It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
This striking image features a relatively rare celestial phenomenon known as a Herbig-Haro object. This particular object, named HH111, was imaged by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3).
These spectacular objects develop under very specific circumstances. Newly formed stars are often very active, and in some cases they expel very narrow jets of rapidly moving ionized gas – gas that is so hot that its molecules and atoms have lost their electrons, making the gas highly charged. The streams of ionized gas then collide with the clouds of gas and dust surrounding newly formed stars at speeds of hundreds of miles per second. It is these energetic collisions that create Herbig-Haro objects such as HH111.
WFC3 takes images at optical, ultraviolet, and infrared wavelengths, which means that it observes objects at a wavelength range similar to the range that human eyes are sensitive to (optical, or visible) and a range of wavelengths that are slightly too short (ultraviolet) or too long (infrared) to be detected by human eyes. Herbig-Haro objects actually release a lot of light at optical wavelengths, but they are difficult to observe because their surrounding dust and gas absorb much of the visible light. Therefore, the WFC3's ability to observe at infrared wavelengths – where observations are not as affected by gas and dust – is crucial to observing Herbo-Haro objects successfully.
This Hubble Space Telescope view shows the star cluster NGC 346 at the center of a brilliant star-forming region inside the Small Magellanic Cloud, a small satellite galaxy of our Milky Way about 210,000 light-years away.(Image credit: NASA, ESA and A. Nota (STScI/ESA))
Just outside the Milky Way, about 210,000 light-years from the Earth, lies the Small Magellanic Cloud. While it may seem a humble shadow of the Milky Way, it’s a galaxy in its own right andfascinates astronomers since it's a hotbed of star formation.
Now, the Hubble Space Telescope has peered deep into the heart of the SmallMagellanic Cloud to reveal the bright star cluster NGC 346 at its core. NGC 346 isa dynamic place where hot new stars push and pull at the gas and dust that surround them, so it's filled with clumps of young blue stars, dominating Hubble's view in the new image, which NASA released Monday (Aug. 30)
"A torrent of radiation from the cluster's hot stars eats into denser areas creating a fantasy sculpture of dust and gas," NASA officials wrote in an image description. "The dark, intricately beaded edge of the ridge, seen in silhouette by Hubble, is particularly dramatic. It contains several small dust globules that point back towards the central cluster, like windsocks caught in a gale."
Mount Etna erupts for 50th time, space satellite captures epic image
During its 50th eruption for 2021, Mount Etna has been photographed by European Sentinel 2 satellite as it passed overhead.
Jak Connor@Jak_ConnorTT
PUBLISHED SAT, SEP 4 2021
Space satellites aren't just used for communication purposes, some are used to take images of the Earth to document natural events such as hurricane Ida, or a volcanic eruption.
Mount Etna has erupted for the 50th time in 2021, spewing out plumes of gas, ash, and lava. The 50th eruption occurred on August 30 and was documented by the European Sentinel 2 satellite with an overhead image. Volcanologists had known that Mount Etna was unstable when it began releasing clouds of ash and gas in late 2020.
According to volcanologist Boris Behncke from the National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), "Etna was building up for something big (we feared an eruption from the flank) with intense seismic activity, ground deformation, and degassing. On 16 February the real series of paroxysms [eruptions] started, seismicity stopped, ground deformation reversed to deflation."
Due to how active Etna has been, researchers are keeping a very close eye on Etna to measure the number of volcanic plumes it is spewing out and how the volcano is generally affecting the area. For more information on this story, check out this link here.
Gisli Olafsson@gislio ·18h Magma is building up under #Askja#volcano in North-Eastern #Iceland. Currently no seismic activity recorded in the area. It last erupted in 1961, with an eruption that lasted 6 weeks. In 1875 it had an explosive eruption, often credited with causing emigration to N.America.
Kilauea volcano (Hawai'i): recent magma inflation lifts caldera by up to 18 cm
Fri, 3 Sep 2021, 14:50
14:50 PM | BY: T
Radar-measured changes of the ground elevation between Aug 19, and Sep 1, 2021, calculated by the difference between two radar images taken by the Italian COSMO-SkyMed satellite on these dates. Each colored ring cycle corresponds to a vertical movement of the surface of 1.55 cm (image: HVO / USGS)
New satellite data shows that the summit of the caldera has uplifted by up as much as 18 cm during the recent earthquake swarms, which supports the interpretation that they had been caused by pulses of magma that intruded at shallow depth, thus causing the inflation of the ground above.
The inflation continues at slow rate while earthquake rates are back to normal levels, suggesting that the volcano-tectonic events have come to (at least a temporary) end.
