer be required to provide fax lines. He said this, ringing the death knell for fax machines.

“Unless you’ve moved or are representing a footballer who has actually moved, there may not have been much reason to use a fax in recent years.”

But even football agencies have largely abandoned the use of fax machines, which had the advantage of allowing quick and accurate contract exchanges. The final straw appears to have been the fax glitch that reportedly ruined David de Gea’s move from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2015. The Premier League moved to online registration applications in December 2018.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Minister issues apology for data breach in Northern Ireland special education system

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The education secretary of Northern Ireland has issued a sincere apology after the personal information of over 400 individuals who volunteered to assist with a review of special needs education was accidentally leaked.

The breach was discovered when the Department of Education mistakenly sent a spreadsheet to 174 individuals, containing the names, email addresses, and job titles of 407 people interested in participating in the review of special educational needs events in Northern Ireland.

The spreadsheet included comments from several individuals.

The department has requested the 174 recipients to delete the information they received and has confirmed that this has been done.

Many affected individuals have reported their concerns to authorities regarding the data breach.

Education Secretary Paul Givhan stated, “The Department of Education takes data protection seriously and deeply regrets this incident. We apologize to all those impacted and have informed them about the breach.”

Givan has ordered an internal audit department to conduct a thorough investigation into the data leak to prevent such incidents in the future.

An initial report has been submitted to the Information Commissioner’s Office, and updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.

This data breach is not the first in Northern Ireland, as a similar incident occurred last year involving the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Around 5,000 officers and staff from PSNI took legal action after personal details of approximately 9,500 employees were mistakenly disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information request.

The leaked information included employee last names, initials, ranks, grades, workplaces, and departments, and was later discovered to have reached dissident republicans.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Summer Northern Lights Viewing Guide: How to Witness the Spectacular Aurora Tonight

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Occasionally, you may have the opportunity to witness the Northern Lights from your home in the UK or US. Tonight (Wednesday, July 24) presents a moderate chance of seeing these mesmerizing lights.

Typically, the Northern Lights are only visible in countries like Canada, Russia, and Sweden, but they have been spotted from as far as Penzance in Cornwall earlier this year.

While it’s rare for the lights to reach Cornwall, seeing the Northern Lights from the UK is not uncommon, although it requires a severe geomagnetic storm, which is a rare occurrence.

When can I see the Aurora tonight?

The Space Weather Forecast suggests that a solar storm may hit the Earth this week, potentially making the Northern Lights visible in parts of the UK on Wednesday, July 24.

Unfortunately, the Northern Lights can only be seen in certain parts of the UK, such as the north of England and Northern Ireland.

In the United States, it may be visible across several northern and upper Midwestern states from New York to Idaho.

However, due to the season, the window for viewing the Northern Lights is limited.

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How to increase your chances of seeing the Aurora

To enhance your chances of witnessing the Northern Lights, it is advisable to move away from urban areas with clear skies and minimal light pollution.

Locate a north-facing shoreline for the best viewing experience with fewer obstructions and less light pollution.

What Causes the Northern Lights?

The Aurora Borealis occurs when high-energy particles from the Sun collide with lower-energy particles in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Geomagnetic storms can push the Aurora further south, making them visible in regions where they are not usually seen.

These storms are more likely to occur during the waning stages of a solar cycle, when coronal holes generate high-speed solar wind that disrupts Earth’s magnetic field.

Why do the auroras have different colors?

The color of the Northern Lights can vary based on the atoms in Earth’s atmosphere reacting with the Sun’s energy.

Green auroras are produced by high-altitude oxygen atoms, while blue, yellow, or red auroras indicate lower-altitude oxygen or nitrogen atoms colliding with solar particles.

What does “Aurora” mean?

The term “Aurora Borealis” roughly translates to “North Wind Dawn” and is a nickname for the Northern Lights. Boreas is the god of the north wind in ancient Greek mythology.

