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The main reason for the worldwide heatwaves, wildfires and floods

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Now, this is not a scientifically researched theory – it’s not even a complete enough thought to be classed as a theory. Perhaps you could call it just a whim or musing, but it’s uncomfortably hot in here and I feel the need to vent somewhat. 

Think of me as a mad citizen scientist who mostly talks rubbish, or speculatively, if you want to be kind, but there might be something in what I’m saying that’s worth looking into.

What I would like to rage about right now is dams. Yes, those magnificent constructions that stop the flow of gigantic rivers in order to harness Mother Nature’s awesome power and convert it to usable energy for lightbulbs and other creature comforts of modern towns and cities. [Read more…] about The main reason for the worldwide heatwaves, wildfires and floods

Fast radio bursts shown to include lower frequency radio waves than previously detected

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Since fast radio bursts (FRBs) were first discovered over a decade ago, scientists have puzzled over what could be generating these intense flashes of radio waves from outside of our galaxy.

In a gradual process of elimination, the field of possible explanations has narrowed as new pieces of information are gathered about FRBs – how long they last, the frequencies of the radio waves detected, and so on.

Now, a team led by McGill University researchers and members of Canada’s CHIME Fast Radio Burst collaboration has established that FRBs include radio waves at frequencies lower than ever detected before, a discovery that redraws the boundaries for theoretical astrophysicists trying to put their finger on the source of FRBs. [Read more…] about Fast radio bursts shown to include lower frequency radio waves than previously detected

NASA missions unmask magnetar eruptions in nearby galaxies

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On April 15, 2020, a brief burst of high-energy light swept through the solar system, triggering instruments on several NASA and European spacecraft.

Now, multiple international science teams conclude that the blast came from a supermagnetized stellar remnant known as a magnetar located in a neighboring galaxy.

This finding confirms long-held suspicions that some gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) – cosmic eruptions detected in the sky almost daily – are in fact powerful flares from magnetars relatively close to home. [Read more…] about NASA missions unmask magnetar eruptions in nearby galaxies