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Anomalous ‘Interstellar Tunnel’ Found in Our Local Bubble of Space
November 9, 2024
Astronomers recently mapped the Local Hot Bubble (LHB), a vast, million-Kelvin cavity spanning about 1,000 light-years around our Solar System.
This low-density region, whose origins likely trace back to ancient supernova explosions, has long fascinated scientists with its unusual structure and temperature.
Now, a breakthrough study has revealed an unexpected feature within the LHB: an interstellar tunnel pointing toward the constellation Centaurus.
The Local Hot Bubble is thought to have been sculpted millions of years ago by the explosive energy of multiple supernovae in our galactic neighborhood.
These violent stellar deaths likely excavated the bubble, heating it to extreme temperatures and creating the low-density pocket we observe today.
But mapping something as vast as the LHB from the inside out is no easy feat.
To tackle this challenge, scientists turned to eROSITA, a powerful X-ray telescope aboard a space observatory positioned far beyond Earth’s atmospheric halo.
Led by Michael Yeung and a team from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, researchers used eROSITA’s clear, comprehensive view of the X-ray sky to map the LHB in great detail.
This revealed new insights into its shape and thermal profile.
Here’s a summary of the significant findings that emerged from the recent mapping of the LHB:
Shape: Resembles a bipolar nebula, but with notable asymmetry, bumps, and spikes.
Temperature: Approximately 1 million Kelvin due to supernova heating, though the sparse matter within prevents excessive heating effects.
Size: Estimated to span about 1,000 light-years in diameter.
Expansion Direction: Faster expansion perpendicular to the galactic plane, consistent with paths cleared by supernovae.
Unexplained Structure: Presence of an interstellar tunnel pointing toward Centaurus, distinct from the rest of the cooler surrounding interstellar medium.
A Surprising Structure and Temperature Gradient
The new map of the LHB reveals a shape that resembles a bipolar nebula with surprising bumps and spikes—deviating from the smoother shapes astronomers had envisioned.
Interestingly, the LHB is expanding more rapidly perpendicular to the galactic plane than along it, a movement that aligns with theories of supernova activity clearing pathways through space.
This asymmetrical shape and temperature gradient reinforce the idea that stars in the vicinity exploded in a sequence that heated and expanded the bubble in specific directions.
However, the map’s most surprising revelation lies in a strange tunnel-like structure within the LHB, pointing toward Centaurus.
This feature stands out starkly, as though carved through the surrounding cooler interstellar medium.
Potential Connections of The Interstellar Tunnel
This unusual tunnel has astronomers puzzled. It could hint at a connection between the Local Hot Bubble and other low-density bubbles nearby, such as the Gum nebula and other molecular clouds.
If true, it may lend support to a long-theorized concept: that the Milky Way contains a network of interconnected hot bubbles and tunnels.
Proposed in 1974, this theory has remained speculative due to a lack of evidence. Now, the discovery of the Centaurus tunnel might represent the first observational clue that such a cosmic network exists.
Potential Connections of the Interstellar Tunnel
Gum Nebula: Another low-density bubble in the vicinity of the Local Hot Bubble.
Molecular Clouds: Dense regions of gas that might border the tunnel.
Other Galactic Bubbles: Theorized bubbles that could connect in a web-like structure across the Milky Way.
With eROSITA’s detailed observations, astronomers may finally be closing in on an answer to the mysteries surrounding the Local Hot Bubble.
If further exploration confirms a galactic web of bubbles and tunnels, this discovery could reshape our understanding of the Milky Way’s structure and its dynamic past.
Though the tunnel’s final destination remains unknown, its presence alone brings us closer to understanding the interstellar landscape we inhabit.
The new LHB map might not only explain our Solar System’s peculiar positioning but could reveal a hidden galactic network waiting to be uncovered.
https://dailygalaxy.com/2024/11/anomalous-interstellar-tunnel-in-our-space/
Strange Metal From Beyond Our Planet Found in an Ancient Treasure Stash
09 November 2024
Amidst a cache of glittering golden treasures from the Iberian Bronze Age, a pair of corroded objects might be the most precious of all.
