Tag Archives: remote

Explore Tanzania’s Remote Regions: Stunning Images Showcasing Rich Biodiversity

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A yellow baboon is standing guard.

Photo by Frederic Noy/Panos

Observe a young yellow baboon (above) surveying Tanzania’s Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Despite being shrouded in lush rainforests, this remote area has only recently been explored by biologists, revealing its unique biodiversity.

The park is a sanctuary for six primate species, including the Udzungwa red colobus and the Sanje crested mangabey, marking it as their last refuge. The Kipunji monkey, recognized as a new species in 2003, represents the first new monkey species discovery in Africa since the 1980s with the Sanje crested mangabey.

“It felt magical,” reflects photographer Frédéric Noy, who has documented the wildlife and landscapes of this rich area. “The ongoing discoveries of new fish in the deep sea and tiny insects on land aren’t surprising. But mammals are truly remarkable!”

In 2021, the Kipunji was assigned a new genus, Rungwesevas, marking the first significant monkey genus discovery since 1923. Current estimates suggest that only about 2,000 Kipunji monkeys survive, with a population residing in Udzungwa and sparse groups scattered across Tanzania.

Other fascinating findings in Uzungwa include the giant tree species, Tesmania Princeps, capable of reaching heights of 40 meters. This species was described as new just last year.

A local initiative, the Uzungwa Corridor, is actively restoring deforested areas by planting native trees, effectively connecting Udzungwa Mountains National Park with adjacent protected zones.

Cultivating seedlings for reforestation efforts at the Udzungwa Corridor Project.

Photo by Frederic Noy/Panos

This project utilizes carbon credits to provide local residents with financial incentives for planting trees on their land. The photo above depicts a nursery where trees and other vegetation are cultivated for these essential environmental initiatives.

Many community members in the Uzungwa region also maintain beehives (see below), primarily as an additional source of income. This beekeeping practice is promoted to offset the reduced access to resources in Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Moreover, beehives are believed to discourage elephants from entering the area, as elephants sometimes migrate from nearby regions, even though they do not inhabit the park itself.

Beehives strategically placed along a fence to deter elephants.

Photo by Frederic Noy/Panos

Sugarcane stands as a primary agricultural crop in this vibrant region. The image below showcases a truck transporting freshly harvested sugarcane amidst the picturesque backdrop of the Uzungwa Mountains, with part of Mitsui Falls visible as well.

Trucks transporting sugarcane against the backdrop of the Uzungwa Mountains.

Photo by Frederic Noy/Panos

This rewrite focuses on enhancing SEO by integrating keywords associated with the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, biodiversity, conservation efforts, and local agricultural practices while maintaining the original structure and HTML tags.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists Discover Humans Possess a Type of ‘Remote Touch’

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Recent studies indicate that humans possess the capability to detect objects without physical contact, a skill seen in certain animals.

Chen and colleagues. The first study examined human fingertip sensitivity to tactile signals from buried objects, while the second utilized a robotic arm with a long short-term memory model to detect objects. Image credit: Gemini AI.

Typically, human touch is viewed as a sense limited to direct physical interaction with objects.

However, recent insights into animal sensory mechanisms challenge this perception.

Some species of sandpipers and plovers, for instance, utilize a form of remote touch to locate prey concealed beneath the sand.

Remote touch allows for the detection of objects hidden beneath particles by subtle mechanical signals transmitted through the medium when nearby pressure is applied.

In a groundbreaking study, Dr. Elisabetta Versace from Queen Mary University of London and her team explored whether humans share similar capabilities.

Participants delicately glided their fingers over the sand to locate a hidden cube before making physical contact.

Remarkably, the study outcomes revealed a sensitivity analogous to that found in shorebirds, despite humans lacking the specialized beak structure that facilitates this ability in avians.

Modeling the physical attributes of this phenomenon, researchers concluded that human hands are so sensitive they can perceive buried objects through minute sand displacements.

This sensitivity approaches the theoretical threshold for detecting mechanical “reflections” of granules when the movement of sand is reflected by a stable surface (the concealed object).

When evaluating the performance of humans against robotic tactile sensors trained using long short-term memory (LSTM) algorithms, humans achieved a remarkable accuracy of 70.7% within the anticipated detection range.