CON JOB PARACHUTE CANDIDATE MIA
N.W.T.'s Conservative candidate has never visited the territory, doesn't take calls
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'There was a crunch deadline of when they finally called it ... for us to have somebody in place'
The N.W.T.'s Conservative candidate, Lea Mollison, has never been to the N.W.T., and there's no sign of her coming, but the Conservative riding association says that this doesn't change her commitment to represent the territory if elected. (Conservative Party of Canada)
The Conservative candidate for the N.W.T. has been missing in action for more than 10 days since the announcement that she would run to represent the territory in Parliament.
Lea Mollison, who lives in Thunder Bay, Ont., and who has never set foot in the territory, is in the federal election race to represent the territory's nearly 45,000 residents in the riding of Northwest Territories.
Since her candidacy was announced on Aug. 24, CBC News has been unable to successfully speak to Mollison or confirm her attendance at a candidates forum slated for Sept. 15, despite multiple attempts by phone and email.
She was also notably absent from a forum run by local media Thursday, where four other candidates discussed issues and shared their platforms. Mollison told independent news organization Cabin Radio via email that she "unfortunately will not be able to participate" and did not respond to subsequent attempts to contact her.
Mollison's internet presence is sparse and her place of work is not publicly listed. Details about her as a candidate are limited to a brief bio on the local party association's website.
Mollison told Northern News Services that she was doing outreach to N.W.T. communities to learn about what they need from the party, and said this would lead to "dialogue about how the Conservative Recovery Platform will help address those issues."
'Unable to find a northern interest'
The N.W.T. Conservative Association said in an interview on Friday that the snap election, called by the Trudeau Liberals, made it tough to confirm a candidate.
Matthew Lakusta, the association's president, said the board "was unable to find a northern interest."
"There was a crunch deadline of when they finally called it … for us to have somebody in place."
While Lakusta is not permitted to speak to the party's platform and views, he said Mollison is "very interested in promoting northern values" and "wants to move things in the North."
Responding to public ire that Mollison doesn't live in the territory, Lakusta said "I know there are concerns. People say, 'Well, the candidate isn't from the North,' and that's true. But that doesn't reflect on the person that is running."
Lakusta confirmed that Mollison has not been to the N.W.T.
"The person that is running is dedicated to trying to promote the values of the North," he said.
Lakusta said getting a candidate to run means ensuring that person feels supported so that they want to put their name forward.
"They didn't allow enough time for certain people to marinate on the idea that maybe they wanted to run," he said.
Saskatchewan roots
Canadians will head to the polls Sept. 20, with just 36 days of campaigning beforehand — the minimum allowed by law.
Mollison's name will be on the ballot alongside Liberal incumbent Michael McLeod, NDP candidate Kelvin Kotchilea, independent Jane Groenewegen and Green Party candidate Roland Laufer.
According to her profile on the Conservative association's website, Mollison was born and raised in Saskatchewan, and completed her BA in Native Studies at the University of Saskatchewan in 2012.
Mollison was a teenage mother, is "connected to at-risk youth" and is involved in research. She works at a breast screening clinic in Thunder Bay that provides "critical medical testing for at-risk women in Northern Ontario."
The profile says Mollison believes in fiscally responsible government and accountability on spending.
It also says she has worked across Western Canada, raising three children with her military husband.
Saskatoon tech company gets results by going carbon neutral
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The company's approach has helped it attract young talent that cares about the environment
Chris de Jong, the the marketing director of 7shifts, said his company wants to lead with its values. (Submitted by Chris de Jong)
A Saskatoon tech company, specializing in restaurant work, is investing in environmental initiatives to offset its carbon production.
And the company 7shifts has already offset 1,212 metric tons of carbon. That's the equivalent of taking 253 cars off the road, permanently.
"We see becoming carbon neutral as just an extension of our core values," said Chris de Jong, the marketing director of 7shifts.
The company creates scheduling and management platforms for the restaurant industry in North America.
In order to offset emissions, 7shifts partnered with another startup called Green Places, which is based in Raleigh, North Carolina, to help them track their carbon footprint.
Green Places determines how much money 7shifts has to pay for carbon credits, to be invested in environmental initiatives.
Staff at 7shifts such as Kirsten Zlukosky, Kris Booth, Emily Brazill and Chris de Jong (left to right) are pleased the company supports environmental initiatives. (Submitted by Chris de Jong)
The two initiatives 7shifts has focused on are renewable energy and natural solutions — which involves things like restoration, planting trees and conserving environmentally sensitive areas.
Green Places then gives data back to 7shifts on how the carbon credits are being spent.
De Jong said his company was surprised to learn their carbon footprint was bigger than expected.
"As a technology company, we don't have, a ton of things like fleet vehicles or factories," he said. "It's all bits and bytes floating through the ether. But when you combine all the things like travel, the carbon cost of our offices, the carbon cost of data and infrastructure, it really adds up."