The Southern Lights are also known as “Aurora Australis”, translating to “southern wind dawn”. These lights can be influenced by geomagnetic storms and have been seen in locations like New Zealand and Australia.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Northern Europe may have been decimated by the plague 5,000 years ago

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The culture that built Stonehenge suffered a mysterious population decline

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The European Neolithic culture that produced megaliths like Stonehenge experienced a major decline about 5,400 years ago, and the best evidence now is that this was due to plague.

Sequencing of ancient DNA from 108 people living in northern Europe at the time revealed that the plague bacillus Plague Yersinia pestis The condition was present in 18 of those who died.

“We think the plague killed them.” Frederick Siersholm At the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

About 5,400 years ago, The population of Europe has declined sharplyWhy this happens, especially in the northern regions, has long been a mystery.

Ancient DNA studies over the past decade have revealed that local populations never fully recovered from the Neolithic decline, but were largely replaced by other peoples who migrated from the Eurasian steppes: in Britain, for example, by about 4,000 years ago, less than 10% of the population descended from the people who built Stonehenge.

Studies of ancient people have also uncovered some instances of the presence of the plague bacterium, suggesting an explanation that the plague may have wiped out the population of Europe, allowing steppe peoples to migrate with little resistance.

But not everyone agreed, arguing that occasional sporadic outbreaks were to be expected and not evidence of a major pandemic. Ben Krauss Keora The findings were published in 2021 at Kiel University in Germany. Plague Yersinia pestis He and his colleagues write that their DNA shows that the virus cannot survive in fleas, making it unlikely to cause a pandemic: Bubonic plague, which killed people in the Black Death during the Middle Ages, is often transmitted by the bite of an infected flea.

So Sirsholm and his colleagues set out to find more evidence of the plague pandemic. The 108 people whose DNA his team sequenced were buried in nine graves in Sweden and Denmark. Most of them died between 5,200 and 4,900 years ago, and they spanned several generations of four families.

Over the course of just a few generations, the plague appears to have spread three separate times, the last of which may have been caused by a genetically modified strain that was far more deadly.

“This virus is present in many people,” Searsholm said, “and it's all the same version. That's exactly what you expect when something spreads quickly.”

Plague DNA was found primarily in teeth, indicating that the bacteria entered the bloodstream and caused severe illness and possibly death, he said. In some cases, close relatives were infected, suggesting person-to-person transmission.

The research team suggests that this may be a result of: Plague Yersinia pestis It is a type of disease called pneumonic plague, which infects the lungs and spreads through droplets. Human lice can cause bubonic plagueNot only fleas but also the plague bacteria can be spread this way.

“Of course, it's worth noting that all of these people were properly buried,” says Searsholm, meaning society had not collapsed at this point. “If there really was an epidemic, we're only just seeing the beginning.”

The megalithic tomb appears to have been abandoned for several centuries after about 4900 years ago, but the 10 sequenced individuals were buried much later, mostly between 4100 and 3000 years ago. These individuals were from the steppe region and are unrelated to the people who built the tomb.

“It's a 100 percent complete turnover,” says Searsholm, “5,000 years ago, these Neolithic people disappeared, and now we have evidence that plague was rampant and widespread at exactly the same time.”

While the researchers don't claim their findings are conclusive, Searsholm says they do support the argument that plague caused the Neolithic decline.

“It's pretty clear that this virus can infect humans and can, for example, kill an entire family.”

Klaus Kiora acknowledges that the discovery shows that the plague was widespread in this particular place and time: “Previous explanations need to be somewhat revised and we can't just talk about isolated cases,” he says.

But there's no evidence of high prevalence in other areas, he says, and he thinks normal burials indicate there were no deadly epidemics. Yersinia The infection was like a long-term chronic disease.”

Sirsholm and his team plan to search for more evidence across Europe in the coming days, but the only way to know for sure how deadly the engineered strain was would be to resurrect it, which he says is far too risky to attempt.

“I think this paper will convince many of our colleagues who have been skeptical of our previous work,” he said. Nicholas Raskovin In 2018, a team of researchers from the Pasteur Institute in Paris discovered the plague bacillus in two Neolithic individuals and proposed that the decline of the Neolithic period was due to the plague.

topic:

  • Archaeology/
  • Infection

Source: www.newscientist.com

Debatable: Speed Limiters Becoming Mandatory in EU and Northern Ireland

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Traffic laws and courts leave no doubt as to what the big numbers in red circles mean, but as any quick drive on any city road or highway without enforcement cameras will show, many drivers still see speed signs as targets rather than limits.