A dull bracelet and a rusted hollow hemisphere decorated with gold are forged, researchers have found, not out of metal from beneath the ground, but with iron from meteorites that fell from the sky.
The discovery, led by now-retired head of conservation at the National Archeological Museum Spain, Salvador Rovira-Llorens, was revealed in a paper published in January, and suggests that metalworking technology and techniques were far more advanced than we thought in Iberia more than 3,000 years ago.
The Treasure of Villena, as the cache of 66 mostly gold objects is known, was discovered more than 60 years ago in 1963 in what is now Alicante in Spain, and has since come to be regarded as one of the most important examples of Bronze Age goldsmithing in the Iberian Peninsula, and the whole of Europe.
However, determining the age of the collection has been somewhat difficult to do, thanks to two objects: a small, hollow hemisphere, thought to be part of a scepter or sword hilt; and a single, torc-like bracelet. Both have what archaeologists have described as a "ferrous" appearance – that is, they seem to be made of iron.
In the Iberian Peninsula, the Iron Age – where smelted terrestrial iron began to replace bronze – didn't start until around 850 BCE.
The problem is that the gold materials have been dated to between 1500 and 1200 BCE.
So working out where the ferrous-looking artifacts sit in the context of the Treasure of Villena has been something of a puzzle.
But iron ore from Earth's crust is not the only place source of malleable iron.
There's a number of pre-Iron Age iron artifacts around the world that were forged from the stuff of meteorites.
Perhaps most famous is the meteoritic iron dagger of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, but there are other Bronze Age weapons made of the material, and they were very highly prized.
There is a way to tell the difference: iron from meteorites has a much higher nickel content than iron dug out of Earth's ground.
So researchers obtained permission from the Municipal Archaeological Museum of Villena, which houses the collection, to carefully test the two artifacts, and determine just how much nickel they contained.
They carefully took samples of both artifacts, and subjected the material to mass spectrometry to determine their composition.
In spite of the high degree of corrosion, which alters the elemental makeup of the artifact, the results strongly suggest that both the hemisphere and the bracelet were made from meteoritic iron.
This neatly solves the dilemma of how the two artifacts align with the rest of the collection: they were made around the same period, dating back to around 1400 to 1200 BCE.
"The available data suggest that the cap and bracelet from the Treasure of Villena would currently be the first two pieces attributable to meteoritic iron in the Iberian Peninsula," the researchers explain in their paper, "which is compatible with a Late Bronze chronology, prior to the beginning of the widespread production of terrestrial iron."
Now, because the objects are so badly corroded, the results aren't conclusive.
But there are more recent, non-invasive techniques that could be applied to the objects to obtain a more detailed set of data that would help cement the findings, the team suggest.
https://www.sciencealert.com/strange-metal-from-beyond-our-planet-found-in-an-ancient-treasure-stash
https://tp.revistas.csic.es/index.php/tp/article/view/929/1110
Tony Todd, ‘Candyman’ and ‘Final Destination’ Actor, Dies at 69
November 8, 2024 6:53pm
Tony Todd, an actor who starred in the Candyman and Final Destination horror franchises, has died. He was 69.
He died Wednesday at his home in Marina del Rey after a long illness, his wife, Fatima, told The Hollywood Reporter.
“The industry has lost a legend. We have lost a cherished friend.
Rest in peace, Tony, -Your Final Destination Family,” New Line Cinema, which produced the franchise, wrote on Instagram.
Born on Dec. 4, 1954, in Washington, Todd went on to study for two years at the University of Connecticut before getting a scholarship for the Eugene O’Neill National Theatre Institute.
His time there helped lay a foundation for his stints at the then-Hartman Conservatory in Stamford, Connecticut, and the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island.