Interestingly, the robot could sense objects from slightly greater distances on average but encountered frequent false positives, resulting in an overall accuracy of only 40%.

These findings affirm that humans can genuinely detect objects prior to physical contact, showcasing an extraordinary aspect of our senses typically linked to direct interactions.

Both humans and robots demonstrated performance nearing the maximum sensitivity predicted by physical models of displacement.

This research uncovers that humans can identify objects buried in sand without direct contact, broadening our understanding of the extent of tactile perception.

Additionally, it provides quantitative evidence of tactile abilities previously undocumented in humans.

The study also presents a valuable benchmark for enhancing tactile sensing in assistive technologies and robotic systems.

Emulating human sensory perception, engineers can design robots that incorporate near-human touch sensitivity for practical uses in tasks such as surveying, excavation, and exploration where visual cues are limited.

“This is the first instance of remote contact being examined in humans, reshaping our concept of the perceptual fields of living beings, including humans,” stated Dr. Versace.

“This discovery opens avenues for creating tools and assistive technologies that amplify the human sense of touch,” remarked Dr. Student Chen Zhenchi.

“These insights could lead to the development of advanced robots capable of performing delicate tasks, such as locating untouched archaeological artifacts or navigating sandy or granular terrains like Martian soil or ocean floors.”

“More generally, this research facilitates the development of touch-based systems that enhance safety and effectiveness in exploring hidden and hazardous locations.”

“What makes this study particularly intriguing is the mutual influence between human research and robotic research,” noted Dr. Lorenzo Hamone, a researcher at University College London.

“Human experiments informed the robot’s learning strategy, while the robot’s efficacy offered new interpretations of human data.”

“This serves as a prime example of how psychology, robotics, and artificial intelligence can collaborate, illustrating how interdisciplinary teamwork can ignite both fundamental discoveries and technological advancements.”

Details of the findings were presented in September at the 2025 IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning (ICDL) in Prague, Czech Republic.

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Z. Chen and colleagues. Exploring haptics for object localization in granular media: A human-robot study. 2025 IEEE International Conference on Development and Learning; doi: 10.1109/ICDL63968.2025.11204359

Source: www.sci.news

A Remote Comet Forms a New Ring As We Watch in Real Time

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Chiron’s Ring Illustration

Dan Durda

For the first time, astronomers have witnessed the real-time formation of a ring system. This particular ring encircles Chiron, a comet-like entity that orbits the sun between Saturn and Uranus. Each time you observe Chiron, its rings will appear slightly varied.

While Chiron is not the first small celestial body to display rings, it joins the ranks of the asteroid Chariklo and the dwarf planets Haumea and Quaor, which also possess small ring systems. These rings were identified using a technique called stellar occultation, where observations are made as an object passes in front of a distant star, allowing scientists to create a map of how that star’s light is obstructed by the surrounding material.

“Only about 20 objects have been observed through stellar occultations, so having four of them identified with rings represents a robust statistic,” says Bruno Sicardi from the Paris Observatory in France. “Given the countless bodies in existence, it stands to reason that hundreds of ring systems should be out there.” He anticipates that more will be discovered in the years ahead.

Sicardi and his team analyzed the 2023 occultation of a star to decode the structure of the ring surrounding Chiron. While earlier findings hinted at the existence of three rings, the new observations reveal an extra disk of material encircling those rings, extending farther from Chiron’s surface, along with an entirely new ring previously unseen.

“Nature presents us with rings in their developmental stages, which is a fortunate scenario for us. Unlike the rings of Saturn, Uranus, or even Chariklo, which generally stay consistent, we are witnessing something dynamic,” Sicardi remarks.

Rings can form through various processes, and observing their formation can deepen our understanding significantly. As Christian Pereira from the National Astronomical Observatory of Brazil notes, “[This could] unveil the specific conditions that facilitate the formation, persistence, and eventual disappearance of rings, which may ultimately elucidate why such systems are typically found only in the frigid, icy areas of the solar system.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Ready to Roll: German Remote Driving Company Aiming to Make Private Car Ownership Obsolete

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hWith just a few taps on the app, the electric car slowed down and came to a halt outside Berlin’s old cargo hall. There’s no one behind the wheel, but as passengers enter, a voice chimes in:

The vehicle emits a cheerful jingle before proceeding to the former runway, where traffic cones indicate various operational zones.

