Carbon-Rich Meteorites Get Toasty Treatment, Reveal Space Secret in New Study

A groundbreaking study may have unraveled a cosmic mystery, shedding light on the origins of life. An international team of researchers from Curtin University, the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), and the Paris Observatory has discovered why carbon-rich asteroids are scarce among meteorites found on Earth. Published in Nature Astronomy, the study analyzed nearly 8,500 meteoroids and meteorite impacts using data from 19 fireball observation networks across 39 countries. The research revealed that Earth's atmosphere and the Sun act as filters, destroying fragile carbonaceous meteoroids before they reach our planet's surface. "We've long suspected weak, carbonaceous material doesn't survive atmospheric entry," said Dr. Hadrien Devillepoix from Curtin's Space Science and Technology Centre. "What this research shows is many of these meteoroids don't even make it that far: they break apart from being heated repeatedly as they pass close to the Sun." Carbon-rich meteorites are crucial because they contain water and organic molecules—key ingredients linked to life's origin on Earth. Dr. Patrick Shober from the Paris Observatory emphasized their importance: "Carbon-rich meteorites are some of the most chemically primitive materials we can study—they contain water, organic molecules and even amino acids." The findings suggest that tidal disruptions—when asteroids break apart during close encounters with planets—create especially fragile meteoroids that rarely survive atmospheric entry. This insight could impact future asteroid missions and theories about how Earth acquired its water and organic compounds. The study was supported by funding from ICRAR and involved institutions like the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy and Aix-Marseilles University.

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AI Breakthrough: This New Concrete Could Last Centuries and Capture Carbon

Imagine concrete that repairs itself or absorbs carbon dioxide from the air; it sounds like a sci-fi fantasy, but researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering are working to make it a reality. They’ve developed an AI model called Allegro-FM, which can simulate the behavior of billions of atoms simultaneously. This breakthrough could revolutionize materials design and help address climate change. The world is grappling with severe climate issues, from hurricanes and wildfires to melting glaciers. A significant contributor to these problems is carbon dioxide emissions. Concrete production alone accounts for about 8 percent of global CO2 emissions. In light of these challenges, Aiichiro Nakano and Ken-Ichi Nomura from USC Viterbi have been exploring ways to capture carbon dioxide during concrete production. Their project Allegro-FM has made a surprising theoretical discovery: it might be possible to recapture CO2 emitted during concrete manufacturing and reincorporate it into the concrete itself. "You can just put the CO2 inside the concrete, and then that makes a carbon-neutral concrete," Nakano explained. Nakano and Nomura, along with colleagues Priya Vashishta and Rajiv Kalia, are researching "CO2 sequestration," which involves capturing and storing carbon dioxide. By simulating billions of atoms at once, Allegro-FM allows them to test various concrete chemistries virtually, speeding up development while reducing costs. What makes Allegro-FM notable is its scalability. Traditional simulation methods handle thousands or millions of atoms; Allegro-FM can simulate over four billion atoms efficiently on the Aurora supercomputer at Argonne National Laboratory. This capability is roughly 1,000 times larger than conventional approaches. The model covers 89 chemical elements and predicts molecular behavior across diverse applications such as cement chemistry and carbon storage. "Concrete is also a very complex material...traditionally, we didn't have a way to simulate phenomena involving concrete material," Nomura noted. Besides being fire-resistant—a valuable trait given recent wildfires—this new type of concrete could last much longer than modern versions by forming a durable "carbonate layer" when infused with CO2. Behind this innovation lies an appreciation for how AI accelerates complex tasks. Traditionally, simulating atomic behavior required intricate quantum mechanics calculations. However, advancements in machine learning allow researchers to generate training sets for AI models instead. Allegro-FM predicts interaction functions between atoms without needing separate formulas for each element on the periodic table. It simplifies simulations by allowing nearly all elements to be modeled simultaneously using AI rather than relying solely on supercomputers. "The traditional approach is to simulate a certain set of materials...but you cannot simulate [that] with...a drug molecule," Nomura said about past limitations.

