Pre-Announcement Media Coverage

[John Smith]

We are seeing so many remarkable pre-announcement pieces showing up, this is a place to post and discuss them. This one for example, is making discoveries sound 'ho hum' which a few months/years ago were heralded as amazing breakthroughs. Today for example: 

"Nearly Every Star Hosts at Least One Alien Planet"

http://news.yahoo.com/nearly-every-star-hosts-least-one-alien-plane...

When a month or so ago they were making a BIG deal about finding one planet in the sweet zone which could possibly support life, son they they say 25% of them could support life! Including mention of red dwarfs, etc. The Zeta predicted evidence continues to build up!

Here is another blog that relates, describing a wobble:

NASA Scientists "Discover" a Wobbly Planet!?

https://poleshift.ning.com/forum/topics/nasa-scientists-discover-a-...

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3039652/Will-volcani...

Will a volcanic eruption destroy humanity? Scientists warn that world must begin preparing for explosive global catastrophe

• Scientists at the European Science Foundation estimate there is a 5-10% probability of a large explosive volcanic eruption by the end of the century
• They warn it could have global impacts that will devastate human society and send humanity back to a state that existed pre-civilisation 
• Experts have called upon world leaders to spend £2 billion a year to monitor volcanic activity and to increase the ability to respond 

21:28 EST, 15 April 2015

The world is woefully unprepared for a massive volcanic eruption that could kill millions of people and destroy much of modern society, a leading group of scientists have warned.

In a new report on the risks posed by natural disasters, experts at the European Science Foundation concluded that large volcanic eruptions posed the greatest risk human survival.

They calculated that there is between a five to 10 per cent probability of an explosive eruption large enough to cause huge numbers of deaths, alter the climate and poison the atmosphere occurring by the end of the century.

The devastation wrought by Mount Vesuvius on Pompeii (above) could pale into insignificance, scientists warn

Such an eruption would be of a similar size to the explosion of Tambora on Sumbawa, Indonesia in 1815, which killed around 100,000 people at the time.

The ash cloud thrown out from this eruption reached more than 26 miles (43km) into the atmosphere and triggered temperature changes that led to widespread famine and epidemics.

VOLCANO'S GLOBAL DEVASTATION 

A volcanic eruption of a similar size to Laki eruption that hit Iceland in 1783 could have global impacts according to the new report.

Although the volcano was only rated at VEI 5 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index, it had a profound reach.

The eruption itself caused 9,350 deaths in Iceland and only caused moderate damage.

However, during the eight months that it erupted, it emitted huge amounts of sulfuric aerosols, ash and other gases.

This caused 'one of the most important climatic and socially repercussive events of the last millennium', according to the scientists at the European Science Foundation.

In Iceland an estimated 20–25% of the population died in the famine and from fluorine poisoning after the fissure eruptions ceased.

Around 80% of sheep, 50% of cattle, and 50% of horses died because of dental and skeletal fluorosis from the 8 million tons of hydrogen fluoride that were released.

There is evidence that the Laki eruption also weakened African and Indian monsoon circulations, reducing precipitation over areas in Africa.

The resulting famine that afflicted Egypt in 1784 caused nearly one sixth of the country's population to die out.

In Britain the summer of 1783 was known as the 'sand summer' because of the ash fallout and an estimated 25,000 people died due to breathing problems.

Extreme weather hit much of Europe, North America and the Gulf of Mexico for several years in the aftermath of the eruption, says the report. 

The summer following the Tambora eruption is known as 'the year without summer'.

The scientists warn, however, that rising population levels and increasing reliance on global travel could mean the impacts of a similar eruption could be far more severe.

Writing in their report Extreme Geohazards: Reducing the Disaster Risk and Increasing Resilience, the experts warn that there needs to be an international response to prepare for such a disaster and to monitor for similar events.

They estimate that it could cost between £340 million ($500 million) and £2.3 billion ($3.5 billion) a year to increase the level of monitoring for catastrophic volcanic eruptions, but the benefits that an early warning could give would ten to hundreds of times greater.

The report states: 'Although in the last few decades earthquakes have been the main cause of fatalities and damage, the main global risk is large volcanic eruptions that are less frequent but far more impactful than the largest earthquakes.

'Due to their far-reaching effects on climate, food security, transportation, and supply chains, these events have the potential to trigger global disaster and catastrophe.

'The cost of response and the ability to respond to these events is beyond the financial and political capabilities of any individual country.

'An international geopolitical response will be required, where science has a unique and key role in preparation, response and mitigation.'