This isn’t an ordinary driverless car. “Bartek” refers to Bartek Sztendel, not just an automated voice from Robotaxi. A real person, stationed hundreds of meters away at a remote driving hub, controls it.

Bartek Sztendel, remote driver at work. Photo: Nicolo Lanfranchi/Guardian

Seated in a plush leather chair, he uses pedals for acceleration and braking while steering with a wheel, closely monitoring the journey through three large screens in front of him, supplemented by four discreet rooftop cameras. Headphones provide audio feedback from both inside and outside the vehicle, while sensors let him sense the bumps on the road.

Sztendel is part of Vay—a name that reflects how many Germans say “Way.” This remote driving tech firm, founded in Berlin in 2018, aims to transform urban mobility across Europe.

Vay’s communications manager, Silvia Avanzini, reviews the apps used to start and conclude remote drives. Photo: Nicolo Lanfranchi/Guardian

While the world is gradually adopting conventional self-driving taxis in cities like San Francisco and Shanghai, Vay envisions a future where remote-driven cars can pick up rental vehicles in Berlin, transport them to a desired location with a remote operator, and terminate the rental—leaving the hassle of parking to the driver. Users are charged per minute for electric rides at a rate claimed to be approximately half of current shared services.

Vay’s CEO and co-founder, Thomas von Der Ohe, plans to utilize Las Vegas as a trial area for its services, with Germany set to follow soon. A Stanford University alumnus in computer science and entrepreneurship, he mentions that American cities “have a crucial legal framework.”

Vay CEO Thomas Von Der Ohe poses with one of the electric vehicles in their fleet. Photo: Nicolo Lanfranchi/Guardian

“It made it onto page three. Germany had its share of challenges, but we collaborated closely with authorities to address everything from technical specifications to safety concerns.

Just before the summer break, the German parliament approved legislation to allow commercially operated remote-controlled vehicles in designated areas, starting December 1. Though not as daring as laws enabling firms like Waymo and Cruise to run autonomous vehicles in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, it still signals a new momentum for major European automakers.

An application is available to initiate and complete your journey. Photo: Nicolo Lanfranchi/Guardian

Von Der Ohe envisions a future where car ownership is no longer necessary, contributing to sustainable urban living.

Beyond engineers, the company heavily relies on drivers, which represents a significant cost. Despite the skills gap, attracting candidates for this emerging field hasn’t been problematic.

According to Von Der Ohe, many of the controllers have backgrounds from Uber and traditional taxi services, especially those who have faced safety issues. He noted that even truck drivers, worn out from lengthy hauls and time away from family, are looking for a change, including some coping with health issues due to extended vibrations.

“People see this as a promising career. They enjoy scheduled breaks and work in teams rather than isolation,” Von Der Ohe emphasized. Moreover, they earn hourly wages instead of on a per-ride basis.

Sztendel, who hails from Poland, logged extensive driving hours over several weeks before becoming certified as a remote operator. He remarked that individuals with gaming experience tend to adapt quickly, but emphasized that “serenity, strong safety, and responsibility skills” are critical. He enjoys games like Need for Speed, but described the experience of remotely controlling real vehicles as “truly incredible.”

Glancing away from his monitor, he pointed out that the large red button on the left can be pressed in an emergency, prompting the car to stop instantly.

Source: www.theguardian.com

90 Laptops, Millions Lost: North Korea’s Remote Work Scam Targets Women | US News

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In March 2020, coinciding with the onset of the Covid pandemic, Christina Chapman, a resident of Arizona and Minnesota, received a LinkedIn message inviting her to “become the face of the US” for her company, which sought foreign IT workers to facilitate remote employment.

As remote work became commonplace, Chapman successfully connected foreign workers with numerous US companies, including major players in the Fortune 500 like Nike, referred to as a “Premier Silicon Valley Technology Company,” and “one of the world’s most renowned media and entertainment firms.”

Employers believed they were hiring US citizens; however, they were actually North Koreans.