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Scientists May Have Unlocked Europa's Ocean Mystery

Scientists may be closer to solving the mystery of hydrogen peroxide on Jupiter's icy moon, Europa. When energetic particles strike water molecules, they break apart and recombine into OH radicals—very reactive molecules missing an electron. This process forms hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). NASA's Galileo orbiter first spotted H2O2 on Europa using its Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer. Later observations by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) found elevated H2O2 levels in unexpected areas on the moon. Scientists had expected to find higher concentrations in Europa’s colder polar regions, but JWST detected them in warmer equatorial zones known as chaos terrains. These are characterized by blocks of surface ice that have shifted and refrozen. "Europa's peroxide distribution does not follow the temperature dependence predicted for pure water ice," wrote researchers in their study. Colder ice should have more hydrogen peroxide, yet warmer chaos regions showed increased levels instead. A new study reveals that carbon dioxide might hold the key to this puzzle. Researchers noticed higher CO2 levels alongside elevated H2O2 in these chaotic terrains. They believe CO2 is seeping from Europa’s subsurface ocean through cracks in the ice. "Could the presence of CO2 drive the enhanced peroxide production in Europa's chaos regions?" asked the research team. Their preliminary experiments with irradiated H2O-CO2 ice mixtures indicated increased H2O2 yields compared to pure water ice. To test this idea further, scientists simulated Europa’s environment inside a vacuum chamber at The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Southwest Research Institute. They mixed water ice with small amounts of CO2 and bombarded it with energetic electrons to observe any changes in peroxide production. Bereket Mamo, a graduate student involved in the research, explained that even minimal CO2 can significantly boost hydrogen peroxide production under conditions similar to those on Europa’s surface. This could explain why JWST observed higher H2O2 levels than expected. The presence of CO2 seems to act as "molecular scavengers," capturing stray electrons produced when radiation hits water ice. This process helps protect newly formed hydrogen peroxide from breaking apart due to subsequent reactions or impacts. The implications extend beyond understanding surface chemistry; they also matter for astrobiology. "Synthesis of oxidants like hydrogen peroxide on Europa's surface is important from an astrobiological point of view," said Richard Cartwright from Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Cartwright added that NASA's mission, the Europa Clipper, is already headed toward Jupiter’s system to study this intriguing moon further and assess its habitability potential. The European Space Agency’s JUICE spacecraft will join it for more detailed investigations soon. These findings offer valuable insights into JWST observations and set the stage for future missions exploring Europa up close. The research was published recently in the Planetary Science Journal on July 21.

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How A Three-Footed Turtle Got Its Groove Back With A LEGO Wheelchair

Root the turtle may be missing a foot, but thanks to a bit of creativity and a pile of LEGO bricks, he’s back on the move—and faster than most of his peers. The wood turtle, classified as “threatened” under Nova Scotia’s Endangered Species Act, has spent the past two decades in human care after being rescued by the province’s Natural Resources Department. When he was first brought to the Oaklawn Farm Zoo in Nova Scotia 20 years ago, Root was missing his right front foot—an injury that made surviving in the wild nearly impossible. “He was kind of clunking his shell down,” said Heather McKinnon Ramshaw, an animal care specialist at Halifax’s Museum of Natural History, speaking to CBC. “There was some wear on the shell, and we didn't want it to get worse, so he needed something to lift him up.” After the Oaklawn Farm Zoo closed in 2023, Root was relocated to the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park. But it wasn’t long before his bold personality and food-dish dominance led to a quieter assignment: a spot at the Museum of Natural History, where he joined the museum’s resident turtles, including Gus, a 102-year-old gopher tortoise. Root settled in well. He rests in a cozy enclosure lined with woodchips, swims in his tank, and gets daily walks through the 157-year-old science museum. It was during those walks that staff noticed the injury to his foot was causing an uneven gait—and some scraping on the underside of his shell. Initial attempts to help him included bandages and medical tape, but they weren’t practical. Then, inspiration came from an unlikely source: LEGO. Last December, while the museum hosted a LEGO exhibit, naturalist interpreter Tessa Biesterfeld had an idea. If the plastic bricks could build complex exhibits, why not a ramp or walker for Root? “We thought that'd be so great because we know it's non-toxic, we know that we can replace the parts as we need, and should his shell change or grow, we can change the shape and size of that. It's very modular,” Biesterfeld told CBC. She built a small green-checkered LEGO platform with wheels and secured it to Root’s shell using a soft dog harness. It took Root just one day to get the hang of it. “We didn't want to make a skateboard or make anything that would just have him zooming too unnaturally fast,” Biesterfeld said. “But he's clearly going a little faster than the average wood turtle, but he seems happy to do so. He's getting lots of great exercise.” The snap of the harness has now become a cue. “Now when I snap his harness on, it's like when he hears that snap, he's ready to go,” Biesterfeld added. Root’s new wheels don’t just help with comfort—they’ve improved his quality of life. He still enjoys lounging in his enclosure, but his museum walks are now easier, safer, and more active. Wood turtles typically live between 50 and 80 years, and while Root’s exact age isn’t known, museum staff are preparing to care for him for the long haul. “We may have him for a while, so we want to make sure he's comfortable,” McKinnon said. Root’s story is just one of many highlighting how animals with disabilities are benefiting from creative problem-solving. And while his LEGO ride may be unconventional, it’s working just fine for the turtle who won’t be slowed down.