Technology that becomes mandatory across Europe from this weekend could change that culture, because from July 7 all new cars sold in the EU and Northern Ireland must come standard with a suite of technological safety features, most notable of which is intelligent speed assistance, colloquially known as a speed limiter.

While the rest of the UK can theoretically enjoy the fullest range of post-Brexit freedoms, as ministers used to be fond of saying, the integrated nature of car manufacturing means that new cars here will also tell drivers to take their foot off the accelerator, combining satellite-navigation maps with a forward-facing camera that reads road signs and automatically sounds an alarm if you're going too fast in the zone you're in.

Drivers of newer cars will be accustomed to similar features already installed, but for now they can be easily disabled. As a representative for one major manufacturer said, “You have to balance whether it makes the car safer, but it's upsetting people. We've found that a lot of people actually have everything turned off.”

But as cars of the future are designed with systems that can never be turned off, restarting the engine every time it shuts off, will car enthusiasts see this as genuine progress?

“This is one of those things that's very hard to argue against,” says Steve Fowler, an automotive consultant and former editor of Autocar. “Observing the speed limit will not only save you in countless ways, it could potentially save your life.”

Safety is the biggest reason to slow down and, as charities such as Brake and Rospa highlight, even a small increase in speed of just over 30mph can make a big difference to outcomes, especially for people who are not driving.



Yousif Al Ani, lead engineer for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) at Thatcham Research, said: “Modern cars are very good at protecting occupants in the event of a crash, thanks to passive safety features such as airbags and crush zones, but the benefit to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists is limited.”

In the UK, the number of road fatalities caused by speeding vehicles has increased at a faster rate than the overall number of fatalities since the spread of COVID-19, rising 20% ​​to 303 out of 1,695 in 2022.

A significant minority of drivers admit to breaking the speed limit on all kinds of roads, but when you observe that traffic flows smoothly,
By the Ministry of Transport
This suggests that the percentage is much higher.
RAC's 2023 Automotive Report57% of drivers said they broke the 70 mph speed limit on freeways. In most urban areas a 30 mph speed limit was most likely to be observed, with only 40% breaking it. A Department of Transport study found that on free-flowing 20 mph roads, rather than residential areas with speed bumps, 80-90% of vehicles ignored the speed limit.

One of the most common arguments speeders make to the RAC is: “I drive at the same speed as other road users”. This kind of peer pressure may not be surprising to those struggling to stick to the 20mph speed limit on, say, London or Wales' major roads, where they are met with looks of infuriated incredulity from drivers behind, and on the M6 ​​toll many seem to think that paying the £9.70 toll gives them the right to blaze past at 80mph as well as avoid Birmingham.

But with computers replacing erratic speedometer needles with more accurate readings and a new generation of speed cameras providing increased enforcement, denying liability may become harder. Lawyers say people who turned off their speed limiters when they started driving could find themselves in a difficult position if they end up in court.

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Not only will limiters be mandatory, but also other ADAS features such as automatic lane keeping and automatic emergency braking. Questions remain about whether the technology will work well enough in all real-world situations, and how comfortable people will be with a car telling them what to do, let alone controlling the steering, braking and acceleration, which can cause anxiety and disorientation.

“Balancing safety, performance and integration, and building a system that works with the driver, is a real challenge for manufacturers,” Al Ani says.

But most agree that the benefits far outweigh the risks. More and more drivers are willing to go slower and rely more on technology, Fowler said. “I think driving is changing, and drivers are changing, and I hate to say it, but they don't necessarily like the stuff that enthusiasts of the past liked, the engineering that's been put into it.”

“People are more aware that speeding increases fuel consumption. If you're going 80 miles per hour on the highway, your fuel consumption increases exponentially.”