Chapman was entangled in a North Korean governmental initiative to deploy thousands of “highly skilled IT workers” by commandeering identities to present them as US citizens or from other nations. This scheme reportedly generated millions of dollars intended to fund the regime’s nuclear weapons development, as per US Department of Justice court records.

Chapman’s peculiar saga concluded with an eight-year prison term, serving as a bizarre mix of tragic narratives involving geopolitics, international crime, and the isolation of working from home in a gig economy heavily reliant on digital interactions, obscuring the line between fact and fiction.

Federal and cybersecurity experts warn that covert North Korean workers not only assist adversaries of the US but also aid oppressive regimes affected by international sanctions related to weapons development while jeopardizing the identities of American citizens and potentially undermining domestic companies through “malicious cyber intrusions.”

“After Covid hit and everyone transitioned to virtual work, many tech jobs never returned to the office,” noted Benjamin Racenberg, senior intelligence manager at NISOS, a cybersecurity firm.

“Companies quickly recognized that they could source talent globally, leading to a situation where North Korea and other fraudulent employment sources manipulated the hiring system to secure jobs.”

North Korea required a US intermediary to execute this scheme, as companies are “unwilling to ship laptops to North Korea or China,” explained Adam Meyers, anti-side effects director at cybersecurity company CrowdStrike.

“They recruit individuals seeking gigs, proposing, ‘Hey, I can get you $200 per laptop you manage,'” said Myers, whose team has released a report on North Korea’s tactics.

Chapman had a troubling upbringing, navigating “between low-paying jobs and unstable housing,” according to a document submitted by her attorney. In 2020, she was also tasked with caring for her mother, diagnosed with kidney cancer.

About six months after the LinkedIn communication, Chapman commenced operations described by law enforcement as “laptop farms.”

In facilitating these operations, she supported North Koreans in masquerading as US citizens through identity verification. She sent laptops abroad and logged onto them so foreign workers could connect remotely, with salaries funneled to workers as indicated by court records.

Meanwhile, North Koreans constructed online identities that aligned with job specifications for remote IT roles, often securing positions via staffing agencies.

In one instance, a “Top 5 National TV Network and Media Company” based in New York employed a North Korean as a video streaming engineer.

Individuals impersonating “Daniel B” requested Chapman to join a Microsoft team together with their employers to facilitate conspirators’ participation. The indictment does not disclose the full name of the victim.

“I just typed the name Daniel,” Chapman communicated to a North Korean, as per online chat records. “When I ask why you are using two devices, please respond that the laptop’s microphone is malfunctioning.”

“Okay,” the foreign participant replied.

“Most people will accept that explanation,” Chapman responded.

Chapman acknowledged the illegality of her actions.

“I hope you can find someone else to handle your physical I-9. Those are federal documents. I’ll send it to you, but I’ll have someone else handle the paperwork. If you’re caught, you could go to federal prison for forgery,” Chapman told her co-conspirators.

Chapman was also active on social media, posting in a June 2023 video about her hectic schedule while grabbing breakfast on the go, as reported by Wired.

Behind her was a rack with at least 12 open laptops. When federal agents raided her home in October 2023, they discovered 90 laptops. In February of the same year, she pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, identity theft, and conspiracy to obfuscate financial products.

Throughout her three-year collaboration with North Korea, some employees amassed hundreds of thousands of dollars from single companies, generating a total of $17 million for Chapman and the North Korean regime.

The fraud operation also involved stealing the identities of 68 individuals, according to the Department of Justice.

In a letter to the court prior to her sentencing, Chapman expressed gratitude to the FBI for her arrest, stating she was attempting to escape from a long-time associate. “And I truly didn’t know how to do that.”

“The area we lived in provided few job opportunities that aligned with my needs,” Chapman wrote. “I sincerely apologize to those affected. I am not someone who seeks to harm others, so it’s devastating to realize I was part of a scheme that sought to inflict damage.”

Last week, U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss sentenced Chapman to over eight years in prison, seizing $284,000 intended for North Korea along with a $176,000 fine.

Chapman and her collaborators were not alone in such fraud; in January, the federal government indicted a scheme where two North Koreans, Mexican citizens, and two US citizens obtained positions in at least 64 US companies, generating over $866,000 in revenue, as reported by the Department of Justice.

