'Just Ken' no more? Barbie sidekick among 12 finalists for National Toy Hall of Fame
The National Toy Hall of Fame has announced the 12 finalists being considered for induction this year
2023-09-13 22:22
EU boosts green fuels for aviation: 70% of fuels at EU airports will have to be sustainable by 2050
EU lawmakers have approved new rules requiring airlines to use more sustainable fuels across the bloc in a bid to help decarbonize the sector
2023-09-13 22:21
'Earthquake lights' video seen moments before Morocco tragedy fuel age-old theory
With the tragedy and horror wreaked in Morocco last week, it's unsurprising that people’s focus hasn’t been on the skies. And yet, Friday’s devastating earthquake, has also sparked renewed interest in a mysterious aerial phenomenon. Footage shared to social media just moments before the 6.8-magnitude tremor struck the High Atlas mountains appears to show blinding lights flashing across the sky. Experts have suggested that the jaw-dropping sight is evidence of an enigmatic natural occurrence called “earthquake lights”. Reports of these bright flashes go back centuries. And yet, very little is known about them, to the point that scientists aren’t even sure they’re real. Indeed, some experts have concluded that there isn’t sufficient proof to support their existence, the United States Geological Survey notes. Nevertheless, “people have wondered about them forever," Karen Daniels, a physicist at North Carolina State University, told the New York Times. "It's one of those persistent mysteries that hang around and never quite get nailed." The issue with studying earthquake lights is that since earthquakes are impossible to predict, so are any preceding celestial pyrotechnics. Not knowing when or where they will occur means researchers can’t preemptively install the necessary equipment needed to detect them. Essentially, the only evidence we have comes from eyewitness accounts and, more recently, video recordings. And there is an abundance of the former, with a 2014 study noting that aerial luminous phenomena were reported in relation to 65 earthquakes which occurred in Europe and America over a period of 200 years. These descriptions of earthquake lights vary in their details, with some recalling on-and-of lightning-style flashes, and others minutes-long glows of different colours. “All of these have been reported by observers,” John Ebel, a seismologist at Boston Collegel told the NYT. “Which ones are actually true, and which ones are products of their imagination, we can’t really say.” One theory behind the formation of earthquake lights is that they are the result of friction between tectonic plates generating electricity. However, most experts are unconvinced by this hypothesis, including Dr Daniels. She told the NYT: “Rock on rock is not a situation where people have been able to generate large charge separation. And so it just doesn’t seem like a very good explanation for what people see.” Other scientists have suggested electrical arcing from power lines shaken by earthquakes could be responsible for the sky flares. But Dr Daniels acknowledged it’s still possible that there’s no link at all between the lights and tectonic events. “We’re comforted by things that we can understand, and we’re scared by things we don’t,” she pointed out. “I think that’s part of the reason we’re so fascinated by this phenomenon.” Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter 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.
2023-09-13 21:59
Tyre Nichols: Five officers indicted on federal charges
Fiver police officers brutally beat the 29-year-old black man, who later died from his injuries.
2023-09-13 21:57
What is USB-C, the charging socket that replaced Apple's Lightning cable?
Apple is ditching its in-house iPhone charging plug and falling in line with the rest of the tech industry by adopting USB-C, a more widely used connection standard
2023-09-13 21:51
Sara Sharif: Adults sought over 10-year-old's death returning to UK
Three adults who police want to speak to over the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif returning to the UK from Pakistan.
2023-09-13 21:45
Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin’s submarine damaged in Crimea ‘ghost’ speed boat attack
A submarine and landing ship were hit in an overnight attack on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, a Ukrainian spy agency official has said. Russia blamed Ukraine for the attack, saying the Sevastopol shipyard in Crimea was struck by 10 cruise missiles. “We confirm a large landing vessel and submarine were hit. We do not comment on the means (used) for the strike,” Andriy Yusov, the official, told Reuters. Earlier, Kim Jong-Un promised that North Korea would help Russia “fight imperialism” as he and Vladimir Putin met for weapons talks. Speaking at Russia’s far east spaceport in a remote part of Siberia, the North Korean leader said the friendship between the two countries had “deep roots” and that Russia has “risen to a sacred fight” to protect its sovereignty and security.” “We will always support the decisions of president Putin and the Russian leadership…and we will be together in the fight against imperialism,” he added. Read More North Korea fires two missiles into the sea as Kim Jong Un travels in Russia for meeting with Putin Live lobsters, cases of wine and bulletproof carriages: Inside Kim Jong-un’s train to meet Putin ‘My body was burning’: Russian journalist’s horror journey in grips of suspected poisoning Putin’s main Black Sea shipyard up in flames as Ukraine and Russia exchange air strikes
2023-09-13 21:29
The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation and Founder Taraji P. Henson Expand Partnership With kate spade new york to Bring Culturally Competent Mental Health Services to Women at Hampton University
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 13, 2023--
2023-09-13 21:26
4-H teams with Netflix's 'Spy Kids: Armageddon' to launch new learning platform Clover
The National 4-H Council is growing in a new direction – online – by launching its e-learning platform Clover with a collaboration with Netflix and its new movie “Spy Kids: Armageddon.”
2023-09-13 21:24
Sri Lanka deploys troops as the railway workers' strike worsens
Sri Lanka's government has deployed army troops at railroad stations as railway employees continued with their strike
2023-09-13 21:24
Florida man and partner stop at Starbucks in the middle of stealing PS5 controller from Target
Sanford police shared a photo of the perpetrators with the hashtags #YouMessedUpGrandeTime and #WhatNameDidYouGiveTheBarista
2023-09-13 21:23
Escaped killer Danelo Cavalcante caught after two weeks
Danelo Cavalcante, 34, was arrested in a wooded area inside a police perimeter, says a law enforcement source.
2023-09-13 21:19