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Lost And Found: WWII-Era Teaspoon Makes A Surprising Return To UK Hotel After 80 Years

In a tale that connects the past with the present, a silver teaspoon taken from the Queens Hotel in Southsea during World War II has made its way back home after over 80 years. The spoon, adorned with a monogram identifying it as part of the hotel's original cutlery set, was recently discovered in Bundanoon, New South Wales, Australia. John White found the spoon tucked away in a drawer among his late mother's possessions. It turns out that his parents "borrowed" it during their stay at the hotel in 1942. Pamela White served as a signals officer stationed at Portsdown Hill and played a role in military operations, including D-Day. Her husband, Dudley, was a naval officer. The couple stayed at the Queens Hotel whenever they had shore leave. After Mrs. White passed away in the 1980s, her belongings, including this elusive spoon, were moved to Australia. Forgotten for decades, it resurfaced only recently when John White stumbled upon it and decided to send it back to its original home with an apology letter. "We thought it would be a nice gesture if we could send it back to the hotel and apologise for having it for so long and hope they hadn't missed it too much," said Mr. White. Paul Playford, manager of the Queens Hotel, welcomed the unexpected return without any hard feelings. "Cutlery in hotels disappears all day every day; I'm forever ordering it and replacing it," he said. Far from holding a grudge, Playford plans to put the spoon on display in a curiosity cabinet along with photos and John's letter. The Queens Hotel no longer uses silver cutlery due to its tendency to go missing over time. As Playford notes about silverware like this spoon, "I think it would be too tempting for more people to borrow it."

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Toronto's Tiny Parkettes are Transforming Urban Life, One Green Space at a Time

In the middle of Canada’s busiest metropolis, it’s the smallest spaces that are making the biggest difference. A new report by Toronto Today highlights how the city’s nearly 500 “parkettes” — compact green spaces under half a hectare — are improving life for residents across the board. Built on overlooked plots like old parking lots or demolished buildings, these mini-parks are offering everything from mental health breaks for office workers to play zones for pets and kids. “Being able to have a space where [dogs] can play and get enrichment is great,” said one local pet owner. “It’s also a good mental health break from working.” “I’m big on grounding — putting your feet on grass. It’s great,” added another downtown employee. But the benefits go well beyond leisure. Studies show that even a small green space can cool surrounding temperatures by 1 to 2°C, improve air quality, and boost biodiversity. In a city facing rising heat and limited space, these pocket parks are also becoming a vital tool for climate resilience. Toronto’s Parkland Strategy aims to create even more, including a connected trail system called the Green Line, linking many of the parkettes together over the next decade. While big urban projects often grab headlines, Toronto’s tiny parkettes are proving that sometimes, small changes can have the greatest impact.

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Solar Power Breakthrough: A Pioneering Project is Lighting Up the Arctic Circle