Racenberg from NISOS expressed concern that cybercriminals will increasingly leverage artificial intelligence to enhance such schemes.

He advised companies to conduct “open-source research” on applicants, as fraudsters frequently replicate content from existing resumes.

“If you input the initial lines of your resume, you may discover two or three other resumes online that are strikingly similar, using identical companies or timelines,” Racenberg cautioned. “That should raise some red flags.”

During interviews, if background noises resemble a call center or if applicants refuse to remove a fake or blurry background, this should also raise concerns, according to Myers from CrowdStrike.

Businesses should also encourage new hires to visit offices and require the return of laptops directly rather than mailing them.

Five years after the pandemic, more companies are gradually insisting their employees return to the office at least part-time. If all businesses did the same, would that eradicate the threat?

“While this may reduce occurrences, it doesn’t guarantee everything will revert to former practices,” Racenberg commented. “However, the likelihood of reverting completely is quite low.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Geoscientists Discover Pulsating Mantle Plume Beneath Remote Area of Ethiopia

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According to a study led by researchers at the University of Southampton, these pulses are gradually tearing apart the African continent, resulting in the formation of a new sea basin.

Variation of geochemical and geophysical properties around distant triangles. Image credit: Watts et al, doi: 10.1038/s41561-025-01717-0.

The AFAR region stands out as a unique site on Earth where three structural lifts converge: the main Ethiopian rifts, the Red Sea rifts, and the Gulf of Aden lifts.

Geologists have speculated for some time that a thermal upwelling from the mantle, commonly referred to as plumes, exists beneath this area and promotes the extension of the crust along with the formation of upcoming sea basins.

However, the details regarding the structure of this upwelling and its behavior beneath the lifting plate have remained largely unknown until now.

“Our findings indicate that the mantle below the region is uniform but not stationary; it exhibits a pulsing nature that carries a unique chemical signature,” explained Dr. Emma Watts, who led the study at the University of Southampton and is currently at Swansea University.

“These rising pulses from the partially melted mantle are directed by the overlying filling plate.”

“This insight is crucial for understanding the interaction between the Earth’s interior and its surface.”

Dr. Watts and her team collected over 130 volcanic rock samples from remote areas and significant Ethiopian rifts.

Additionally, they utilized existing data and sophisticated statistical modeling to examine the structure of the crust and mantle, along with the melts within.

Their research reveals a single asymmetric plume beneath the distant region, showcasing distinct chemical bands that recur throughout the lift system, akin to geological barcodes.

These patterns vary in spacing according to the structural conditions of each lift arm.

“The observed chemical stripes imply that the plume pulsates like a heartbeat,” remarked Professor Tom Gernon from the University of Southampton.

“These pulses seem to behave differently based on the thickness of the plate and the rate at which it is pulled apart.”

“In faster-spreading rifts like the Red Sea, the pulsation occurs more efficiently and regularly, similar to a pulse flowing through a narrow artery.”

The findings illustrate that the mantle plume beneath the distant region is dynamic, reacting to the tectonic plate above it.

Dr. Derek Kiel, a researcher at the University of Southampton and the University of Florence, stated:

“This has significant implications for interpreting processes related to surface volcanism, seismic activity, and continental splitting.”

“Our work indicates that deep mantle upwellings flow beneath the tectonic plate, concentrating volcanic activity in the thinnest areas.”

“Understanding the rate and manner of mantle flow beneath the plate is crucial for further research.”

“Collaborating with experts from various fields within the institution, as we did for this project, is vital for uncovering the processes that occur beneath the Earth’s surface and their link to recent volcanic activity,” Dr. Watts emphasized.

“It’s challenging to see the broader picture, akin to assembling a puzzle without all the pieces unless we employ diverse techniques.”

study published in the journal Natural Earth Science.

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ej watts et al. Mantle upwelling at an afor triple junction influenced by the dynamics of the overriding plate. Nat. Geosci Published online on June 25, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41561-025-01717-0

Source: www.sci.news

Research: Seafaring hunter-gatherers reached a remote island well before the arrival of farmers

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The discovery of stone tools, hearths and cooked food waste at a cave site in Latniya on the Mediterranean island of Malta indicates that hunter-gatherers had crossed at least 100 km of open water to arrive on the island 8,500 years ago.