Todd made his film debut in 1986’s Sleepwalk, launching an acting career that would span more than 200 television and movie credits.
His most notable role was in 1992’s Candyman, which saw him play the eponymous hook-wielding ghost.
He returned for 1995’s Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh and the 2021 remake.
Todd also took on the role of William Bludworth in 2000’s Final Destination, 2003’s Final Destination 2 and 2011’s Final Destination 5.
His other credits included 1990’s Night of the Living Dead, 1996’s The Rock, 1994’s The Crow, 2006’s Hatchet, 2007’s The Man from Earth, 2010’s Hatchet II, The Flash, 2015’s Frankenstein, 2018’s Hell Fest, 2018’s Requiem, 2022’s Hellblazers and 2024’s The Bunker.
He also played Kurn in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Alpha Hirogen in Star Trek: Voyager.
His IMDb profile also lists more than nine titles in postproduction.
“Tony was a masterful actor who was truly chameleonic; he prepared for every role with the utmost meticulousness,” Rel Dowdell, the director of Film Studies at Hampton University who directed him in 2012’s Changing the Game, said in a statement. “He was truly one of a kind.”
In addition to his wife, Todd is survived by his children, Alex and Ariana.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/tony-todd-dead-candyman-final-destination-actor-1236057126/
Elon Musk’s Bold Predictions For the Future
2:57 pm November 9, 2024
Elon Musk, the entrepreneur behind companies like Tesla and SpaceX, who recently helped Donald Trump regain the American presidency, has continuously pushed the frontiers of technology.
His future predictions span artificial intelligence, renewable energy, population dynamics, and space exploration—fields that could reshape societal structures, economies, and human potential.
Imagine a world where AI equals human intelligence, solar energy powers entire cities, and humans explore Mars. Far from science fiction, this is Musk’s vision.
Known for transforming ambitious ideas into reality, Musk sees a future where AI, sustainable energy, demographic shifts, and space travel drive global progress.
As we approach these transformative shifts, a mix of excitement and uncertainty arises. Could these advancements lead us to a more sustainable, equitable, and innovative world?
Interview with Elon Musk
In this insightful interview, Musk shares his forecasts, exploring how AI might rival human intelligence, why solar energy could become a primary power source, and what the future holds for space travel and autonomous technology.
These innovations bring promise but also present complex challenges that demand careful, strategic thinking.
TL;DR Key Takeaways :
Elon Musk predicts that artificial intelligence will achieve human-level capabilities by 2029, emphasizing the importance of AI safety and ethics through initiatives like the xAI project.
Musk foresees solar energy becoming the primary global energy source, driven by technological advancements and AI innovation, crucial for sustainable growth.
He expresses concern over declining birth rates, advocating for policies to promote higher birth rates to maintain balanced global populations.
Space exploration, particularly missions to Mars, is a key focus for Musk, aiming to overcome challenges for humanity’s long-term survival and expansion.
Musk envisions a future with autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots transforming industries, potentially leading to a post-capitalist society with universal high income.
Artificial Intelligence: The Dawn of Human-Level Capabilities
Musk anticipates that artificial intelligence will reach human-level abilities by 2029, a prediction that has sparked both excitement and concern in the tech community.
This rapid progress in AI capabilities brings up critical questions about AI safety and ethics.
To address these pressing issues, Musk has launched the xAI project, which focuses on developing AI systems that are both beneficial and truth-seeking.
The primary objectives of xAI include:
Creating AI systems that align with human interests
Mitigating potential risks associated with advanced AI
Promoting transparency and accountability in AI development
Exploring the philosophical implications of artificial general intelligence
As AI continues to evolve, it’s crucial to ensure that its development remains in harmony with human values and ethical considerations.
Musk’s initiatives in this field aim to steer AI progress in a direction that maximizes benefits while minimizing potential harm.
Solar Energy: Spearheading the Renewable Revolution
In the realm of energy, Musk predicts that solar power will become the dominant source of electricity worldwide.