In Finland, a massive new solar power project is taking shape near the Arctic Circle. This ambitious initiative promises to deliver clean and reliable energy on an unprecedented scale while showcasing the feasibility of integrating renewable sources in even the most challenging environments. The project, spread across 95 hectares, will feature 120,000 solar panels. Sungrow, a prominent player in the solar industry, is supplying 80 units of its advanced solar string inverters for this venture. These inverters connect a series of solar panels into one system, efficiently channeling electricity into the grid. Renewable Energy Magazine highlights that this solar installation will work alongside existing wind turbines to form a hybrid power plant. This configuration aligns with Finland's goals for carbon neutrality by harnessing both wind and solar resources to supply clean energy. Solar energy continues to gain momentum globally as people look for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Renewable energy reduces environmental impacts associated with electricity generation and supports various applications like powering homes and charging electric vehicles without pollution. Henry Särkisilta, key account manager at Sungrow Finland, emphasized their commitment to supporting partners with dependable technology under any climatic conditions: "As solar energy expands into new frontiers, we are proud to support our partners with technology that performs reliably — no matter the conditions." A common misconception about solar panels is their ineffectiveness in harsh or cloudy weather conditions such as those found near the Arctic Circle. While sunlight is essential for generating power during daylight hours, solar systems can effectively integrate with other energy sources like batteries and wind power. The Finnish plant's hybrid model exemplifies how innovation can drive renewable energy even in remote regions. "This project is a great example of how innovation can drive the energy transition," added Särkisilta, highlighting its significance for Europe's renewable energy efforts. Beyond environmental advantages, installing solar panels offers economic benefits by potentially reducing monthly energy bills significantly. For those interested but unsure where to start with solar installations, platforms like EnergySage provide services for comparing quotes from vetted local installers. Such comparisons could lead to savings of up to $10,000 on installation costs. As global interest in renewable solutions grows amid climate change concerns and rising electricity demands worldwide, projects like this Finnish solar plant demonstrate viable pathways toward achieving sustainable futures through innovative technologies and strategic collaborations within the green sector.

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Last-Minute Rescue: How NASA Saved a Dying Camera to Capture Hidden Wonders in Space

NASA’s Juno spacecraft, launched in 2011 to study Jupiter's origins and development, has been navigating through some of the most intense radiation fields found around any planet. Recently, this exposure started taking a toll on JunoCam, its visible-light camera designed for capturing images of Jupiter and its moons. In December 2023, with a critical opportunity approaching to photograph Io, one of Jupiter’s moons, the mission team faced an urgent need for a fix. The solution turned out to be surprisingly simple: heat up the camera and then cool it down slowly. This process is known as annealing. Jacob Schaffner from Malin Space Science Systems explained that they increased the camera’s temperature to 25 degrees Celsius while hoping for the best outcome. “We knew annealing can sometimes alter a material like silicon at a microscopic level but didn’t know if this would fix the damage,” he said. Initially, JunoCam was expected to handle radiation for just eight orbits. However, issues only began showing up during the spacecraft's 47th orbit around Jupiter. The team suspected that radiation had impacted the voltage regulator in JunoCam's power supply, making communication with Earth crucially important despite being hundreds of millions of kilometers away. When image quality continued declining after orbit 55, with streaks and noise appearing in photos, Michael Ravine from Malin Space Science Systems described their predicament: “We tried different schemes for processing the images to improve the quality, but nothing worked.” With an encounter with Io looming, they decided on a more intense annealing approach by cranking up JunoCam’s heater even further. Though initial results were not promising, something clicked just days before their close pass by Io. Suddenly, images improved significantly. On December 30, 2023, JunoCam successfully captured detailed photographs of Io’s north polar region and uncovered previously unknown volcanoes. These findings were shared at a conference in Nashville on July 16. However, during its recent 74th orbit around Jupiter, image corruption returned once again. Despite this setback, Scott Bolton from Southwest Research Institute remains optimistic about what these experiences teach us about building spacecraft resistant to radiation. He noted that lessons from Juno could benefit not only future NASA missions but also defense and commercial satellites orbiting Earth. This unexpected learning opportunity has provided insights into how space technology can adapt and continue functioning despite harsh conditions far beyond Earth.

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From Courtroom to TV Star: How a Fateful Letter Changed This Bailiff's Life

