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Latest Posts by Climate, Ecology, War & More - Dr Glen Barry BigEarthData.ai

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Almost half of European freshwater fishes at risk of extinction, new IUCN Red List reveals - News

Almost half of European freshwater fishes at risk of extinction, new IUCN Red List reveals - News
->International Union for Conservation of Nature | More on "European freshwater fish extinction risk" at BigEarthData.ai | #Extinction #Freshwater #Nature #Iucn

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Europe cannot bet on a post-Trump US turning back to sanity | Rafael Behr

Europe cannot bet on a post-Trump US turning back to sanity | Rafael Behr
->The Guardian | More on "Europe's uncertain post-Trump US strategy" at BigEarthData.ai

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A Unique Eclipse, Meteorite Impacts, And New Geological Features Among The Science Views From Artemis II A lot of the work took place during the closest approach, as the crew photographed and looked at the far side. They put forward names for two features on the Moon, one named Integrity after their Orion spacecraft, and the other named Carroll after Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife. The flyby lasted about three hours and the astronauts got a look at impact craters and ancient lava flows. NASA missions like the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Chinese Chang’e-4 and Chang’e-6, among others, have delivered insights into the far side, but the opportunity for humans to see the far side directly couldn’t be missed. The crew – NASA’s astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen – received training in geology to identify important features that could relate to geological and volcanic activity on the Moon, to its impact history, and even reveal zones of interest for future missions. “We were well prepared, and we appreciate all of you, and this is what we do best when we all come together and work as a team,” Wiseman said during the Artemis livestream. “So y’all knocked it out of the park. Thank...

A Unique Eclipse, Meteorite Impacts, And New Geological Features Among The Science Views From Artemis II
->IFLScience | More on "Artemis II Moon far side" at BigEarthData.ai | #Science #Space

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Astronomers Find the "Most Pristine" Star Yet Researchers have found what may be the most chemically pristine star ever seen — a dim red giant star carrying almost no heavy elements, a fossil from an era when the universe was still learning how to make stars. The object, known as SDSS J0715-7334, appears to have formed from gas touched by only a single earlier supernova, offering precious insight from near the beginning of cosmic history. For those who wonder why exactly that matters, it’s because the first stars, born from hydrogen and helium left over from the Big Bang, are thought to have been enormous and short-lived. None should still exist today. But their immediate descendants — smaller stars formed from gas only lightly polluted by those first stellar supernova explosions — could still be around. Finding one is a bit like finding a fleck of original paint on a house rebuilt many times over. In a paper titled “A nearly pristine star from the Large Magellanic Cloud,” the multi-university study reports SDSS J0715-7334 has extraordinarily low amounts of iron and carbon, the usual stand-ins astronomers use to gauge how “polluted” a star is by earlier generations. The team says the star is more than ten times...

Astronomers Find the "Most Pristine" Star Yet
->ZME Science | More on "Pristine ancient star cosmic origins" at BigEarthData.ai | #Astronomy #Space

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Lakes Forming by Greenland's Melting Ice Sheet Are Speeding Up Glacier Flow A growing network of meltwater lakes at the edge of the Greenland ice sheet is accelerating the flow of major glaciers, potentially increasing the pace of global sea‑level rise. Warmer air and sea temperatures have led to the loss of around 264 gigatons of ice every year in Greenland since 2002 causing sea levels to rise by 0.8 millimetres annually. But a new study by the University of Leeds examining glacier behaviour across the entire ice sheet has highlighted a lesser‑known feature that is amplifying this mass loss - the freshwater lakes forming as the ice retreats. These ice-marginal lakes (or IMLs) sit right up against the edge of the ice and appear as glaciers pull back and expose deep, bowl‑shaped hollows in the landscape. Meltwater quickly pools in these basins to form lakes as large as 117 km2 in area. The study which is published today in the journal Communications Earth and Environment shows that far from being passive features of the landscape, the lakes can destabilise the glaciers that feed into them, triggering movement, increasing thinning, and heightening ice loss. The researchers examined satellite data, using maps of ice-marginal lakes across Greenland and the flow at the ice...

