Sci/Tech
Scientists Find Large Ice Cliffs on Mars, Possible Source of Water for Future Missions
The discovery is greatly beneficial for future missions to the Red Planet.
A group of scientists recently announced their discovery of huge deposits of water ice near the surface of Mars. This discovery could forever change all future explorations of the Red Planet.
The findings were published in the journal Science. The research was led by Colin Dundas from the US Geological Survey in Arizona.
The discovery was made using the HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
The group found eight mid-latitude locations where erosions had occurred and large cross-sections of ice had been exposed. In some of the locations, the experts estimated ice measuring 100 meters (330 feet) thick, starting only about one or two meters (3.3 to 6.6 feet) below the surface. The ice also appeared to be layered, which means scientists might be able to study the different geological periods of the planet. According to the study:
“The ice deposits likely originated as snowfall during Mars’ high-obliquity periods and have now compacted into massive, fractured, and layered ice. We expect the vertical structure of Martian ice-rich deposits to preserve a record of ice deposition and past climate.”
Although scientists already knew water ice exists on Mars, this new research reveals that the water ice can be extremely accessible.
This means future exploration missions, like the European ExoMars rover in early 2021, may be able to further explore the ice sheets and their history, as well as draw water to use as a consumable resource (or even as fuel) from the iced regions.
The sheets discovered were reportedly steeply angled, which suggests the ice is strong. The lack of craters could mean the sheets are young, estimated at about a million years old.
The group also believes erosion is occurring and the ice retreats by a few millimeters each summer.
So far, the HiRISE instrument has only been able to image three percent of the surface, but more discoveries are expected by scientists. They wrote:
“This ice… is expected to preserve a record of climate history, influences the planet’s habitability, and may be a potential resource for future exploration.”
Sci/Tech
The World’s Largest Retirement Community is Perfect for Testing Self-Driving Taxis
An American startup company has chosen the area to pilot its services.
Autonomous vehicle technology has yet to be perfected, but one company is looking to take one step ahead of the others as it tests its services in the ideal area: The Villages retirement community in Florida. The sprawling community stretches out to 40 square miles and features 750 miles of road, three separate downtowns, plus a population of 125,000 senior citizens.
The American car startup Voyage chose The Villages to test its door-to-door self-driving taxi service. With this, the residents can call for cars using an app. The cars will then operate at Level 4 autonomy (meaning full autonomy for all safety-critical driving functions) but still include a safety driver. The company has also partnered with CARMERA, a street-level intelligence provider for autonomous vehicles. CARMERA will map out The Villages’ roadways and feed the cars real-time mapping updates.
The Villages was picked because of its large dynamic space.
Sci/Tech
Scientists Discover Huge Sheets of Ice Buried Beneath the Surface of Mars
This discovery is a big ‘game-changer,’ according to experts.
A major discovery has just been made by scientists and many are labeling it as a huge ‘game-changer’. According to a new study published in the Science journal, Mars may have a source of accessible drinkable water.
As can be seen in the images taken by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (which has been orbiting the red planet since 2006), scientists have discovered thick ice sheets under the Martain surface.
This marks the first time exposed ice has been spotted on the planet’s surface.
It's not just their wild locks that make them appealing in the bedroom. Redheads' MC1R genes, the ones responsible for their red hair, can also be credited for other physical characteristics that make them great in bed.
Redheads are quite special indeed. In 2000, when researchers pinpointed the exact gene responsible for red hair, the mutated MC1R protein, they found that it may only manifest in as little as 1 to 2 percent of the population. But what exactly makes redheads superstars in the bedroom? Read on to find out.
Redheads have special pheromones.
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