NASA Mars lander detects new seismic rumble

RJ Hamster

2 years ago

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

In today’s newsletter, we discover a new sonic signal on Mars, consider a proposed 900-mile oil pipeline through East Africa, see the toxic lure of gold in Peru … and learn why the rock hyrax sings.

IMAGE BY NASA/JPL-CALTECH/UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

The spacecraft’s mission: Measure the earthquakes and rumbles of Mars. In nearly four years, it has measured 1,300 quakes.

It also has measured something NASA hadn’t designed it to do.

The lander has picked up the jitters of a planet being pummeled by space rocks. The InSight lander “has detected the signatures of at least four meteors colliding with Mars, and scientists have spotted the resulting craters in images (such as that above) taken from orbit,” Nadia Drake writes.

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STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

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These ‘unsung heroes’ broke down health care barriers for Spanish speakers

How the Black Death spread more than a mile per day in medieval times

Who has—and doesn’t have—access to shade in Los Angeles

Grow plants in the dark? Scientists are working on it.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIK SAMPERS, ABACA/SIPA/AP PHOTO

A new flashpoint: The proposed 897-mile pipeline—reaching from landlocked Uganda to Tanzania’s coast—would be the world’s longest heated crude oil pipeline and an economic lifeline for East Africa. However, the pipeline would travel through key wildlife havens (including Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park, pictured above). The era of oil should be over, say climate activists fighting the project.

READ ON

PHOTO OF THE DAY

PHOTOGRAPH BY @ALESSANDRO.CINQUE

The toll of mining: Ariana, 37, is an environmental activist in Espinar, Peru. She’s the secretary of an association of people registering a high level of heavy metals in their blood. Her mother lives about 200 meters from the town’s mining company, where Ariana also grew up. After her mother became seriously ill from the poisoning, Ariana decided to become an activist, says Nat Geo Explorer Alessandro Cinque. Here’s our look at the toxic allure of gold.

A DEADLY HAUL

IN A FEW WORDS

These people are in a sense extended family members and friends. There’s a sense of responsibility to continue the science … to continue to operate the stations as long as we can because we’re trying to build capacity and inspire people.

Baker Perry

Climate scientist and Nat Geo Explorer

From: Forecasting weather on top of the world

LAST GLIMPSE

PHOTOGRAPH BY MANOJ SHAH, GETTY IMAGES

Humanlike rhythm: How do Israel’s male rock hyraxes (pictured above, yawning) woo the ladies? With a ballad, of course. A recent discovery shows that hyraxes with the best rhythm and that sing most often are more likely to have offspring that survive. Their ditties can also prevent fights, reports Jason Bittel.

WOOING IN RHYTHM

We hope you liked today’s newsletter. This was edited and curated by Heather Kim, Sydney Combs, David Beard, Jen Tse, and Allie Yang. Have an idea or a link for us? Let us know!

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