The report, which was presented at the general assembly of the European Geosciences Union in Vienna on Tuesday, examines the main geohazards facing the world including earthquakes, drought, asteroid strikes, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, avalanches and wildfires.

It said that large to extreme earthquakes and tsunamis had been more common in the past 2000 years and this had focused the world's disaster response resources onto this threat.

But it concluded that the risk posed by volcanic eruptions is potentially far more serious.

Pointing to recent eruptions like the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull, which caused widespread disruption when it threw clouds of ash into the atmosphere.

The 1783 explosion of the Laki volcano (above) poisoned much of the surrounding land in Iceland but its impact stretched far further, creating ash that caused the death of 25,000 people in the UK and a famine in Egypt

+7

The 1783 explosion of the Laki volcano (above) poisoned much of the surrounding land in Iceland but its impact stretched far further, creating ash that caused the death of 25,000 people in the UK and a famine in Egypt

The map above shows major volcanic eruptions from the past 2,000 years and some from the last 2m years

It created the highest level of air travel disruption in Europe since the second world war and cost the European economy around $5 billion.

However, the researchers said that this eruption was relatively minor - rating between three and four on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI).

By comparison, the volcanic eruption in 79AD of Mount Vesuvius that destroyed Pompeii in Italy was around VEI5. Mount St Helen's explosion in 1980 was also VEI5.

The report states that there has been around 20 eruptions greater than VEI5 since 1500 with only the Tambora eruption reaching VEI7.

However around 75,000 years ago the explosion of a supervolcano at the site of Lake Toba on Sumatra in Indonesia was one of the world's largest known eruptions - rated VEI8.

It caused a global volcanic winter that lasted around 10 years and has been linked to 1,000 years of cooling.

The remains of the Tambora volcano in Sumbawa, Indonesia (above) triggered global changes in climate

 

The graphic above shows the magnitude of volcanic eruptions on the Volcanic Explosivity Index. On the left it shows the volume of tephra (volcanic material) thrown out while on the right it shows the size of the ash plume

There is also some evidence that suggests around this time human populations fell to some of their lowest levels ever, clinging on in just a few isolated groups.

The report says that eruptions on this scale occur between once every 45,000 years to once every 714,000 years, but such an eruption could kill up to a tenth of the world's population.

'Events on the scale of the Toba eruption 74,000 years ago could return humanity to a pre-civilisation state,' warned the scientists.

'Volcanic eruptions can have more severe impacts through atmospheric and climate effects and can lead to drastic problems in food and water security, as emphasised by the widespread famine and diseases that were rampant after the Laki 1783 and Tambora 1815 eruptions.

'Hence extreme volcanic eruptions pose a higher associated risk than all other natural hazards with similar recurrence periods, including asteroid impacts.'

The experts also warned that even smaller eruptions, similar to the Laki eruption in Iceland in 1783, could have global impacts.

While the eruption caused 9,350 deaths in Iceland, the eight month emission of sulfuric aerosols, ash and other gases caused 'one of the most important climatic and socially repercussive events of the last millennium'.

In Iceland an estimated 20–25% of the population died in the famine and from fluorine poisoning after the fissure eruptions ceased.

The resulting famine that afflicted Egypt in 1784 caused nearly one sixth of the country's population to die out.

In Britain the summer of 1783 was known as the 'sand summer' because of the ash fallout and an estimated 25,000 people died due to breathing problems.

The scientists wrote: 'Why are we not prepared for extreme events? Reasons for this include the low perceived likelihood of such an event, low political sensitivity, and a disconnect between scientific communities and decision-makers.

'Reasons for the lack of socially acceptable strategies include the cost of preparing

for an extreme hazard, and, in some cases, the belief that consequences are so extreme that preparedness is futile.'

They added that world leaders now need to spend up to £2 billion a year on a global network to monitor volcanic activity as even a few weeks of early warning could be crucial.

'Threats from low-frequency, high impact events are grossly underestimated in disaster risk reduction. This is particularly true for volcanic eruptions.

'During the Holocene, at least seven VEI 7 eruptions took place. All but one occurred at a time when the global population was far below 1 billion.

'With a population above 7 billion and heading for 12 billion, a recurrence of a VEI 7 eruption could have extreme consequences.'

This graph shows the analsysis of the relative threat posed by different natural disasters to mankind

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://news.yahoo.com/thousands-could-survive-west-coast-tsunami-wa...