Lakes Forming by Greenland's Melting Ice Sheet Are Speeding Up Glacier Flow
->Technology Networks | More on "Greenland meltwater lakes accelerating glaciers" at BigEarthData.ai | #IceSheet #Glacier

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Senior Manager, Climate Resilience & Sustainability - Clinton Foundation - NYC, NY Building on a lifetime of public service, President Clinton established the Clinton Foundation on the simple belief that everyone deserves a chance to succeed, everyone has a responsibility to act, and we all do better when we work together. For nearly two decades, that premise has energized the work of the Foundation in overcoming complex challenges and improving the lives of people across the United States and around the world. About the Opportunity Building on track record of pioneering and implementing innovative climate resilience solutions, the Clinton Foundation is looking to bring on a new Senior Manager, Climate Resilience & Sustainability at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). This role is responsible for leading the development of relationships with a network of domestic and international organizations committed to advancing environmental sustainability and tackling the climate crisis that are implementing programs worldwide. Working closely with the Managing Director, Climate Resilience & Sustainability as well as the broader team the Senior Manager helps design and execute flagship multi-stakeholder initiatives by supporting strategic planning, partner coordination, implementation scoping, and development of cross-sector collaboration models to accelerate and scale collective action of stakeholders. The Senior Manager supports and co-leads two to three emerging CGI climate...

Senior Manager, Climate Resilience & Sustainability - Clinton Foundation - NYC, NY
->Sustainable Business | More on "Climate resilience sustainability leadership role" at BigEarthData.ai | #Sustainability #ClimateResilience

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Geothermal Heat Pumps in 2026 For years, people looked at geothermal energy as a luxury for the ultra-wealthy or a niche experiment for off-grid enthusiasts. However, the world has changed drastically as we move through 2026. Now, I am seeing geothermal heat pumps popping up in suburban neighborhoods and urban renovations alike. It is no longer just a “nice to have” feature. Instead, it has become a foundational part of the modern green home. Specifically, the shift toward total home electrification is driving this surge. People are tired of volatile gas prices and noisy, inefficient air conditioners. Consequently, homeowners are looking for a “forever” solution for their climate control. Geothermal technology provides exactly that by tapping into the steady temperature of the earth. Because of this, we are witnessing a massive transition in how we heat and cool our living spaces. The Science of the “Earth Battery” To understand the hype, you first have to understand the technology. A geothermal heat pump, or ground-source heat pump (GSHP), does not actually create heat. Instead, it moves heat from one place to another. For instance, during the winter, the system pulls heat from the ground and brings it into your home. Conversely, during the summer, it pulls...

Geothermal Heat Pumps in 2026
->Green Living Guy | More on "Geothermal heat pumps home electrification" at BigEarthData.ai | #HeatPump

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Plastic, Chemicals & Infertility: What we know now Industrial chemicals that can affect male and female reproductive function are widespread in our environment. Many of these chemicals are used in the plastics that we use in our daily lives. We are also exposed through manufacturing processes, pesticides, and a range of household products, from air fresheners to skin creams. Over the past few decades, a growing body of evidence has found that exposure to these chemicals is linked to many health concerns, such as infertility, cancer, and neurodevelopmental disorders. A new documentary, The Plastic Detox, unfolds the science behind plastics and their health impacts, specifically fertility challenges. This documentary was guided by environmental and reproductive epidemiologist, Dr. Shanna Swan, who conducted a three-month intervention with couples experiencing infertility to “lower daily exposure to plastic-related chemicals in hopes of better health markers, and ultimately, pregnancy.” In this EDC Strategies Partnership webinar, Dr. Swan discussed the science behind the movie, details of the “detox” process the participating couples undertook, and how to understand the implications of this experiment. She also shared global trends in sperm count, semen quality, and fertility, and explained why scientists are certain that environmental factors are driving the dramatic increases worldwide. Finally, she gave her perspective...

Plastic, Chemicals & Infertility: What we know now
->Health and Environment Alliance | More on "Plastic chemicals and human fertility" at BigEarthData.ai | #Plastic

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Interpretable machine learning models for stroke risk prediction in patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation The study design, including cohort construction, feature selection, model training, validation, and clinical utility assessment, is summarized in Fig. 1. Among the 9511 patients in the derivation cohort, 5043 (53.0%) had laboratory data available within 6 months prior to initial AF diagnosis. Patients with laboratory data were significantly older and had higher CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores (both p < 0.001; standardized mean differences [SMDs] = 0.359 and 0.462, respectively), suggesting potential selection bias. To preserve generalizability, laboratory data were excluded from model development. After this exclusion, no missing data remained in any of the derivation or external validation cohorts. Within the derivation cohort, 1448 patients (15.2%) experienced ischemic stroke within 1 year. Compared to non-stroke patients, those with stroke were older and had higher prevalence of comorbidities such as diabetes (DM), hyperlipidemia, hypertension (HTN), peptic ulcer disease excluding bleeding (PUDB), peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and prior ischemic stroke (all p < 0.05), but lower rates of congestive heart failure (p = 0.031). Stroke patients were more frequently prescribed warfarin, antiplatelets (APA), oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA), and cardiovascular medications, but fewer antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) (all p < 0.05; Supplementary Table 1). Marked heterogeneity was observed between the derivation and external validation cohorts (Table...

