International
The five most shocking discoveries on Mars
October 15 |
On July 31, 2008, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States (U.S.) announced that laboratory tests carried out by the Phoenix mission on Mars proved the existence of water on the so-called red planet.
The U.S. agency dedicated to explore space reported that the robotic arm of the Phoenix deposited a sample taken in an instrument in which water vapors are identified.
“We have water” on Mars, said William Boynton, scientist of the thermal analyzer of the University of Arizona, on that memorable date.
We invite you to know in this article which have been the most shocking discoveries made on Mars.
Lake of liquid water
In 2018 the Marsis radar, installed aboard the Mars Express Orbiter exploration mission coordinated by the European Space Agency (ESA), discovered a lake of liquid salt water which is presumed to be at least one meter deep, reported then the group of Italian scientists who were at the forefront of the discovery.
This important finding is the first sign of liquid water on the fourth planet of the solar system. In the past, Mars had water, however, the cooling of the planet and its weak atmosphere caused it to disappear or turn into ice.
The spiders of Mars
The automatic interplanetary multi-platform station Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter discovered last May 13, 2018 some “giant spiders” on the surface of the red planet.
The “arachnids” correspond to a carbon dioxide ice cap which, once the sunlight hits it, reproduces the false image of the aforementioned animal.
The blue sunsets of the red planet
NASA’s robot explorer Curiosity photographed for the first time the blue sunsets of the red planet. The left camera of the mechanic sent from Earth actually recorded a video of which we know its most beautiful frames.
The image, more than for its beauty, was used by scientists to study the composition and fall of the night dust on Mars, something fundamental to understand the origin of the planet.
Not only sunsets, also blue dunes
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) discovered large blue dunes with green hues on January 24, 2018.
The coloration is due to methane gas accumulations along with organic molecules in rocks more than 3 billion years old. Most strikingly, the latter could suggest the presence of ancient life forms.
Life on Mars?
The long-awaited life on Mars, whether it is extinct or actually exists, has not been fully proven. So those who want to dream of a destroyed civilization that migrated to Earth must wait a little longer.
However, the Viking probes sent by NASA more than 40 years ago, especially the robotic Labeled Release, or LR, team, provided evidence that could hint at the possibility of ancient life forms, something that is still being investigated by scientists.
So why is Mars red?
Although the fourth planet in the solar system has blue sunsets and blue dunes, from Earth we observe it as red because of the high concentrations of iron oxide on its surface.
So, every time we have the possibility to see the fourth planet of the solar system from our homes, we will still see it red, and we will never be able to enjoy the blue sunsets and dunes. Unless we are ever able to visit Mars.
International
40,000 tourists stranded in Israel amid airspace shutdown over Iran conflict
Approximately 40,000 tourists are stranded in Israel following the closure of the country’s airspace amid escalating hostilities with Iran, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism reported on Monday.
The ministry has set up a virtual office to provide information via email (virtual@goisrael.gov.il) and phone (+972-53-583-5808), as well as a Facebook page called Israel Virtual Tourist Office.
Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz is in contact with hotels and accommodations across the country to offer support to tourists in need, the ministry added.
Many stranded travelers are considering crossing overland into Jordan or Egypt to seek flights from those countries. The Israel Airports Authority reminded the public that land border crossings remain open.
Three German tourists stranded in Jerusalem told EFE today that they have not received any assistance from their country’s embassy in Israel, and their primary option currently is to cross into Jordan to catch a flight from there.
Since early Friday morning, Israel launched operations against Iran, targeting military personnel and infrastructure, including energy and nuclear facilities, as well as numerous residential areas in Tehran.
In response, Iran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel, some of which have struck various locations across the country, leaving at least 24 dead so far, according to Israeli authorities.
Iranian health officials report at least 224 deaths, mostly civilians, including at least 17 senior military officials—nine from the Revolutionary Guard—and more than a dozen nuclear scientists.
The Israeli military has warned that many more “targets” remain, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared on Monday that it will continue missile attacks against Israel until its “destruction.”
International
Trump directs ICE to focus deportation efforts on democratic-led states
On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to prioritize raids, deportations, and immigration enforcement in states governed by the Democratic Party, according to the news outlet Univision.
The U.S. president posted on his social media channels directing agents to “do everything possible to achieve the very important goal of delivering the largest mass deportation program in history,” the report said.
Trump further explained that efforts should be expanded to apprehend and deport illegal immigrants in the largest U.S. cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where millions of undocumented immigrants reside.
Previously, Stephen Miller, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, informally stated that the agency aims to arrest 3,000 immigrants per day. He also demanded that agents actively seek out and detain undocumented immigrants, according to the American media outlet.
In recent weeks, ICE operations have faced criticism for the use of masked agents who do not identify themselves or present warrants during arrests.
International
Judge to rule next week on injunction against Trump’s student visa restrictions
A Boston (Massachusetts) federal judge postponed on Monday her decision on whether to maintain the injunction blocking President Donald Trump’s ban on foreign students at Harvard University.
District Judge Allison D. Burroughs announced after a hearing that she would decide next week whether to uphold or lift the temporary restraining order she issued in May against the policy.
The order will remain in effect until her ruling next week, according to local media reports.
Last month, the Trump administration barred Harvard from enrolling new foreign students and warned current international students that they must transfer to other universities or risk losing their immigration status.
Harvard, one of the most prestigious U.S. universities, filed a lawsuit arguing that its authorization to accept foreign students is “essential” for them to remain legally in the country.
In its legal challenge, the university stated that revoking this authorization has already “disrupted countless academic programs, research labs, and courses.”
Following Harvard’s lawsuit, Judge Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order against the government’s ban, which affects about a quarter of the university’s student body.
Despite the judge’s order, Harvard reported in court documents that several students who arrived in Boston on June 5 were sent to “secondary inspection” and “were detained for many hours without being able to contact anyone.”
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Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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