Thousands could survive West Coast tsunami by walking to safety: study

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Thousands of people living along the U.S. Pacific coastline from Northern California to Washington state could survive a powerful tsunami, as long as they are prepared to walk briskly to higher ground, a researcher said on Tuesday.

About 95,000 people live on a 620-mile stretch of the Pacific Northwest coast which is considered vulnerable to a tsunami triggered by an earthquake offshore, scientists said.

A research team assessing the risk to that population found that in many areas, people can be ready to move out of danger in the minutes between the earthquake and the tsunami by simply walking, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"We've identified several towns where moving faster can mean the difference between life and death," said the lead author of the study, Nathan Wood, a geographer with the U.S. Geological Survey.

The study said 49 cities, seven tribal reservations and 17 counties in Northern California, Oregon and Washington are "directly threatened by tsunami waves" associated with a quake in the Cascadia subduction zone, an offshore undersea fault.

The study said the regional impact could be on par with Japan's 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster that devastated a wide swath of Honshu's Pacific coastline and killed nearly 20,000 people.

Because a quake would make car travel mostly impossible, the study focuses on walking people to safety, or higher ground.

In the coastal Washington cities of Aberdeen and Hoquiam, about 90 percent of the 20,000 residents could have enough time to evacuate if they walked to safety at a minimum of 2.2 mph, Wood said. That percentage rises to 99 percent if they move faster, and know where to go, he said.

The study found the most people in coastal communities should have sufficient time to evacuate, and that high ground is reachable if people are aware of the threat and practice their routes.

A small percentage of people who live too far from high ground would need tall, specially constructed structures to withstand the quake and tsunami, it said.

[casey a]

Kids from around the country who participate in Let's Move programs joined first lady Michelle Obama to help plant the White House Kitchen Garden on Wednesday

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/15/michelle-obama-garden-plan...

(Mark Wilson via Getty Images)

[casey a]

Nasa's Curiosity rover finds water below surface of Mars

New measurements from the Gale crater contradict theories that the planet is too cold for liquid water to exist, but Mars still considered hostile to life

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/apr/13/nasas-curiosity-rove...

[KM]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3032842/Can-life-exi...

Can life exist on rogue planets with no sun? Cold worlds that wander the stars may still harbour alien beings, claims scientist

• Comments were made by Sean Raymond, an astrophysicist in France
• He says internal heat of rogue planets could allow liquid water to form
• Writing in Aeon, he also says a thick atmosphere may help life develop
• Astronomers have found 50 of these rogue planets in the past 15 years

The warmth of a sun has long been thought to be a key ingredient to life.

But astronomers say 'rogue', sun-less planets that wander the stars could still harbour extra-terrestrials.

While it sounds like science fiction, these planets may offer scientists a new avenue in their search for alien life.

The warmth of a sun has long been thought to be a key ingredient to life. But astronomers say 'rogue', sun-less planets that wander the stars could still harbour extra-terrestrials

This is according to Sean Raymond, an astrophysicist with the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux in France, who has taken a look at how life can form on rogue planets.

Writing in Aeon, he says: 'To have any chance of life – at least life like our own – a free-floating Earth would need liquid water.'

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/top-nasa-scientist-well-find-s...

Top NASA Scientist: We'll Find Signs of Alien Life 'Within a Decade'

Humanity is on the verge of discovering alien life, high-ranking NASA scientists say.

"I think we're going to have strong indications of life beyond Earth within a decade, and I think we're going to have definitive evidence within 20 to 30 years," NASA chief scientist Ellen Stofan said Tuesday (April 7) during a panel discussion that focused on the space agency's efforts to search for habitable worlds and alien life.

"We know where to look. We know how to look," Stofan added during the event, which was webcast live. "In most cases we have the technology, and we're on a path to implementing it. And so I think we're definitely on the road." [5 Bold Claims of Alien Life]

Former astronaut John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, shared Stofan's optimism, predicting that signs of life will be found relatively soon both in our own solar system and beyond.

"I think we're one generation away in our solar system, whether it's on an icy moon or on Mars, and one generation [away] on a planet around a nearby star," Grunsfeld said during Tuesday's event.

Recent discoveries suggest that the solar system and broader Milky Way galaxy teem with environments that could support life as we know it, Grunsfeld said.

For example, oceans of liquid water slosh beneath the icy shells of the Jupiter moons Europa and Ganymede, as well as that of the Saturn satellite Enceladus. Oceans covered much of Mars in the ancient past, and seasonal dark streaks observed on the Red Planet's surface today may be caused by salty flowing water.