Interpretable machine learning models for stroke risk prediction in patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation
->Nature | More on "AI stroke risk atrial fibrillation" at BigEarthData.ai | #MachineLearning

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What matters most for Assam voters? Five issues that could decide Assam Election Results 2026 Issues such as infiltration, illegal immigration, the Uniform Civil Code, the Bodoland issue and corruption continue to dominate the Assam Election this year. With Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and state Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi trading barbs over family assets, pre-poll surveys have revealed the top issues that concern the voters of the North Eastern state. What do pre-poll survey reveal? A Vote Vibe survey released on March 10, 2026, found "unemployment" to be the top issue among voters in Assam. This was followed by issues of "food and rehabilitation", alcoholism and drugs, corruption and the investigation into the death of popular singer Zubeen Garg. Besides, top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, have been raising the issue of "demographic changes" and infiltration in Assam. Meanwhile, the Congress has been talking about corruption in Assam and also promised "justice for Zubeen Garg in 100 days.' Here are the top five issues that have dominated Assam Elections 2026: 1. Infiltration, illegal immigration, protection of indigenous people BJP leaders claimed that rampant infiltration and illegal immigration have threatened the indigenous people of Assam and changed the demography of the state...

What matters most for Assam voters? Five issues that could decide Assam Election Results 2026
->Mint | More on "Assam election issues voters 2026" at BigEarthData.ai | #Democracy #Election

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Iran war latest: Trump claims 'complete victory' in Sky News call after US and Tehran agree ceasefire Spotify This content is provided by Spotify, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Spotify cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Spotify cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Spotify cookies for this session only. Iran war, day 40 - what you need to know We're updating this post with developments as they happen. Trump announces temporary ceasefire: Donald Trump has agreed to pause attacks on Iran for two weeks after warning a "whole civilisation will die" if Tehran did not agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 1am UK time this morning. He later declared "complete victory" in a phone call with Sky News. Iran agrees to reopen strait: After Trump's announcement, Tehran said it would permit "safe passage" through the strait for the duration of the ceasefire in "coordination with Iran's armed forces". Iran's security council said it had submitted...

Iran war latest: Trump claims 'complete victory' in Sky News call after US and Tehran agree ceasefire
->Sky News | More on "Iran US ceasefire Trump deal" at BigEarthData.ai | #NoDecency #TrumpFascism #IranWar

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The Indian Ocean as Fragmented Maritime Space: Why It Never Spoke as One The US sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka on 4 March was not just another incidents in the widening West Asian war. In fact it was a warning shot to the entire Indian Ocean Region. A conflict initiated far from South Asian and Indian Ocean shores spilled directly into the “oceanic space” that sustains the trade, energy, and security of littoral states from East Africa to Australia. Despite this the political response across the region was fragmented, and remained grim. This absence of unified Indian Ocean bloc highlights the lack maritime consciousness in Indian Ocean. Henceforth, the Indian Ocean is strategically shared but remain politically fragmented Since Donald Trump has come to power his action throughout the year resemblance his innate desire to dominate. His recent misadventure in Iran is just another example among many. In fact the strike on IRIS Dena was not simply preemptive it was a projection of force intended to show that Washington could carry its war into any maritime theatre it chose, including waters that is far away from western hemisphere. An American political scientist Hans J. Morgenthau had a phrase for this kind of behavior in power politics – animus...

The Indian Ocean as Fragmented Maritime Space: Why It Never Spoke as One
->Modern Diplomacy | More on "Indian Ocean geopolitical fragmentation maritime" at BigEarthData.ai | #Ocean

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How Trump went from threatening to destroy Iran to agreeing a two-week ceasefire President Donald Trump has executed a dramatic reversal in his stance on Iran, transitioning from threats of "annihilation" to endorsing a "workable" plan that has led to a 14-day ceasefire. This temporary truce is anticipated to pave the way for an end to the nearly six-week-old conflict. The significant shift in tone emerged as intermediaries, notably Pakistan, worked intensely to prevent further escalation. China, Iran's primary trading partner and a key economic rival to the United States, also discreetly facilitated efforts towards a ceasefire, according to two officials briefed on the matter who spoke anonymously due to not being authorized to comment publicly. Announcing the temporary ceasefire via social media, approximately 90 minutes before his deadline for Tehran to open the critical Strait of Hormuz or face the obliteration of its power plants and other vital infrastructure, Trump said: "The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East." The president is scheduled to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House on Wednesday, where the emerging ceasefire and the plan to reopen...

