Ameresco Named Finalist at the 2023 Energy Awards
FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 24, 2023--
1970-01-01 08:00
Mysterious ‘dark spot’ on Neptune seen from Earth for the first time
Scientists have seen one of the mysterious “dark spots” on Neptune from Earth for the first ever time. Researchers spotted the feature using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope, or VLT. Using that telescope, astronomers were able to examine a large dark spot – which was joined by a smaller, bright spot, they said, of a kind that has never seen before. Scientists still do not know why those spots form on Neptune’s blue atmosphere. But they hope that the new observations could help answer questions about their origin. “Since the first discovery of a dark spot, I’ve always wondered what these short-lived and elusive dark features are,” said Patrick Irwin, professor at the University of Oxford and lead investigator of the study. It has already helped rule out one possibility: that the dark spots are caused when the clouds on the planet clear. The observations instead suggest that the spot is formed when air particles make a layer below the main one go darker, caused by ice and haze mixing in the atmosphere. Understanding the spots has been difficult because they leave the planet’s surface as mysteriously as they arise. They have also been difficult for researchers to actually examine, given the difficulty of spotting them through telescopes. Previously, scientists were forced to send spacecraft to see the spots, and the first was observed in 1989, when Nasa’s Voyager 2 flew past. It disappeared a few years later. In recent years, scientists have been able to examine them with the Hubble Space Telescope, which has seen more spots on the atmosphere. When it did so, astronomers were able to point ground-based telescopes towards them, allowing for more detailed research. “This is an astounding increase in humanity’s ability to observe the cosmos,” said Michael Wong, a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley and a co-author on the paper. “At first, we could only detect these spots by sending a spacecraft there, like Voyager. “Then we gained the ability to make them out remotely with Hubble. Finally, technology has advanced to enable this from the ground.” The new observations allowed scientists to examine the spot using the VLT’s Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer, which let them split the light from Neptune and the spot into its component colours. That in turn means that astronomers can understand the height at which the spot sits, and how the atmosphere is composed. As well as helping examine the dark spots, scientists also saw a surprise result: another, entirely new kind of bright spot. “In the process we discovered a rare deep bright cloud type that had never been identified before, even from space,” said Wong. The work is described in a new paper, ‘Cloud structure of dark spots and storms in Neptune’s atmosphere’, published in Nature Astronomy. Read More Mysterious dark spot on Neptune detected from Earth for the first time We just received the first ever pictures taken near the Moon’s uncharted south pole Chandrayaan-3 mission rover exits Moon lander to explore lunar south pole Mysterious dark spot on Neptune detected from Earth for the first time We just received the first ever pictures taken near the Moon’s uncharted south pole Chandrayaan-3 mission rover exits Moon lander to explore lunar south pole
1970-01-01 08:00
BBC Radio 2’s Tony Blackburn reveals he had sepsis and pneumonia in health update
Tony Blackburn has revealed that he had life threatening sepsis and pneumonia after coming out of a two-month stay in hospital. The veteran BBC Radio DJ had pulled out of his Sound Of the 60s UK Tour and accompanying radio show earlier this year after he was taken ill. At the time, Blackburn told his listeners he had a chest infection. Now that Blackburn has fully recovered and has been discharged from hospital, the DJ has revealed that he was actually suffering from sepsis, pneumonia and blood poisoning. “I was doing three a week at one time forgetting that I’m now a little bit older, so I ended up in hospital for two months with sepsis and pneumonia and blood poisoning,” he said on BBC Radio Scotland’s Afternoon Show on Wednesday (23 August). “And I didn’t realise how unwell I was until one day in the hospital my whole family were gathered around the bed. And I thought ‘this isn’t good’.” “A couple of weeks ago I went to see my specialist and he said ‘you are cured’, so that was a nice thing to hear.” After a three-month break, Blackburn has returned to his tour but will be doing one show per week rather than three per week. He said: “I haven’t been doing the [tour] show for about three months because I was told to rest a little bit. Now I’m back in form and we’re selling out.” “I love being with the band and it’s just loads of fun.” Blackburn returned to BBC Radio 2 after Johnnie Walker covered his Sounds of the 60s radio show during his illness and has since launched a new show on Sunday afternoons – Tony Blackburn’s Soul on Sunday on BBC Radio London. Back in May, Blackburn announced that he had been discharged from hospital and was looking forward to broadcasting again. “After three weeks in hospital I have just been discharged and am now at home to have some more treatment by having a daily injection for a few days from a hospital near me,” he said. “Thanks to everyone at the Wellington Hospital in London, doctors and nurses for looking after me. “After my treatment and a rest I look forward to getting back @BBCRadio2 and @BBCLOCALRADIO to doing what I love doing. Just want to thank all my friends for your lovely messages, you are all so kind to think about me xx,” he concluded. According to the NHS, sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs. There are lots of symptoms of sepsis, and those symptoms can be similar to other conditions, including the flu or a chest infection. Read More Former royal chef explains why Prince William and Kate’s children don’t eat with them What we know about the leaked Pentagon documents on Ukraine Bride tries on mother’s wedding dress 30 years after parents’ wedding 4 hacks to get teens off the sofa and get active – as study warns of heart damage Selling Sunset’s Amanza Smith says she ‘almost died’ from spine infection Strictly’s Amy Dowden finding it ‘so hard’ as she shares hair loss update amid cancer
1970-01-01 08:00
Baby Penguins Die as Record Low Antarctic Ice Stokes Extinction Risk
Colonies of emperor penguins failed to breed at a level never seen before in parts of Antarctica, which
1970-01-01 08:00
US House committee leader wants probe of space command HQ decision
WASHINGTON The chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee on Thursday said he has requested
1970-01-01 08:00
T-Mobile US to cut 5,000 jobs as cheaper plans weigh on costs
T-Mobile US said on Thursday it would reduce its workforce by about 7% by cutting 5,000 jobs in
1970-01-01 08:00
New gas pipeline rules floated following 2018 blasts in Massachusetts
Federal regulators are proposing a series of rules changes aimed at toughening safety requirements for millions of miles of gas distribution pipelines nationwide following a string of gas explosions in Massachusetts in 2018
1970-01-01 08:00
Donald who? Fox barely mentions Trump in first half of debate until 10-minute indictment discussion
Donald Trump was barely mentioned in the Fox News Channel debate that he skipped until halfway through
1970-01-01 08:00
Sol-ti Names Pawan Kalra as President & Chief Executive Officer
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 24, 2023--
1970-01-01 08:00
Why Wall Street's obsession with a company you probably never heard of is sending stocks surging
The stock market has boomed this year, and a big reason is a company without much name recognition -- unless you're a hard core video gamer.
1970-01-01 08:00
Beyoncé has a birthday wish she's asking concertgoers to fulfill
Queen Bey turns 42 on September 4 and has a little "birthday wish" she would like attendees of her "Renaissance" tour to fulfill.
1970-01-01 08:00
'Barbie' is now America's highest-grossing movie of 2023
"Barbie" is now the highest-grossing movie at the domestic box office this year, taking the crown away from "Super Mario Bros."
1970-01-01 08:00