Hunters and Gatherers had crossed at least 100 km of open water to arrive in Malta 8,500 years ago. Image credits: Daniel Clark/MPI GEA.

Maltese archipelago is a chain of smallest islands in the Mediterranean.

Humans were not thought to have reached and lived such a small, isolated island, about 7,500 years ago, until the Neolithic regional shift to life.

In the standard view, the limited resources and ecological vulnerability of the small island, combined with the technical challenges of long-distance sailors, meant that hunter-gatherers were unable or unfulfilled to take these journeys.

“Relying on the use of sea-level currents and wind breezes, as well as the practice of exploring landmarks, stars and other paths, there is a crossing of about 100 km per hour at a speed of about 4 km per hour.

“Even on the longest day of the year, these sailors would have been open water in the darkness of hours.”

At the site of a cave in Latniya in the northern Merry area of ​​Malta, researchers discovered human traces in the form of stone tools, hearths and cooked food waste.

“At this location, we recovered a variety of animals, including hundreds of bodies of deer, birds, turtles and foxes,” said Dr. Matthew Stewart, a researcher at Griffith University.

“Some of these wildlife were long thought to have been extinct by this point,” added Professor Eleanor Scerri, a geographer at the Max Planck Institute and a researcher at the University of Malta.

“They were hunting and cooking red deer with turtles and birds.

In addition to this, scientists have found clear evidence regarding the exploitation of marine resources.

“We found that seals, groupers, thousands of edible marine gastropods, crabs and sea urchin debris all cooked undoubtedly,” said Dr. James Brinkhorn, a geography researcher at the University of Liverpool and the Max Planck Institute.

“The diverse range of terrestrial areas, particularly the incorporation of the ocean fauna into their diet, have enabled these hunter-gatherers to maintain themselves on an island as small as Malta,” Dr. Stewart said.

These findings raised questions about the extinction of endemic animals in Malta and other small Mediterranean islands, and whether distant Messium Age communities are linked through seafarers.

“The results add a millennium to Maltese prehistoric times and enforce a reassessment of the capabilities of Europe’s last hunter-gatherer sailors, and its connections and ecological impacts,” Professor Scerri said.

Team’s paper It was published in the journal today Nature.

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EML Scerri et al. The marine voyage of hunter-gatherers has been extended to remote Mediterranean islands. NaturePublished online on April 9, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08780-y

Source: www.sci.news

Strange X-ray Emissions from a Remote White Dwarf Destroy a Devastated Exoplanet

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Astronomers may have ultimately solved the problem of what is causing the highly energy x-rays of WD 2226-210, a white dwarf star located in the heart of the Helix Nebula.

The impression of this artist shows an ex faction (left) that has come too close to the white dwarf (right) and torn apart by the power of the tide from the stars. Image credits: NASA/CXC/SAO/M. Weiss.

Helix Nebula It is a so-called planetary nebulae, a late stage of the star that discharges the outer layer of gas and leaves behind what is known as the white dwarf.

In the past decades, the Einstein X-ray Observatory and the Rosatt Telescope have detected highly energy x-rays from the white d star of the Helix Nebula, WD 2226-210.

White dwarfs like the WD 2226-210, just 650 light years away, usually do not emit powerful X-rays.

“They're the best,” said Dr. Sandino Estrada Dorado, an astronomer at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

“We may finally have found the cause of a mystery that lasted over 40 years.”

Previously, astronomers determined that Neptune-sized planets were in very close orbits around WD 2226-210.

Dr. Estrada Dorado and colleagues conclude that there may have been a planet like Jupiter, even closer to the star.

The besieged planet may have initially managed to hold a considerable distance from the white dwarf, but moved inwards by interacting with the gravity of other planets in the system.

Once it got close enough to the white dwarf, the gravity of the star would have partially or completely tore the planet.

“The mystical signals we've seen can be caused by fragments from the crushed planet falling onto the surface of a white dwarf and being heated to shine with x-rays,” said Dr. Martin Guerrero, an astronomer at the Andalusian Institute of Astronomy.