Further, NASA's Curiosity rover has found carbon-containing organic molecules and "fixed" nitrogen, basic ingredients necessary for Earth-like life, on the Martian surface.

Farther afield, observations by NASA's Kepler space telescope suggest that nearly every star in the sky hosts planets — and many of these worlds may be habitable. Indeed, Kepler's work has shown that rocky worlds like Earth and Mars are probably more common throughout the galaxy than gas giants such as Saturn and Jupiter.

[casey a]

The moon's got two tails – and its friends might too http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27275-the-moons-got-two-tails...

(The moon has always had a small tail blowing away from the sun. But now, it turns out the moon has 2 tails. Is this second tail there because of Planet X?)

[casey a]

Has the orientation of the Moon shifted in the past? According to the distribution of ice on the lunar poles, that seems to be the case.

https://briankoberlein.com/2015/03/31/shifting-moon/

When the team created the map [of trace amounts of ice on the moon], they found that the ice on both poles was lopsided....

If that’s the case, there would need to be some mechanism for the shift, which is too big to be due to some kind of impact event.

[KM]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3007939/Are-orphan-p...

Are orphan planets more common than we thought? Drifting worlds may be common thanks to 'mother' clouds of dust and gas

• Ashley Yeager for Science News explained solo planets could be common
• This is thanks to more regions of dust and gas than we thought
• Planets become 'rogue' when they are ejected or form on their own
• About 50 have been found in the last 15 years
• But as they don't orbit a star they reflect little light and are hard to find 

Planets wandering through space, unattached to any star or solar system, may be much more common that previously thought, according to an expert.

The planets are hard to find because, without orbiting a star, they reflect very little light.

But 50 have now been found in the past 15 years, leading some to suggest they may be abundant in the universe.

Ashley Yeager for Science News has explained that solo planets (artist's impression shown) could be common. This is thanks to more regions of dust and gas than we thought. Planets become 'rogue' when they are ejected or form on their own and about 50 have been found in the last 15 years

Rogue planets, or interstellar planets, are planetary objects that were either formed by themselves or were ejected from a system.

WHAT IS A BROWN DWARF? 

A brown dwarf is commonly regarded as the ‘missing link’ between stars and planets.

They are too large to be classed as true planets, but too small to have ignited nuclear fusion at their cores and be classed as stars.

When a celestial body first forms, its size will determine what sort of object it becomes.

As a star forms from a cloud of gas, its core becomes so large that hydrogen fuses into helium. Conversely, a planet forms into a smaller sphere that is not large enough to have nuclear fusion at its core.

Brown dwarfs fall somewhere in between. They are the size between a gas giant like Jupiter and a small star.

Their mass, meanwhile, can be anything from 15 to 75 times the mass of Jupiter.

This is not enough to sustain fusion but, owing to their size, this has led astronomers to coin brown dwarfs ‘failed stars’.

As they don't emit much light it’s thought there may be many rogue brown dwarfs drifting through the galaxy waiting to be discovered.

How abundant they are in the universe, though, has been the cause of some debate.

But Ms Yeager explained so-called globulettes - regions of dust and gas that can form planets - could make them more common than thought.

The number of possible planets in one such region is not known, and this depends on what the boundary between cloud density and planet formation is.

‘Globulettes are very numerous,’ Dr Thomas Haworth from the University of Cambridge told Science News.

‘Even if only a small fraction can be made to collapse, they could make a significant contribution to the population of free-floating planets.’

Rogue planets are of particular interest to astronomers because they represent objects that have likely failed to form into a star.

Brown dwarfs, for example, are substellar objects that are not massive enough to sustain fusion, but are still more than 13 times the mass of Jupiter.

The exact boundary between a giant planet and a low-mass brown dwarf is still being debated, but finding more rogue planets could shed light on this mystery. 

And this could indicate that there are more rogue planets than we know of in the cosmos.

[Poli]

Mysterious "white spots" on the dwarf planet Ceres extend over the crater wall.

As the team reported to Andreas Nathues from the Max Planck Institute Solar System Research to date on the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, the angle of reflection of this highly reflective structures changed with the rotation of the dwarf planet and the white spots remain visible, even If They already crater rim from shoulderstand be covered and the crater interior is already in the shade (s. fig.). This circumstance Suggesting did whatever the sunlight reflecting here, must rise Relatively high above the another of the surface of Ceres.
http://grenzwissenschaft-aktuell.blogspot.de/2015/03/mysteriose-wei...
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&a...