Another reason 7shifts decided to take on the initiative was to attract younger people who are concerned about the environment. He cited a study by Deloitte earlier this year focusing on millennials and Gen Z. He said one of the main concerns for respondents was environmental sustainability and climate change.
By adopting an environmental ethos the company has attracted the applicants, De Jong said.
"They're saying: 'Hey, I want to work for 7shifts because I really believe in your mission. And you seem like a company that I want to work for," he said, adding that it felt really gratifying.
Saskatchewan is leading the country in greenhouse gas emissions per capita, according to a report published by Environment and Climate Change Canada. The report also mentioned that the province's greenhouse gas emissions have remained at relatively similar levels from 2014 to 2019.
The move to go carbon neutral within the company has also made de Jong personally reflect.
"It's forcing me to think a lot more about it and what else I can do in my life," he said. "Maybe installing solar panels on my house or choosing an electric car in the future. Or a million other small things to kind of help the environment and be more sustainable."
De Jong also said that the staff responded positively to the change and are feeling excited and proud of what they are doing.
The company has also taken other steps to be more environmentally friendly. It has an office compost, recycles and uses the least amount of energy possible inside the building.
With Files from Saskatoon Morning
How Canadian
photographer captured this stunning image of a dangerous mosquito
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Gil Wizen of Mississauga, Ont., earned a commendation from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards
CBC Radio ·
Ontario photopgrapher Gil Wizen has received a commendation from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards for this photo of a Sabethes mosquito that he snapped in the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. (Gil Wizen/Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
When Gil Wizen took photos of a mosquito biting his knuckle, he wanted to show how beautiful it can be.
The entomologist was on a trip to Ecuador a few years ago, studying another bug (the whip spider) when he laid eyes on the Sabethes mosquito.
"The first time I saw it, I'm not going to lie, it was like a slap in the face," Wizen told As It Happens guest host Peter Armstrong.
The Sabethes mosquito is about five millimetres long and has a metallic-coloured body that shimmers in different colours.
I've got bitten so many times, I cannot tell you, but it's worth it- Gil Wizen, entomologist and photographer
According to Wizen, most of the time it shimmers in blue and green, but sometimes it turns purple. It also has six very long legs in blue and purple.
"When I see an insect that I don't know and it's that impressive, there's a moment I ask myself, 'Am I still on Earth?' Because this is so amazing," he said.
Wizen went on to capture the "beautiful bloodsucker" and now that photo is being honoured in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
It took the entomologist five years of photographing the mosquito to get the perfect shot.
He wanted to frame the mosquito head-on and show its symmetry, all the way from its legs to its wings.
The day that he took his entry photo, a cloud of mosquitoes flew over him for a few hours as he snapped the tiny creatures from different angles.
"I've got bitten so many times, I cannot tell you, but it's worth it," he said. "It's going to confuse a lot of people, but ... just sharing a brief moment with this majestic animal is totally worth it."
Sabethes mosquitos have another noteworthy feature, which made the process of capturing its photo more difficult.
The first and second pair of legs have "hair extensions" that look like feathers or paddles. A lot of people call those ornaments 'leg warmers.'
But the hind legs are extremely long, resembling antennas, and they curve upward when the mosquito bites.
"The mosquito also swings them ... waves them around from side to side and that's because they are sensory," Wizen said.
Wizen is a Mississauga, Ont., wildlife photographer and entomologist. (Sean McCann/Submitted by Gil Wizen)
"Those legs help the mosquito detect if someone is going to swat it. And that's how they evade us when they bite us. If we try to swat it, sometimes they take off faster. They feel the air currents coming in and they take off."
Sabethes mosquitoes can also carry tropical diseases, like yellow fever and dengue.
But only the females, like in other mosquitos, bite humans and take blood as a meal when they are ready to lay eggs.
"That one will stick with you for a few hours, the pain," Wizen said.
Written by Mehek Mazhar. Interview with Gil Wizen produced by Kate Swoger.
Warming Arctic linked to polar vortex outbreaks farther south
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Warmer air weakens the vortex, which normally keeps cold air trapped in Arctic, letting it go south
The Associated Press ·
A man snowboards down Congress Avenue after a heavy snow in Austin in February 2021. A new study is the first to show the connections between changes in the polar region and February's Valentine's Week freeze that triggered widespread power outages in Texas, killing more than 170 people and causing at least $20 billion US in damage. (Jay Janner /Austin American-Statesman/The Associated Press)
Warming of the Arctic caused by climate change has increased the number of polar vortex outbreaks, when frigid air from the far north bathes other parts of the Northern Hemisphere in killer cold, a study finds.
The study published this week in the journal Science is the first to show the connections between changes in the polar region and February's Valentine's Week freeze that triggered widespread power outages in Texas, killing more than 170 people and causing at least $20 billion US ($25 billion Cdn) in damage. Extremely cold temperatures also hit much of Canada that month.
