Articles from ‘elocal magazine’

Wolves in Chernobyl radioactivity region running among abandoned hoses with cold winter and deep snow · The population density of wolves in Chernobyl is seven times greater than surrounding areas in Urkaine. · New research is showing that the population of wolves living in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) is genetically different from their counterparts outside of the region. Remarkably, the irradiated wolves appear to have developed…

A dazzling Bronze Age hoard, discovered 60 years ago in Spain, referred to as the Treasure of Villena, and dating back to the period between 2200 and 750 BC, has now been found to possess ‘extra-terrestrial’ metal! The inclusion of two iron artifacts within the treasure, namely a small hollow semi-sphere adorned with a golden sheet, speculated to be a pommel for a sword hilt, and an open bracelet, mark the first instances of materials…

It used to be the case that kindergarten children played at ‘connecting the dots’ to make drawings, these days this activity is considered to be too structured. Which brings me to the question “Have we lost the capacity to connect the dots?” · Last week ahigh school in Rangiora closed its doors on the second day of the new school year because 39 staff (one third of all staff) had come down with Covid and were unable to come to work. As you…

One of the world’s most-studied volcanoes turns out to be hiding plenty of secrets. Geologists have unearthed major clues about past eruptions of the Greek island of Santorini by drilling into the sea floor around the partially submerged volcano. · Santorini is famous among volcanologists for its Bronze Age eruption in approximately 1600 BC, which might have contributed to the decline of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete. Santorini…

<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wwEqIRZM2IU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure> · Britain has fired its Dragonfire high-powered laser weapon at aerial targets for the first time. The test of the Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) on the Ministry of Defence's Hebrides Range was designed to demonstrate its power and accuracy. · Recent real world events have shown that there is a definite…

In a teaser of things to come, BAE Systems has displayed a model of its future drone at the World Defense Show in Riyadh. Steeped in more mystery than a Raymond Chandler novel, it gives us a hint of what future military drones might look like. · International defense shows can often be more like bird watching events than showcases for the latest military hardware. Defense contractors don't just like to show off their wares for sale, they also…

Researchers have devised an economically viable way of reducing the environmental impact of both the steel and aluminum industries by using hydrogen to melt down the toxic red mud left over from aluminum production to produce green steel in around 10 minutes. · The aluminum industry produces around 198 million tons (180 million tonnes) of bauxite residue – ‘red mud’ – yearly, which is extremely corrosive because it has high alkalinity and is…

From sniffing out diseases and explosives, to some clever animal and dinosaur adaptations for life, the nose and its broad olfactory functions are an important, if somewhat underappreciated, part of many animals' sensory systems. · Now, scientists believe it could be wielding more power over our behavior than previously thought, with researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz) uncovering that certain odors…

After sugarcane crops have been harvested, a great deal of fibrous stalk waste known as bagasse is left over. That substance has been incorporated into an eco-friendly building material called Sugarcrete, which recently won an international Climate Positive Award. · First announced last May, Sugarcrete was developed via a partnership between the University of East London and British firm Tate & Lyle Sugars. · The material consists of…

Artificial intelligence has helped decipher an ancient papyrus scroll, which was transformed into a lump of blackened carbon by volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. The first passages of readable text reveal never-before-seen musings from a Greek philosopher. · The discovery nabbed the $700,000 grand prize in the Vesuvius Challenge, and used a combination of 3D mapping and AI techniques to detect ink and decipher letter shapes within…