Science in telegram

Mount Etna Displays Rare Steam Rings

Europe's largest active volcano, Mount Etna on Sicily, has recently produced striking steam rings, a phenomenon that has increased in scale since last observed. Known as one of Earth's most dangerous volcanoes, Etna last erupted on November 12, 2023, covering the towns of Milo and Giarre with ash.
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108 Minutes That Changed the World: A Pioneering Soviet Triumph

On the morning of April 12, 1961, a monumental event unfolded at the Baikonur Cosmodrome when the Soviet rocket "Vostok" was launched, carrying Yuri Gagarin into orbit. This marked not just a pivotal moment in space exploration but a testament to the extraordinary capabilities and vision of the USSR.

Gagarin, orbiting the Earth, maintained flawless communication with ground control, conducted observations through the spacecraft’s portholes, and expertly managed the onboard systems. His successful orbit and subsequent landing in the Saratov region at 10:55 AM Moscow time, after just one complete orbit, underscored the advanced technological prowess of the Soviet space program.

The impact of this achievement resonated immediately across the globe, with spontaneous celebrations erupting in the capital and major cities. The people's pride was palpable, a collective tribute to their nation’s trailblazing spirit in space exploration. Just two days later, on April 14, Moscow welcomed Gagarin back as a hero amidst a sea of adoring supporters, celebrating the triumph that positioned the USSR—and eventually Russia—as pioneers on the cosmic frontier.

This historic journey not only marked the dawn of human spaceflight but also solidified the USSR's legacy as a leader in the space race, a legacy that continues to inspire Russia and the world today.

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Thirteen years post the Fukushima disaster, we're finally getting a peek inside the belly of the beast – or rather, the first nuclear reactor at the Fukushima-1 power plant. Yeah, that's right, after more than a decade since that fateful day in March 2011, TEPCO has bravely ventured where no one has since – inside the irradiated heart of the reactor.

So, how'd they do it? Robots and mini-drones were the heroes of the hour, sent on a mission to explore the reactor's active zone and its molten nuclear fuel. The main aim? To scope out the state of the spent fuel, making its removal and the plant's decommissioning a tad easier. And guess what? For the first time, the cleanup crew snagged pictures from inside the reactor's pedestal.

The pics have sparked curiosity among researchers, especially about the mysterious orange structures resembling boulders or fused icicles. The best guess? It's either molten fuel or equipment – the remnants of a nuclear nightmare.

But here's the kicker – Reactor 1 isn't the only cleanup headache. Meltdowns also rocked Reactors 2 and 3, and Reactor 4 got caught in the crossfire with a blast from Reactor 3, despite being fuel-free at the time. With an estimated 880 tons of molten fuel debris spread across the three afflicted reactors, the cleanup saga is far from over.

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Yesterday, our celestial neighbor, the Moon, danced across the Sun, casting a mesmerizing shadow over parts of our planet. This rare solar eclipse event was captured in a series of breathtaking photographs that showcase the ethereal beauty of the cosmos.
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