
Anxious neighbours sigh in relief as US and China talk
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit reassures a region caught between the rival sides.
2023-06-20 14:57

Scientists found the oldest water on the planet and drank it
If you found water that was more than two billion years old, would your first instinct be to drink it? One scientist did exactly that after finding the oldest water ever discovered on the planet. A team from the University of Toronto, led by Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar, came across an incredible find while studying a Canadian mine in 2016. Tests showed that the water source they unearthed was between 1.5 billion and 2.64 billion years old. Given that it was completely isolated, it marked the oldest ever found on Earth. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Remarkably, the tests also uncovered that there was once life present in the water. Speaking to BBC News, professor Sherwood Lollar said: “When people think about this water they assume it must be some tiny amount of water trapped within the rock. “But in fact it’s very much bubbling right up out at you. These things are flowing at rates of litres per minute – the volume of the water is much larger than anyone anticipated.” Discussing the presence of life in the water, Sherwood Lollar added: “By looking at the sulphate in the water, we were able to see a fingerprint that’s indicative of the presence of life. And we were able to indicate that the signal we are seeing in the fluids has to have been produced by microbiology - and most importantly has to have been produced over a very long time scale. “The microbes that produced this signature couldn’t have done it overnight. This has to be an indication that organisms have been present in these fluids on a geological timescale.” The professor also revealed that she tried the water for herself – but how did it taste? “If you’re a geologist who works with rocks, you’ve probably licked a lot of rocks,” Sherwood Lollar told CNN. She revealed that the water was "very salty and bitter" and "much saltier than seawater." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-06-20 14:55

Search Underway for Titanic-Wreck Submersible With Five Crew
Searchers raced to find a submersible diving vessel with five people aboard that went missing in the North
2023-06-20 14:30

Nearly 100 letters containing white powder sent to Trump and senior Republicans
Nearly 100 letters containing a mysterious white powder were addressed to Donald Trump and several Republican lawmakers in Kansas, according to officials. At least two Republican politicians from the state said they received a letter from someone who referred to themselves as “your secret despirer”. The term is likely a play on the word despise. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said the letters “containing suspicious white powder” have been received across the state of Kansas and sent for testing to determine the components of the substance. It said approximately 100 letters have been received as of Sunday and law enforcement and hazmat teams were working to safely collect the letters and investigate the incidents. “Currently, no injuries have been reported, but we ask everyone to remain vigilant in handling mail,” it said. Similar letters containing a note and a powdery substance were sent to prominent figures such as former president Donald Trump and Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas. However, before reaching their intended recipients, these letters were intercepted by the US Postal Inspection Service, sources told ABC news. The letters were found to be harmless by postal inspectors, sources said. One of the recipients of the compromised letter told ABC Kansas City affiliate KMBC that the note with the letter was intended to threaten. "There is some message. The message is somewhat unclear, but it was intended to be threatening," Republican state senator Molly Baumgardner said. She said the letter mailed to her had a suspicious white powder and a note which read in part that: “It is important not to choke on your ambition”. It was described as a “gift” by the sender who referred to themselves as "your secret despirer”. "Everybody has to be concerned," Ms Baumgardner told the network. "Everyone has to take this and any subsequent threats like this very seriously." Republican state representative Stephen Owens said he also received a letter with content similar to the one that Ms Baumgardner got, according to a copy he shared with CNN. KBI said they are working with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to determine the motive behind the letter. "Preliminary tests have returned from this lab indicating the substance is presumptively negative for common biological agents of concern," the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in an update, adding that it has been sent for further testing. Kansas state Republican representative Steve Owens told ABC News that it was “terrifying” to receive the letter that came in a standard white envelope. In April, Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, received two letters containing white power just days after indicting Mr Trump. New York police were called to the mailroom at the office located in Lower Manhattan as a precaution and determined the white powder was nonhazardous. The first letter to Mr Bragg read: “ALVIN: I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!” Mr Bragg said he has received several “serious” threats of harm recently which has led to an increase in security protection. Read More Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is sent a second package containing white powder after Trump arrest This smiling father-of-six dentist was living a double life – and allegedly plotting his wife’s poisoning murder Blinken says US ‘doesn’t support Taiwan independence’ in visit to ease relations with China Ivanka and Jared split over attending Trump 2024 launch – follow live Why was Donald Trump impeached twice during his first term? Four big lies Trump told during his 2024 presidential announcement
2023-06-20 14:28

Ending Nigeria's fuel subsidy pushes a shift to solar. Without a climate plan, progress is at risk
Nigeria's removal of a subsidy that helped reduce the price of gasoline has increased costs for people already struggling with high inflation
2023-06-20 14:18

Five European states sign letter of intent to buy Mistral air defence systems - sources
PARIS France, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia and Hungary signed a letter of intent for the joint purchase of the
2023-06-20 13:55

Ulster University: Magee campus to get millions from Irish government
The Irish government is expected to approve more than £42.7m for several all-island projects today.
2023-06-20 13:53

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba announces new CEO and chairman in major management reshuffle
China's Alibaba Group has announced that Eddie Wu, chairman of its e-commerce group, will succeed Daniel Zhang as CEO in a major management reshuffle
2023-06-20 13:52

A challenging search in remote waters intensifies for the missing submersible that was touring the Titanic wreckage with 5 on board
A multi-agency search is intensifying for a submersible that went missing with five people on board while touring the wreckage of the Titanic, as crews comb through choppy, remote waters in low visibility.
2023-06-20 13:49

War in Ukraine: TV reporter fled to safety in Belfast
Former TV reporter and presenter Kateryna Fuglevych recalls her frightening journey out of Ukraine.
2023-06-20 13:45

Taiwan kindergarten druggings spark alarm among islands' parents
At least eight children at a preschool were found with trace amounts of sedatives in their system.
2023-06-20 12:54

Chinese Banks Disappoint With Modest Cut to Five-Year Rate
Chinese banks followed the central bank by lowering their benchmark lending rates on Tuesday, although a relatively modest
2023-06-20 12:46