With ongoing technological advancements and decreasing costs, solar energy is expected to fulfill a significant portion of global energy needs in the coming decades.
This transition to renewable energy sources is vital for sustainable growth and combating climate change.
Musk also highlights the potential role of global AI clusters in driving innovation and enhancing energy solutions.
These AI-powered systems could optimize energy distribution, improve storage technologies, and accelerate the development of more efficient solar panels.
https://www.geeky-gadgets.com/elon-musks-predictions/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mofEOSUkMpA
STAR WARS The jaw-dropping Chinese space weapons with ‘mind-boggling’ capabilities – from ‘Death Star’ to secret space plane
Updated: 3:06 ET, Nov 9 2024
CHINA has injected billions into advancing its homegrown space industry, and now has the second-largest satellite fleet in the world - behind only the US.
But the technology the country is pushing out has spooked defence chiefs in the US, a long-time space-faring nation.
Satellite-destroying 'Death Star'
Chinese scientists say they have built a new type of satellite-destroying weapon that converges multiple high-powered microwave beams to take out a single target.
According to a report from South China Morning Post, a pro-China paper, the weapon is a similar concept to the super laser from the Death Star featured in Star Wars.
The space laser has allegedly completed experimental trials on its potential military use.
China has reportedly been developing high-powered microwave (HPM) weapons with the potential to disrupt radar systems, computers, communication infrastructures, and even missiles and satellites.
But each microwave beam needs to be positioned with millimetre-level accuracy to work.
Time synchronisation must also be within 170 picoseconds, or trillionths of a second, which is more precise than the atomic clocks on GPS satellites.
Chinese scientists said the latest technology could suppress signals of American GPS and other satellites, "achieving multiple goals such as teaching and training, new technology verification, and military exercises."
Web of satellites
In September, a Space Force intelligence report warned that China's military is rapidly building up space capabilities.
It said that over 970 recently deployed satellites could support attacks on US aircraft carriers, expeditionary forces and air wings during a conflict.
China last year sent the classified Yaogan-41 optical satellite into orbit, an 18.5metre-long hunk of tech believed to have a resolution down to around 2.5metres, according to Forbes.
This suggests it is capable of seeing car-sized objects.
That is the equivalent to seeing a strand of hair from 800meters away, a study from the Chinese Academy of Science reported.
While state media reported that the satellite will be used in land surveys, crop yield estimations, and weather forecasting, onlookers in the US believe it to be designed for military purposes.
Secretive spaceplane
China has maintained strict secrecy around its spaceplane, dubbed CSSHQ, so it's unclear whether it can be used as a weapon or not.
The only images available of the spaceplane are those that have been leaked by insiders.
Though experts believe it is China's attempt to develop a rival to the US' X-37B spaceplane.
In September, the top-secret spaceplane returned to Earth after more than eight months in orbit.
The reusable spacecraft landed at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, located in a remote corner of northwest China, according to state media outlet Xinhua.
The spaceplane was launched atop a Long March 2F rocket in December 2023.
It was the spacecrafts third mission, spending 268 days in orbit.
It's first launch was in September 2020, and lasted just two days.
Little is known about the spaceplane, its capabilities, or the aims of its mission.
Xinhua stated that the craft will "pave the way for more convenient and affordable round-trip methods for the peaceful use of space in the future."
In May, the spaceplane ejected an unknown object into orbit, according to ground-level spacecraft trackers, which one expert speculated could be a subsatellite.
"This object could be a subsatellite deployment," astronomer Jonathan McDowell, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics, wrote on X.
"Or, it could be a piece of hardware ejected prior to end of mission and deorbit (the space plane's first flight did something similar)."
It may have also been an object spat out to test capture maneuvers with the spacecraft, like it did on its second in-orbit test flight.
Space Force, a faction of the US military, have catalogued the object as 59884.
https://www.the-sun.com/tech/12858859/china-space-weapons-death-star-satellites-spaceplane/