With the rising cost of living putting as much emphasis on miles per gallon as speed, Fowler says that driving well may be more enjoyable than going fast. “We need to develop a new generation of drivers who realize that more relaxed driving can be just as rewarding. If you drive well without losing momentum, you won't have to stop and start as often, which saves fuel, saves money and saves on emissions. Maybe mpg will become the new mph.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tonight’s Aurora: A Guide to Seeing the Northern Lights in 2024

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Witnessing the Northern Lights at the North and South Poles is considered a rare and unforgettable experience for many individuals. However, you now have the opportunity to cross this off your bucket list as the Northern Lights might be visible in the skies over the US and UK tonight.

Yesterday, the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Space Weather Prediction Center issued a magnetic storm warning following a solar eruption that sent a stream of particles towards Earth, triggering the aurora borealis.

When Can You See the Aurora Borealis?

Scientists anticipate that the aurora will be visible from tonight (March 25) until early tomorrow (March 26), with optimal viewing between 11pm and 12am.

“Predicting the exact visibility of the aurora can be challenging due to rapidly changing conditions,” states Professor Don Polacco, a graduate from the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick. “However, one thing is certain: urban areas with bright lights are unlikely to provide a clear view. To observe the Northern Lights, you must venture into darker, rural settings and look towards the northern horizon (focus on the North Star).” Hence, being in the countryside away from city lights is recommended.

The prime viewing time typically falls during the darkest hours of the night, around 11pm to 12am. Nevertheless, as Polacco mentions, the appearance of the lights can be unpredictable, with avid observers possibly needing to wait until late at night for their glimpse.

The further north you venture in the Northern Hemisphere, the better your chances are of witnessing this celestial phenomenon. The same applies to individuals further south in the Southern Hemisphere.

According to astrophysicist Dr. Paul Strom, “The most effective way to see the Northern Lights is to subscribe to an alert service that keeps you informed about the activity.” For UK residents, he recommends utilizing aurora watch UK for updates.

If you intend to capture images of the aurora, Strom advises setting your camera to higher sensitivity (ISO) and securing it on a tripod to facilitate long exposure shots of a few seconds. Photography is encouraged.

Where Can You See the Northern Lights?

In the northern hemisphere, the aurora borealis can be observed across the United States, with sightings possible in states like Washington, Wisconsin, and New York. If the current geomagnetic storm maintains its strength, it might extend southwards to Northern California and Alabama.

In the UK, Scotland and Northern Ireland stand a good chance of viewing the Northern Lights if the skies remain clear.

Conversely, in the southern hemisphere, the Japan Meteorological Agency Space Weather Forecast Center has alerted Australia about the possibility of aurora borealis (southern lights). Tasmanian residents, Victoria’s coastal regions, and the southwest coast of Western Australia are expected to experience the phenomenon.

Auroras tend to be visible near the Earth’s magnetic poles, in synchronization with the geographic location of the poles. Individuals located near the Arctic or Antarctic Circles can anticipate a dazzling display of lights.

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What Causes the Aurora Borealis?

The interaction of particles emanating from the sun with Earth’s strong magnetic field set off by its molten iron core results in the aurora borealis phenomenon.

“Auroras materialize when the Sun expels huge bubbles of magnetic gas into space,” remarked Dr. Darren Baskill, an astronomy lecturer at the University of Sussex, to BBC Science Focus. “Occasionally, these bubbles collide with Earth and its magnetic channels, prompting gas to flow towards the north and south poles, illuminating the sky with the enchanting lights of the aurora borealis.”

Baskill elucidated that the sun undergoes an 11-year cycle during which its magnetic field alternates between increasing and decreasing in intensity. Presently, we are approaching the pinnacle of this cycle, implying an elevated frequency of aurora borealis sightings over the next year as solar activity heightens.

This evening’s light display follows a recent solar flare, as Baskill delineated, “A solar eruption on Sunday, March 24, 2024, resulted in the release of a gas bubble (coronal mass ejection). “The solar wind carrying the gas is currently traveling at approximately 800 km/s and is expected to impact Earth from Monday night into Tuesday morning.”

Why Are the Aurora Borealis Different Colors?

The hues of the aurora borealis and australis are determined by the fusion of specific atoms in Earth’s atmosphere with solar particles.