How Trump went from threatening to destroy Iran to agreeing a two-week ceasefire
->The Independent | More on "Trump Iran ceasefire diplomatic reversal" at BigEarthData.ai | #NoDecency #Iran #TrumpFascism

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Hungarian election could have implications for EU, US, Russia, and Ukraine The Hungarian parliamentary elections on April 12 are being billed as the most important in the country’s modern history. With Hungary a key focus in the escalating confrontation between Russia and the West, this weekend’s vote could also have geopolitical implications that will be felt in Kyiv, Moscow, Brussels, and Washington. Current Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been in office for the past sixteen years, making him the European Union’s longest-serving leader. This dominance is now thought to be under threat, with polls showing opposition leader Péter Magyar and his Tisza Party leading Orbán by a significant margin. Critics accuse Orbán of undermining democratic institutions at home while fostering close ties with Moscow, leading to widespread claims that Hungary unofficially represents Russian interests in Brussels. As key EU decisions require unanimous consent from all member states, Orbán has used his veto power to undermine support for Ukraine. Hungary has consistently opposed Ukraine’s EU accession, refused to phase out Russian oil and gas imports, and repeatedly delayed aid packages for Ukraine. Budapest currently stands in the way of a €90 billion EU loan to Kyiv. In exchange for dropping his objections to this loan, Orbán has demanded the resumption of...

Hungarian election could have implications for EU, US, Russia, and Ukraine
->Atlantic Council | More on "Hungarian election Orbán democracy implications" at BigEarthData.ai | #Democracy #RussiaUkraineWar #StandWithUkraine #Election

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Urgent: Help free Dr Hussam Abu Safiya His case reflects a wider pattern of abuse against Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, including documented torture, the denial of fair trials and the deprivation of basic human rights. This is not an isolated incident, but the systematic targeting of Palestinian healthcare workers and the decimation of Gaza’s healthcare system. Dr Hussam Abu Safiya should never have been detained for carrying out his medical duties, yet he remains held without trial or charge like thousands of Palestinians in administrative detention. Email Foreign Minister Penny Wong and call on Australia to act now. Together, our words have power. We must continue to advocate until Dr Abu Safiya and all healthcare workers arbitrarily detained are released. Healthcare workers are not, and should never be, a target. Please take action to free Dr Hussam Abu Safiya today. First Nations peoples are the continuing custodians of the lands, waters and skies of this continent, of which sovereignty was never ceded. We recognise the strength and intergenerational resilience of Elders, and honour the culture and wisdom that they have passed on to future generations. We continue to fight for Indigenous Rights and stand in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, acknowledging the ongoing...

Urgent: Help free Dr Hussam Abu Safiya
->Amnesty International Australia | More on "Palestinian doctor detained without trial" at BigEarthData.ai

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How the Artemis II crew trained to observe and photograph the moon: A NASA science team geologist explains The Artemis II crew has now broken the record — previously held by Apollo 13 — for the farthest distance any humans have ever travelled from Earth. The crew also completed a flyby of the moon’s far side and sent back some amazing images of the lunar surface. I am a professor, an explorer and a planetary geologist, specializing in the study of meteorite impact structures. I am also a member of the First Artemis Lunar Surface Science Team and have been supporting NASA in developing the geology training for Artemis astronauts. The flyby was particularly exciting as it offered a stunning new perspective of the lunar surface. It also provided the first operational test of a new science team and evaluation room at Mission Control in NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. And it was fantastic to see the Artemis II crew conduct observations and take photographs of geological landforms on the moon’s surface — putting their training with me at the Kamestastin Lake impact structure, on the territory of the Mushuau Innu First Nation in northern Labrador, into practice. New view of moon Unlike the Apollo missions, that orbited at approximately 110 kilometres above the surface of...

