Sunday, 24 March, 2019

Gamma-Ray Bursts

Posted on Thursday, 10 October, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

In 1997, a host of ground-based and space telescopes confirmed that gamma-ray bursts – fleeting blasts of high energy radiation – are nature’s biggest explosions. The Italian-Dutch satellite BeppoSAX pin-pointed the February 28 burst, and Earth-based optical instruments were then able to spot its faint host galaxy several billion light-years from our planet. A typical gamma-ray burst radiates more energy in a few seconds than the Sun will in its entire 10 billion year lifetime. A gamma-ray burst (GRB) occurring in our own galaxy could decimate life on Earth, destroying the ozone layer, triggering climate change and drastically altering life’s cycle. However, the good news is that the likelihood of a natural disaster due to a GRB is much lower than previously thought.

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Warning - Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe Friday, 22 March, 2019
Parts of Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe have been severely affected by Tropical Cyclone Idai. US residents should avoid nonessential travel to Beira City and the surrounding area in Mozambique. Travelers to other affected parts of Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe should take steps to prevent illness and injury.
Alert - Drug-Resistant Infections in Patients Who Had Weight-Loss Surgery in Mexico Friday, 15 March, 2019
Some US residents returning from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, have been diagnosed with infections caused by an antibiotic-resistant form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. (weight loss surgery, bariatric, Tijuana, Mexico, Grand View Hospital, VIM, carbapenemase)

ASTRONOMY PICTURE OF THE DAY: Westerlund 2. Credit: X-ray; Y.Nazé, G.Rauw, J.Manfroid (Université de Liège), CXC, NASA. Infrared; E.Churchwell (University of Wisconsin), JPL, Caltech, NASA. Dusty stellar nursery RCW 49 surrounds young star cluster Westerlund 2 in this composite skyscape towards the southern constellation Centaurus. Westerlund 2 is a mere 2 million years old and contains some of our galaxy’s most luminous, massive and short-lived stars. At the cluster’s estimated distance of 20,000 light-years, the square marking the Chandra field of view would be about 50 light-years on a side.

NASA Mission Reveals Asteroid Has Big Surprises Tuesday, 19 March, 2019
A NASA spacecraft that will return a sample of a near-Earth asteroid named Bennu to Earth in 2023 made the first-ever close-up observations of particle plumes erupting from an asteroid’s surface.
NASA Television to Air Three Upcoming Spacewalks, Preview Briefing Friday, 15 March, 2019
Four astronauts are preparing for their first spacewalks outside the International Space Station, scheduled for March 22, March 29 and April 8.

IMAGO DEI: Igorot is the collective name of several Austronesian ethnic group who inhabit the six Philippines provinces of the Cordillera Administrative Region: Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, and Nueva Vizcaya. Their culture is well-preserved as they had defended their land against the Spaniards. They Igorots are divided into two subgroups: the larger group in the south, central and western areas, and very adept at rice-terrace farming; a smaller group lives in the east and north.

Ukraine - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Thursday, 21 March, 2019
Exercise increased caution in Ukraine due to crime, civil unrest and elections. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Do not travel to: Crimea due to arbitrary detentions and other abuses by Russian occupation authorities. The eastern parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, especially the non-government-controlled areas, due to armed conflict. Crime […]
Comoros - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Thursday, 21 March, 2019
Exercise increased caution in The Union of the Comoros due to the upcoming presidential election. Comoros will hold elections on March 24, 2019, and April 21, 2019, if a run-off election is warranted. Travel within Comoros may be disrupted during these times by roadblocks and political demonstrations. From March 21-March […]