When oxygen atoms at higher altitudes react, a green aurora emerges. Meanwhile, sightings of blue, yellow, or red auroras indicate interactions between solar particles and oxygen or nitrogen atoms at lower altitudes.

The occasional presence of a purple hue is attributable to interactions with hydrogen and helium.

Are Geomagnetic Storms Hazardous?

Rest assured, unless you are seeking to witness the aurora borealis, geomagnetic storms pose no significant risk.

Nevertheless, these storms can potentially disrupt high-frequency radio communications. Experts vigilantly monitor aircraft and satellite communications to ensure uninterrupted operations.

In a statement released on Sunday, the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center assured the public that no adverse effects were to be expected, with infrastructure operators already taking precautions to mitigate potential impacts.

However, the statement cautioned that disruptions to GPS systems could become more frequent and prolonged.

About Our Experts

Don Polacco: He serves as a Professor in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group at the University of Warwick, focusing on exoplanets and overseeing the successful SuperWASP project on La Palma Island.

Dr. Paul Strom: A faculty member in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group at the University of Warwick, engaged in the PLATO space mission and various astrophysical research endeavors, particularly emphasizing far-ultraviolet observations for understanding young planet formation environments.

Dr. Darren Baskill: An outreach officer and lecturer at the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Sussex, formerly affiliated with the Royal Observatory Greenwich and the administrator of the annual Astronomical Photographer of the Year competition.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Homo sapiens are believed to have reached Northern Europe around 45,000 years ago, according to scientists.

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homo sapiens is connected with Rinkombi Lanisia Yersmanovician Culture According to three papers published in , Neanderthals existed in central and northwestern Europe long before they became extinct in southwestern Europe. journal Nature And that journal natural ecology and evolution. The evidence is homo sapiens And the fact that Neanderthals lived side by side is consistent with genomic evidence that the two species occasionally interbred. Suspicions have also been raised that modern humans' invasion of Europe and Asia about 50,000 years ago may have driven Neanderthals to extinction.

Stratigraphy including location of homo sapiens Bones, a map of the LRJ site, and stone tools from the Ranis site in Germany. Image credit: Mylopotamitaki other., doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06923-7.

The Paleolithic Rincombi-Lanisia-Jerzmanovician (LRJ) culture or technocomplex spread across northwestern and central Europe.

The Ranis Cave site in the Orla River Valley, Thuringia, Germany, is one of the eponymous LRJ sites based on its unique configuration of bifacial and monofacial points.

Previous dating had shown that the site was more than 40,000 years old, but there were no recognizable bones to show who made the tools, so it was unclear whether they were the product of Neanderthals. It was unclear whether it was a product of Neanderthals or not. homo sapiens.

“The new discovery is homo sapiens Who created this technology homo sapiens At this time, 45,000 years ago, they were this far north,” said Dr. Elena Zavala, a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley.

“So these are some of the earliest.” homo sapiens In Europe. “

“The cave ruins of Ranis provide evidence of initial dispersal. homo sapiens It is widespread throughout the high latitudes of Europe,” said Professor Jean-Jacques Hubelin, a researcher at the Collège de France.

“It turns out that stone structures thought to have been made by Neanderthals were actually part of early Neanderthals.” homo sapiens toolkit. ”

“This fundamentally changes what we know about this period. homo sapiens Long before Neanderthals disappeared in southwestern Europe, they reached northwestern Europe. ”

Scientists carried out genetic analysis of hominid bone fragments from new deep excavations carried out at Ranis between 2016 and 2022, as well as from earlier excavations in the 1930s.

Because the DNA in ancient bones is highly fragmented, she used special techniques to isolate and sequence the DNA. All of it is mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is inherited only from the mother.

“We have confirmed that the bone fragments are: homo sapiens. Interestingly, some of the fragments shared the same mitochondrial DNA sequence, even if they were from different excavations,” Dr. Zavala said.

“This indicates that these fragments belong to the same person or his maternal relatives, and connects these new discoveries with discoveries from decades ago.”

The bone fragments were initially identified as human through analysis of bone proteins in a field called paleoproteomics.