“If confirmed, this will be the first case of a planet that is considered to be destroyed by the central star of the planet.”

WD 2226-210 is located at the heart of the Helix Nebula. Image credit: NASA/CXC/SAO/UNIV MEXICO/ESTRADA-DORADO et al. /JPL/ESA/STSCI/M. MEIXNER/NRAO/TA RECTOR/ESO/Vista/J. Emerson/K. Arcand.

This study shows that X-ray signals from the white d star remained roughly constant in brightness between 1992, 1999 and 2002.

However, this data suggests that there are subtle and regular changes in the x-ray signal every 2.9 hours, which may provide evidence of planetary ruins very close to the white d star.

The author also considered whether a low-mass star could have been destroyed rather than a planet.

Such stars are roughly the same size as planets like Jupiter, but are much less likely to have been torn apart by larger, white dwarfs.

WD 2226-210 has some similarities between the two other white d stars that are not within the planet's nebula and the X-ray behavior.

It may separate the material from the planet's ally, but it will separate the material in a more sedative way without the planet being destroyed immediately.

Other white dwarfs may have dragged material onto their surfaces from traces of the planet.

These three white d stars can form variables or objects of change in the new class.

“They're the best,” said Dr. Jess Tora, an astronomer at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Team's paper It will be published in Monthly Notices from the Royal Astronomical Society.

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S. Estrada-Dorado et al. 2025. Added to WD 2226-210, the central star of the Helix Nebula. mnrasin press; Arxiv: 2412.07863

This article is a version of a press release provided by NASA.

Source: www.sci.news

Top remote controlled helicopters: Must-have flying toys for 2024

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Despite the focus on modern technology like virtual reality and artificial intelligence, it’s important not to overlook the simple joy of traditional entertainment. Remote-controlled helicopters, a classic favorite, now come with a range of new features to enhance the experience.

If you’re in the market for a remote control helicopter, check out our list of top models below. We’ve curated this list based on extensive research and user reviews to cater to every budget.

What to Consider When Buying an RC Helicopter?

With various helicopter options available, it’s crucial to think about these aspects before making a purchase:

Flight Stability is key, so look for helicopters equipped with a gyroscope or stabilization system.

Consider the range of the remote control, especially for outdoor flights, and the battery life to determine how long you can fly before recharging.

Easy access to replacement parts is essential in the event of a crash, which can happen while you’re still getting used to the helicopter.

Top RC Helicopter Models

Blade Nano RC Helicopter S3 RTF

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The Blade Nano S3-RTF is designed for indoor flying, featuring a lightweight yet durable carbon fiber frame and high-performance rotor blades for stable and agile flight.

Equipped with a six-axis stabilisation system and coreless motors, this helicopter offers power and versatility. It also includes a 2.4GHz DSMX transmitter, rechargeable battery, and spare parts available online.

Syma X9 Flying Car

This innovative hybrid can switch between driving and flying modes. During flight, it can perform acrobatic flips using its four blades and features a six-axis gyroscope for smooth flying.

The aircraft also includes red and green LEDs for better visibility in the dark, with a flight time of approximately 6 minutes and USB charging. It has dual-speed modes, extra blades, and a driver for emergencies.

Syma 2nd Edition S107 S107G

The Syma S107G is a mini indoor helicopter with a metal frame, built-in gyro stabilization, and precise three-channel control. Powered by a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, it offers up to eight minutes of flight time and a 10-meter remote control range.

Laka Walkera V450D03

The Walkera V450D03 is an intermediate RC helicopter with a brushless motor for stability and agility. Its six-axis gyro stabilization system allows for precise maneuvers, with a carbon fiber frame for durability.

This helicopter features a three-bladed main and tail rotor, long flight times up to 16 minutes, and a 100-meter range with its 2.4GHz transmitter.

Sky Rover Voice Command Missile Launcher Helicopter

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This SkyRover helicopter features a unique voice command system for firing missiles and controlling the flight. With eight plastic missiles, wireless headsets, and dual blade control, it offers an immersive experience.

Syma TF1001

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This medium-sized Syma helicopter boasts drone-like design and stunt capabilities, including 3D flips and rolls. It features altitude hold technology, dual-speed modes, USB charging, and a durable metal alloy body.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com