The polar vortex normally keeps icy air trapped in the Arctic. But warmer air weakens the vortex, allowing it to stretch and wander south. The number of times it has weakened per year has more than doubled since the early 1980s, said study lead author Judah Cohen, a winter storm expert for Atmospheric Environmental Research, a commercial firm outside of Boston.
"It is counterintuitive that a rapidly warming Arctic can lead to an increase in extreme cold in a place as far south as Texas, but the lesson from our analysis is to expect the unexpected with climate change," Cohen said.
Climate scientists are still debating how and whether global warming is affecting cold snaps. They know it's reducing the overall number of cold days, but they are still trying to understand if it leads to deeper cold snaps.
Ivan Gonzales, left, works with his brother-in-law Gabriel Martinez to assist a motorist using a carpet up a hill along the snow-covered Cherrywood Road in Austin, Tex., on Feb. 16. (Bronte Wittpenn/Austin American-Statesman/The Associated Press)
Cohen's study is the first to use measurements of changes in the atmosphere to help explain a phenomenon that climate models had struggled to account for.
The study "provides a potentially simpler interpretation of what's going on," said Pennsylvania State University climate scientist Michael Mann, who wasn't part of the study.
Cohen was able to show how there have been dramatic differences in warming inside the Arctic itself, which drives how the polar vortex can stretch and weaken.
When the area north of England and around Scandinavia warms more than the area around Siberia, it stretches the polar vortex eastward and the cold air moves from Siberia north over the polar region and then south into the central and eastern part of the United States.
"The Texas cold blast of February 2021 is a poster child" for the link between a changing Arctic and cold blasts in lower latitudes, said climate scientist Jennifer Francis of the Woodwell Climate Research Center on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. She helped pioneer the Arctic link theory, but wasn't part of Cohen's research.
"The study takes this controversial hypothesized linkage and moves it solidly toward accepted science," she said.
Global warming threatens the existence of an Arctic oasis
The University of Helsinki's Environmental Change Research Unit (ECRU) took part in an international study investigating the millennia-long history of the most important oasis in the Arctic and the potential effects of climate change on its future.
The North Water Polynya is an area of year-round open water located between northwest Greenland and Ellesmere Island, Canada, in northern Baffin Bay, which is otherwise covered by sea ice roughly eight months of the year. The area is known as an Arctic oasis, and one of the main migration routes of Greenland's original population runs just north of the area.
In the study, microfossils and chemical biomarkers preserved in marine and lake sediments were analyzed as keys to the past, exposing historical variation in the North Water Polynya in the past 6,000 years.
The polynya's high rate of primary production, for which, in marine environments, diatoms and other microalgae are responsible, maintains a diverse and unique ecosystem that serves as a safe haven for a range of species in Arctic conditions, which are otherwise harsh. Keystone Arctic species, such as the polar bear, the walrus and the narwhal, also thrive there. For the indigenous populations reliant on hunting and fishing, this area, the largest polynya in the northern hemisphere, has been a lifeline.
According to the study, the polynya was stable and its primary production was high roughly 4,400–4,200 years ago, at the time when people arrived in Greenland from Canada over the frozen Nares Strait.
A millennium of instability and new heat records
However, the polynya's stability has varied over the last millennia: during the warmer climate periods 2,200–1,200 years ago, the area was unstable and its productivity fell drastically. When primary production rates are low, significant reductions are seen in the populations of organisms in the upper levels of the food web, such as zooplankton, fish and marine mammals.
"According to archaeological finds, there were no inhabitants in the area during this period. It's a mystery that can potentially be explained, in light of the research findings, by conditions that were unfavorable to people reliant on hunting and fishing," says researcher Kaarina Weckström from the Environmental Change Research Unit, University of Helsinki.
The researchers point out that air temperatures have never reached the current level in northwest Greenland in the 6,000-year-long period of the polynya's history studied. Global warming and reduction in sea ice caused by human activity have led to the polynya's instability. The area is maintained by favorable ocean currents and winds, and particularly by an ice bridge located north of the polynya, which prevents drift ice in the Arctic Ocean traveling further south. It is the annual formation of this natural block that the warming of the climate is now threatening.
"This area, the Arctic's most important oasis, is likely to disappear if temperatures continue to rise as forecast. It would be important to at least slow climate change down, in order for Arctic indigenous peoples to have some kind of a chance to adapt to their future living conditions. Then again, as the history of the polynya suggests, if we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the rising air temperature, both Arctic sea ice and the polynya can be restored," Weckström sums up.
More information:Sofia Ribeiro et al, Vulnerability of the North Water ecosystem to climate change,Nature Communications(2021).DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24742-0