How the Artemis II crew trained to observe and photograph the moon: A NASA science team geologist explains
->Down To Earth | More on "Artemis II moon geology training" at BigEarthData.ai | #NASA #Science #Space #Moon

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Brazilian Scientists Turn Cocoa Waste into Superfood Using Honey and Vibrations For every chocolate bar the world consumes, the industry leaves behind a mountain of waste. We’re talking about the cocoa bean shell — the tough outer skin that usually ends up in a landfill. But we’re throwing away a nutritional goldmine. Those discarded shells are packed with theobromine and caffeine, the very compounds that give cocoa its kick. The trick, until now, has been getting those nutrients out without ruining them. Now, a team from Brazil found a way to rescue those compounds without using a single drop of toxic chemicals. Their secret weapon is a group of native, stingless bees and a device that “screams” at honey with high-intensity sound waves. A Messy Business Global cocoa production generates millions of tons of shells annually. While these shells are loaded with stimulants, getting those nutrients out is usually a nightmare. Traditional methods tend to use high heat, long hours, and harsh organic solvents. None of those are sustainable, and they’re not particularly cheap methods either. The researchers at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) decided to try a different approach. What if the solvent was the product? Enter the bees. The honey you find in supermarkets isn’t a particularly good solvent...

Brazilian Scientists Turn Cocoa Waste into Superfood Using Honey and Vibrations
->ZME Science | More on "Cocoa waste upcycled via fermentation" at BigEarthData.ai | #Science

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US-Iran ceasefire brings some relief to oil markets, even as risks persist; why prices are set to stay 'higher for longer' Asia, including India, has particularly suffered due to supply disruptions and price surges because of the West Asia war. India depends on imports to meet over 88% of its crude oil needs, over 40% of which came via the Strait of Hormuz. The country depends on imports to meet half of its natural gas requirement, with 55-60% coming through the Strait. As for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), India’s import dependency level is 60%, and 90% of those imports came through the maritime chokepoint. Although the temporary ceasefire brings some relief and hope, the energy market is still not fully writing off the risks associated with global oil supply and transits through the Strait of Hormuz. That is evident from the fact that oil prices are still over 30% higher than the pre-war levels, despite some easing. Currently, the ceasefire is temporary, and according to some experts fragile, with a more lasting and durable peace agreement still elusive. Flip-flops have been a hallmark of this war, particularly from the American side, and who is to say that this temporary arrangement is not going to be another one? The conflict is now entering the crucial phase of negotiation, and much will depend...

US-Iran ceasefire brings some relief to oil markets, even as risks persist; why prices are set to stay 'higher for longer'
->The Indian Express | More info at BigEarthData.ai

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Canola may be key to Australia's biofuel A new report by agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank highlights the key role the nation’s canola could play as a biofuel in future energy transition and security. The report, ‘Fuelling the future: How the new biofuel demand wave could reshape Australia’s canola sector’, said with the uptake of electric vehicles largely confined to passenger transport and having limited impact on diesel and jet fuel usage, biofuels are increasingly being turned to globally to help reduce emissions in these “harder to abate” sectors. And with canola oil a key feedstock used in the production of biodiesel, this means the role of Australian canola in energy markets could grow. The report, by the bank’s RaboResearch division, said the rising demand for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) — particularly across the Asia–Pacific region — is opening a “rare strategic window” for Australia to capture greater value from its canola crop. The report’s lead author, RaboResearch senior grains and oilseeds analyst Vitor Pistoia, said diesel and jet fuel remain central to freight, mining and aviation, and these are key sectors where biofuels are gaining traction as a lower-emissions alternative. “For Australia, this creates a genuine opportunity to rethink how canola fits into both...

Canola may be key to Australia's biofuel
->Sustainability Matters | More on "Australian canola biofuel energy transition" at BigEarthData.ai | #Biofuel

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Artemis II: How will NASA bring astronauts back to Earth? Mathematics behind the process After completing a historic crewed flyby of the Moon, NASA's Artemis II mission is now focused on one of the most critical phases of deep space travel: safely returning astronauts to Earth. The journey back is not just a straight path home, but a carefully calculated sequence of manoeuvres, system checks and high-speed reentry operations that will test the Orion spacecraft under extreme conditions. Leaving the Moon's influence On April 7, the Orion spacecraft, named Integrity, began transitioning out of the Moon's gravitational pull and into Earth's gravitational influence. This shift is part of a trajectory strategy that uses the natural forces of both celestial bodies, similar to the path used during Apollo-era missions. By relying on gravity, NASA minimises fuel use while maintaining precise control over the spacecraft's route. Fine-tuning the path On April 8, mission teams are carrying out trajectory correction manoeuvres using Orion's onboard thrusters. These small but precise engine burns adjust the spacecraft's speed and direction to ensure it remains on course for a targeted landing zone in the Pacific Ocean. Alongside navigation adjustments, astronauts are conducting key system tests, including life support performance checks and communication antenna evaluations. The crew is also testing specialised garments...