The authors found that by comparing the Ranis mtDNA sequences with mtDNA obtained from human remains from other Paleolithic sites in Europe, they were able to construct an early Stone Age family tree. It's done. homo sapiens All over Europe.

All but one of the 13 Ranis fragments are very similar to each other and, surprisingly, to the mtDNA of a 43,000-year-old female skull discovered in the Zlaty Kush cave in the Czech Republic. Ta. The only standout player was in the same group as a player from Italy.

“That raises some questions: Was this a single population? What is the relationship here?” Dr. Zavala said.

“But when it comes to mtDNA, that's just one side of history. It's just the maternal side. We need nuclear DNA to investigate this.”

The researchers also found that Ranis Cave is primarily used by hibernating cave bears and denning hyenas, with only periodic human presence.

This low-density archaeological footprint is consistent with other LRJ sites and is best explained by short-term, opportunistic visits by small, mobile settler groups. homo sapiens.

“This means that even in these early groups, homo sapiens “Humans, dispersed across Eurasia, already had some ability to adapt to such harsh climatic conditions,” said Dr Sara Pederzani, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of La Laguna.

“Until recently, it was thought that resilience to cold climate conditions would not emerge until several thousand years later. So this is a fascinating and surprising result.”

The research team also carried out radiocarbon dating of human and animal bones taken from different layers of the site to reconstruct the site's age, focusing on bones with signs of human modification on their surfaces. They then correlated the age with the presence of humans in the cave.

“we, homo sapiens The Francis Crick Institute said Dr. Helen Furus, a postdoctoral researcher at .

“The evidence suggests that homo sapiens They occupied this site sporadically for 47,500 years. ”

Source: www.sci.news

Humans were already present in Northern Europe 45,000 years ago

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Early European humans may have hunted mammoths in frozen landscapes

Dorling Kindersley/Getty Images

When modern humans first began to settle in Europe, they headed straight to the cold north. Challenging excavations in Germany have revealed that our species was in the region at least 45,000 years ago, confirming earlier claims that our ancestors were in Britain shortly thereafter.

“They came into a very hostile environment,” he says
Jean-Jacques Hublin
At the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. “It felt like northern Finland.” [today]”

Modern people(homo sapiens) were the most recent humans to permanently settle in Europe about 45,000 years ago. Previously, this continent was dominated for hundreds of thousands of years by Neanderthals, who disappeared from the fossil record about 40,000 years ago.Modern humans and Neanderthals may have overlapped in France and Spain
Between 1400 and 2900.

“All the ancient humans, homo sapiens“This phenomenon occurred across Eurasia between 50,000 and 40,000 years ago,” Hublin said. This was a critical time, as multiple human species coexisted for millions of years, but only one survives today.

“This is the beginning of species invading every habitable crevice on Earth,” Hublin said. “I know it happened…but I don't know why or how it happened.”

of
transitional period
is a mystery. There are several types of stone structures from the period that may have been made by Neanderthals or modern humans. One is found at several archaeological sites in northern Europe.
Rincombians, Lanissians, Gerzmanovicians (LRJ) – Features a long leaf-shaped tip that may have been attached to a spear. These have never been found in association with confidently identified hominin bones. “I had no idea who made it,” Hublin said.

To find out, Hublin and his colleagues visited several locations where LRJ artifacts were obtained. Unfortunately, earlier archaeologists destroyed the ruins with shoddy excavation methods. The only exception was a cave called Ilsenhöhle near Ranis, Germany. Having collapsed several thousand years ago, initial excavations in the 1930s were difficult and some of the ruins were left in place. Havlin's team re-excavated and dug deep shafts into the relevant sediment layers.

So-called LRJ stone tools discovered in Germany's Ilsenhöhle Cave

Josephine Schubert, Burg Lanis Museum, (CC-BY-ND 4.0)

The excavation was said to have been “extremely difficult”.
Marie Solessi from Leiden University in the Netherlands was not involved in the study.