Petri Hawkins-Byrd, the instantly recognizable bailiff from Judge Judy, didn’t start out in Hollywood — he started in a real courtroom. In a recent appearance on Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia, the 67-year-old New York native opened up about how a chance letter — and a long-standing professional relationship — turned him into one of the most beloved figures in daytime television. Before television fame, Hawkins-Byrd was a court officer in Manhattan Family Court, where he was occasionally assigned to a certain no-nonsense judge named Judith Sheindlin. “The one that always caught my eye, the one that I always had the best time with was when [it was] Judge Sheindlin,” he recalled. “She didn’t take no stuff.” While others found her courtroom intimidating, he appreciated her fast-paced style and sharp wit. “It was almost like working with Joan Rivers,” he said. “It was actually a delight to work for her and to watch her work.” After five years in the court system, Hawkins-Byrd left law enforcement and moved to California to work as a high school counselor. One day, while reading Liz Smith’s gossip column, he noticed a small item: Judge Sheindlin was developing a television show. He couldn’t resist. “I decided to write a letter to her to congratulate her on her good fortune,” he said. He ended it with a tongue-in-cheek line: “P.S. If you ever need a bailiff, I still look good in uniform.” He faxed the letter off, thinking that would be the end of it. Three weeks later, Sheindlin called him. “You were kidding at the end of your letter about needing a bailiff,” she said, “but we do.” She explained that they had tried casting a professional actor, but it hadn’t worked — the show was unscripted, and the actor didn’t know how she operated. She remembered Byrd from their court days, including the impersonations and jokes he used to crack. “I said, ‘Well, I’m still kinda crazy,’” Byrd recalled. She laughed and told him, “If you’re crazy enough to try this with me, I’ll recommend you for the job.” He sent in a headshot, flew down for an interview — and the rest, as he says, is history. Byrd went on to serve as Judge Judy’s loyal bailiff for all 25 seasons of the show, from 1996 to 2021. Though he was left out of Sheindlin’s follow-up series Judy Justice, he now stars as the bailiff on Amazon’s Tribunal Justice, a new courtroom show created by Sheindlin. “I was always interested in entertainment,” he said. And thanks to a bit of kindness, a touch of humor, and perfect timing, he found his way in.

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Heroic Rescue: A Stranded Dolphin was Freed Thanks to This Daring Team

A dolphin found stranded in a lagoon in Bluffton, South Carolina, was rescued by a team of firefighters and wildlife volunteers. The dolphin, known by locals as Lucky, likely entered the body of water during high tide and became trapped when waters receded, local media said. Lucky was spotted in a shallow tidal lagoon inside the Hampton Lake community on July 12 by a passerby, who contacted a neighbor familiar with wildlife response. Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN), together with the Bluffton fire department and other volunteers, carefully rescued the dolphin and carried her “about 75 feet over debris and fallen trees.” “After a quick health check she was determined to be a seven-foot female known to local researchers at USC Bluffton as Lucky,” LMMN said. “She’s regularly seen in the May River.” Lucky was successfully released into deeper water from a private dock around 6 pm. “This was a textbook example of interagency teamwork and calm under pressure,” LMMN Executive Director Lauren Rust said. “From our trained responders to the Bluffton firefighters and helpful community members, everyone played a vital role in ensuring Lucky’s safe return home.”

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A 700-Year-Old Cathedral Finds Its New Voice With a Modern Organ Installation

The historic St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague is about to get a fresh musical upgrade with the near completion of a new organ installation. This grand cathedral, which has stood for over 700 years as the largest temple in the Czech Republic, will soon have an instrument worthy of its stature. An international team is hard at work on scaffolding above the main entrance inside the cathedral, carefully fitting some of the last remaining pipes into place. The project is set to wrap up by late August, with voicing and tuning scheduled to continue through the end of the year. According to officials, the public will get their first chance to hear this new organ on June 15 next year during the feast of St. Vitus. This impressive organ boasts around 6,000 pipes that vary significantly in length, from a minuscule 7 millimeters up to a towering 7 meters. It features four manuals and was crafted in El Papiol near Barcelona by Gerhard Grenzing's workshop. Grenzing, a reputable German organ builder, has created nearly 140 organs and refurbished more than 90 historical instruments worldwide. Once completed in Spain, crews disassembled the organ and transported it piece by piece via trucks to Prague. The importance of St. Vitus Cathedral extends beyond its religious functions; it's deeply connected to Czech history as the coronation and burial site of Czech kings and as home to the Czech crown jewels. Notably, this was also where Vaclav Havel's funeral Mass was held on December 23, 2011. The previous organ installed in the early 1930s proved inadequate for such a monumental space and suffered frequent breakdowns. During World War II and throughout over four decades of communist rule, interest in repairing or replacing it waned. The push for a new organ began in earnest in 2017 with an enthusiastic crowdfunding campaign that raised over 109 million Czech crowns ($5.2 million), covering about 98 percent of what was needed for this ambitious project.

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