Artemis II: How will NASA bring astronauts back to Earth? Mathematics behind the process
->Business Today | More on "Artemis II Moon return mathematics" at BigEarthData.ai | #Astronaut #NASA #Space #Earth

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Ukrainian partisans sabotage railway line in Russia's Belgorod Oblast, group claims The pro-Ukrainian partisan group Atesh sabotaged a railway line in Russia's Belgorod Oblast, disrupting the transport of military cargo toward Kupiansk, the group claimed via Telegram on April 8. Operatives of the group simultaneously destroyed two transformer cabinets on the railway between Stary Oskol and Urazovo, causing logistical delays for the supply of "ammunition, equipment, and provisions" for Russian forces the front line around Kharkiv Oblast, Atesh claimed. "As a result, these units suffered significant losses in personnel and equipment — a direct consequence of their supply being cut at a critical moment," the partisan group further claimed. The Kyiv Independent cannot immediately verify the claims. The extent of the damage or severity of the disruptions caused was not immediately clear. The Atesh movement regularly conducts sabotage attacks in Russia and Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, disrupting Russian operations. On March 17, Atesh claimed that the group's operators, working in coordination with Ukraine's Armed Forces, set ablaze three cellular towers equipped with electronic warfare antennas, "allowing Ukrainian drones to pass... and strike an aircraft repair plant in Staraya Russa." Ukraine's General Staff appeared to corroborate the claims, reporting that facilities at the 123rd Aircraft Repair Plant in the town of Staraya...

Ukrainian partisans sabotage railway line in Russia's Belgorod Oblast, group claims
->The Kyiv Independent | More on "Atesh partisans Belgorod railway sabotage" at BigEarthData.ai | #StandWithUkraine #RussiaUkraineWar

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In Strait of Hormuz, Iran and China take aim at US dollar hegemony As the United States-Israel war on Iran — paused for two weeks on Wednesday amid fresh diplomatic talks — has roiled the global economy for more than a month, Iran and China have seized the opportunity to address a shared gripe about the global financial system. Their common cause: ending the hegemony of the US dollar. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4Israeli soldiers fire tear gas at Palestinian youth during raid in Hebron list 2 of 4Why is Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant being attacked? list 3 of 4Protesters swarm US embassy in Tel Aviv, demanding end of wars list 4 of 4Trump says US could charge for Strait of Hormuz passage amid Iran war end of list For years, they say, Washington has leveraged the dominance of the dollar in international trade to exert influence and inflict pain on enemies and competitors, Iran and China included. The supremacy of the dollar is especially apparent in the global oil market, where about 80 percent of transactions are settled in the currency, according to a 2023 estimate by JP Morgan Chase. In Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit from the Gulf for about one-fifth...

In Strait of Hormuz, Iran and China take aim at US dollar hegemony
->Al Jazeera | More on "Iran China dollar hegemony challenge" at BigEarthData.ai | #Iran

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Spatio-temporal dynamics of Hendra virus in Australia reveal stable maintenance of diverse viral clades among Pteropus bats Of 9,869 Pteropus urine samples screened by PCR from 24 roosts (Supplementary Table 1 and Extended Data Fig. 1), 703 contained HeV-g1 with cycle threshold (Ct) values ≤ 40, and 253 of these had Ct values ≤ 32, suitable for sequencing. Isolation success from PCR-positive bat samples was low (3/177; 1.7%), with full genome sequences obtained from the three isolates (Ct values of 24, 35 and 37). From these three isolates, we were able to generate useful infectious stocks from the first two. In total, we generated 48 HeV-g1 full genome sequences (68.0% success) with a mean coverage depth of 415× (range, 8.0× to 3,700×) from bat urine samples with Ct values between 21 and 32 (7.4 × 106 to 8.3 × 103 genome copies per ml) (Supplementary Data 1). This included 4 genomes from P. alecto individuals and 44 genomes from under-roost sampling sheets, sampled from roosts spanning 595 km along the coastline of eastern Australia (~12,000 km2). Host genomic sequences detected within the sequenced libraries confirmed P. alecto as the source of these samples (Supplementary Data 2). We also generated a further 9 HeV genomes from spillover events in horses. Within the combined dataset of 73 HeV-g1 sequences,...