Havlin's team found many bone fragments buried in the sediment. They also reexamined similar fragments from the original excavations. Analysis of bone collagen proteins revealed that 13 species belong to the hominin family. To identify them more precisely, the research team extracted mitochondrial DNA, which humans inherit only from their mothers, from her 11 fragments. “they are homo sapiens” says Hublin.

The technology used was “first-class,” Solessi said. She also wants to see nuclear DNA. This is because these individuals may be hybrids with their Neanderthal fathers. Because it's not shown in mitochondrial DNA. However, she says this is “very unlikely”.

timing of homo sapiens The occupation of Ilsenhöhle is consistent with existing evidence. Havlin's team previously showed that modern humans lived in the Bacho Kilo cave in Bulgaria about 45,000 years ago. However, Ilsenhöhle is further north.

In the second study, Hublin's colleagues used chemical evidence obtained from preserved horse teeth to determine whether this region of Germany existed at the time, specifically between 45,000 and 43,000 years ago. It showed that the climate was cold. Again, this is consistent with previous evidence. In 2014, Hublin's team showed that modern humans lived in a cold steppe-like environment in Willendorf, Austria, north of the Alps.
43,500 years ago.

A third study examined animal bones collected at Ilsenhelle and revealed that the cave was primarily inhabited by cave bears and hyenas. This means that modern humans only existed intermittently.

This indicates “rapid occupation by a small group of 'pioneers',” Solessi said.

Similar claims have been made for France's Mandolin Cave, which may have been briefly inhabited by modern humans 54,000 years ago, before Neanderthals reclaimed the site.

Since the Ilsenhöhle LRJ tool is associated with modern humans, it is reasonable to assume that other LRJ artifacts were also created by modern humans. homo sapienssays Hublin. This means that modern humans arrived in Britain at an early date. A partial jawbone found in Kents Cave in Devon, England, has been tentatively identified and dated to a modern human.
Approximately 43,000 years ago – and was discovered along with the LRJ artifact.

topic:

  • archeology/
  • ancient humans

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Genetic Origins of Multiple Sclerosis in Northern Europeans Revealed by Ancient DNA

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Northern Europeans have a higher risk of multiple sclerosis due to ancient DNA, a study reveals. About 5,000 years ago, people flocked to this area.

This discovery emerged from a large-scale study comparing modern DNA with DNA obtained from ancient human teeth and bones. This allowed scientists to explore prehistoric migration and associated disease-related genes.

Results show that when the Yamnaya people migrated from present-day Ukraine and Russia to northwestern Europe during the Bronze Age, they carried a genetic mutation. This mutation is now known to increase the risk of multiple sclerosis.

The study, published in the journal Nature, suggests that these genes not only allowed the Yamnaya to flourish and spread but also protected them from infectious diseases carried by cattle and sheep.

The project, led by Eske Willerslev and the University of Copenhagen, is pioneering ancient DNA research and comparing it to similar research, including tracking down early cousins such as Neanderthals.

The process of ancient DNA extraction at the Lundbeck Foundation Geogenetics Center in Copenhagen.Michal Schlosser / University of Copenhagen (via AP)

This gene bank’s first exploration of multiple sclerosis is especially relevant since the disease is most common among people of white Scandinavian descent, yet the reason remains unknown.

Scientists believe certain infections can cause MS in genetically susceptible individuals. Over 230 genetic mutations have been identified that may increase the risk of this disease.

The study uncovered major changes in the population of northern Europe, tracing the migration of the Yamnaya people around 5,000 years ago. The gene bank was used to compare ancient DNA with around 400,000 modern humans

Comparisons revealed that MS-related genetic variants remained in the north, the direction the Yamnaya migrated, rather than in southern Europe. This supports the idea that the Yamnaya people are the closest ancestors of modern Danes, and the incidence of MS is particularly high in Scandinavian countries.

Dr. Astrid Iversen from the University of Oxford explains how exposure to animal-based bacteria may lead to imbalances in the immune system, possibly playing a role in the early development of autoimmune diseases.

While the study provides a potential explanation for the North-South MS disparity in Europe, further research is required to confirm the link. This statement comes from New York’s M.D., Samira Asghari, a genetics expert at Sinai School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study.

Source: www.nbcnews.com