Spatio-temporal dynamics of Hendra virus in Australia reveal stable maintenance of diverse viral clades among Pteropus bats
->Nature | More info at BigEarthData.ai | #Virus

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K. C. Sinclair - Voltairine De Cleyre and Colonialism Voltairine de Cleyre, like her fellow historical anarchists of Euro-American (or simply European descent), took contradictory stances on colonialism and Indigenous peoples throughout her life. Her case is just particularly extreme, and due to that, especially instructive. As an otipêmisiw person who’s been studying anarchist history for about three decades now, I’ve never been surprised to encounter anti-Native sentiment when put forward by Euro-American and European anarchists, but it’s only recently that I’ve started writing about it. My work in this case also expands upon that of Klee Benally (Unknowable: Against an Indigenous Anarchist Theory) and Gia Vogerl (Deconstructing Settler Socialism) who first wrote about the anti-Native aspect of De Cleyre’s writing in particular. Of added personal interest to me over the years has been De Cleyre’s comradeship with Honoré Jaxon, a settler socialist from Toronto and Prince Albert (in what’s now Saskatchewan) who married into the otipêmisiwak community, served as secretary to Louis Riel, and then fled to Chicago after Canada crushed the Northwest Resistance of 1885. I’ve also long been an appreciator of De Cleyre’s particular skill at writing and her attention to the Mexican Revolution. Learning from Mistakes When it came to North American history, on the...

K. C. Sinclair - Voltairine De Cleyre and Colonialism
->The Anarchist Library | More info at BigEarthData.ai

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State plans new 48,000-acre conservation easement near Thompson Falls State wildlife officials plan to tack on another 48,000 acres to an existing block of conservation easements near the Thompson chain of lakes. The newly minted Upper Thompson Conservation Easement project will roll out in two phases, according to an environmental assessment released by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks last month. The first, encompassing 34,160 acres of private forestland northeast of Thompson Falls, is scheduled to go before the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission for approval as early as June 2026. Under the proposed terms, Green Diamond Resource Company would retain primary ownership of the land while Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks would take over development rights for the property. The property could be logged using best management practices, but the deal restricts Green Diamond and any future owners from extensive development and subdivision. The timber company is also required to allow public access to the land for hunting, trapping, hiking and other outdoor recreational activities. Development rights for another 13,297 acres in the area will be transferred to the state wildlife agency in the coming years, bringing the conservation easement’s total area to 47,907 acres. The state sealed a similar two-part deal with Green Diamond in December 2025, establishing...

State plans new 48,000-acre conservation easement near Thompson Falls
->Daily Inter Lake | More info at BigEarthData.ai | #Conservation

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Has Reform UK discovered human rights? What’s so confusing about human rights is working out to whom they apply. After all, “human” could mean anyone. This is not just a matter of those endlessly rehearsed questions about what “family life” means, or how the rights of irregular migrants intersect with the need to have control of our borders. This week, a much more pressing, and distressing, iteration of this issue has been brought to light. In selfless service to the public good, Reform UK have exposed what they fear is a grave injustice: that the government has breached human rights of extremely rich expatriates who wish to donate to political parties. Such as the businessman Christopher Harborne, who last year kindly gave Reform £12 million, and who happens to live in Thailand, to have dual citizenship, and to be known also as Chakrit Sakunkrit. Monstrously, the Starmer regime has decreed that gifts from expatriates to Britain’s political parties must not exceed a meagre £100,000 per annum. Supposedly the justification for this is that while most expat donations are “entirely unproblematic”, the permissibility of such donations poses “an additional risk of foreign money leaching into British politics”, and that investigating suspected malfeasance is “more complex” for the...

Has Reform UK discovered human rights?
->New Statesman | More info at BigEarthData.ai | #HumanRights

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Iran war: US, Israel, Tehran agree two-week ceasefire ConflictsIran Iran war: US, Israel, Tehran agree two-week ceasefire Midhat Fatimah | Matt Ford with AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters Published 04/08/2026Published April 8, 2026 Donald Trump has pulled back from threats to destroy Iran and agreed to a two-week ceasefire after receiving a 10-point proposal from Tehran. Iran's foreign minister has said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen. Follow DW. https://p.dw.com/p/5BpDr Advertisement Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know Trump says he has agreed 'to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks' Iran's Supreme National Security Council has reportedly accepted the two-week ceasefire Agreement dependent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz The ceasefire deal comes after Trump had escalated his rhetoric towards Iran, warning Tuesday that a 'whole civilization' would 'die' unless Tehran reopened the crucial waterway US-Iran talks to begin in Pakistan on Friday Welcome to DW's coverage of the conflict in Iran and the Middle East on Wednesday, April 8: Skip next section Oil prices drop, stocks jump after ceasefire 04/08/2026April 8, 2026 Oil prices drop, stocks jump after ceasefire The price of crude oil fell sharply while stocks surged on Wednesday after the US...

Iran war: US, Israel, Tehran agree two-week ceasefire
->Deutsche Welle | More info at BigEarthData.ai | #IranWar

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Fake green economy One problem among many with the “Green Energy Transition” is that it was always a watermelon, green on the outside and red on the inside. It wasn’t market-driven, it was designed, and hyped, by people who didn’t care what people actually wanted to buy and indeed, in many cases, who actively believed that consumer preferences were inefficient and unenlightened. As when Bloomberg Green worries about “What a Clean Cookstove Company’s Bankruptcy Means for Carbon Markets”. Why one company’s bankruptcy should mean anything for “carbon markets” is less clear even than what a “clean cookstove” would be. One where you sprayed and wiped the backsplash as well as the main surface? But both are clearer than “carbon markets”. You just can’t go into a store and buy carbon. What are they talking about? Why, another face-plant by central planning, of course. According to the article, in case you weren’t independently aware of it: “This year was supposed to be a turning point for carbon markets, with the United Nations’ long-delayed country-to-country trading system coming into force and airlines preparing to enter a mandatory program to offset their emissions.” Before we get to “a turning point for carbon markets” let us give...

Fake green economy
->Climate Discussion Nexus | More info at BigEarthData.ai | #GreenEconomy

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America and Israel Have Different Endgames in Iran President Donald Trump’s announcement of a two-week cease-fire on Tuesday night has ended, at least temporarily, the fighting between the United States, Israel, and Iran. But it has done little to resolve the strategic incoherence at the heart of the U.S.-Israeli campaign that neither government has been willing to acknowledge publicly: the two partners have been fighting the same war for fundamentally different reasons. For Israel, the prospect of direct confrontation with the Islamic Republic has loomed large for decades. It has studied the regime with a granularity that Washington has rarely matched. Because Israel understands that regime survival is the Islamic Republic’s organizing principle, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has focused on leadership elimination and regime change as the campaign’s primary objectives. The Trump administration, by contrast, entered the conflict under the assumption that a sufficiently credible demonstration of military force could coerce the regime’s leadership into making a deal. The same logic animated the first Trump administration’s maximum pressure campaign on Tehran, as well as the second Trump administration’s decision to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. U.S. strategic planning regarding Iran, in other words, has consistently prioritized tractable questions of missile counts and uranium enrichment levels with the...

America and Israel Have Different Endgames in Iran
->Foreign Affairs | More info at BigEarthData.ai | #Iran

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Ihor "Barbar," Deputy Commander of the 2nd Battalion from the National Guard "Rubizh Brigade" An officer of Ukraine’s National Guard with the call sign “Barbar” (“Barbarian”) is among those who, in effect, never had a “pre-war life.” Military lyceum, then the academy—and by his third year, the full-scale invasion had begun. Since 2023, serving with the “Rubizh” brigade, he has fought in key hotspots across Donbas, been wounded in combat, commanded a company, and now serves as a deputy battalion commander. His unit is deployed on one of the most demanding sectors of the front—near Dobropillia. In an interview with Ukrinform, “Barbar” reflects on a warfare that is constantly evolving—and on the people who bear its weight. FROM LYCEUM TO THE FRONT LINE: WHY HE CHOSE THE “RUBIZH” BRIGADE Q: Ihor, tell us about your life before the war. Where are you from? What did you do as a civilian? Did you always plan a military career? A: To be honest, I barely had a civilian life—essentially only up to the ninth grade. I’m from a small settlement in Poltava region: quiet, steady, an ordinary community. But war was always close to home. My uncles fought in 2014–2016, during the ATO and JFO. They served in serious units—one of them lost an arm. That’s...

Ihor "Barbar," Deputy Commander of the 2nd Battalion from the National Guard "Rubizh Brigade"
->Ukrinform | More info at BigEarthData.ai

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