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A team of palaeontologists has unearthed the bones of a dinosaur in Queensland, Australia. The discovered parts of spine, scientists said, could belong to a new species altogether and may well be the youngest dinosaur discovered in Australia to date. The remains were uncovered after experts from the Eromanga Natural History Museum carried out digging in the region of Eromanga, the country’s furthest town from the sea. The palaeontologists also stated that bones could belong to a dinosaur estimated to be 98 million years old.

Corey Richards, the museum’s operations manager, said that the site where the digging was carried out had a large number of fossils scattered across the surface. “The main excitement is we don’t know what type of dinosaur it is but we assume it’s a sauropod which is a plant-eating dinosaur,” he told Daily Mail. Since not many dinosaur bones have been found in Australia, Richard added that the ones discovered recently are expected to be “new or different.”

He said getting the bones out of the ground was a lengthy process and even involved processing the remains at an on-site lab before taking them to a formal laboratory. Then the team moved through the layers, about four inches at a time using machinery, Richard said.

Robyn Mackenzie, director and palaeontologist at Eromanga Natural History Museum, echoed Richards’ sentiment, saying the bones are likely of a new species. Mackenzie said that the remains will be sent to a laboratory but she could right away share “a little.” “It’s from a large plant-eating dinosaur, one they call a sauropod,” she told 9 News. Interestingly, the site where the remains were unearthed was first noticed by Mackenzie’s daughter Cindy, daughter-in-law Heidi, and son Sandy, who were checking sheep in the paddock.

The team that discovered the vertebrae has been able to dig only about a metre of earth and therefore they hope there is more to be uncovered. It may take somewhere between three to five years to fully exhume the remains of the 98 million-year-old dinosaur.

“The thing is we collect these fossils from the soils and then we have to come back and work on them in the museum and that process can take three to five years,” Richard said.

Mackenzie said that the team had found many sites over the last 17 years and each year they go through each site. “Because the right age soils have been exposed we’ve found the dinosaur bones on top of the soil. That’s the key to finding more bones beneath the ground,” she said. “These are some of the richest dinosaur fields in Australia”.

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NASA’s EZIE Satellites Begin Mission to Study Auroral Electrojets and Space Weather

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March 21, 2025

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NASA’s EZIE Satellites Begin Mission to Study Auroral Electrojets and Space Weather

Under the night sky in California, NASA’s Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE) mission was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 11:43 p.m. PDT on March 14 from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Three small satellites, designed to study Earth’s auroral electrojets, were carried into orbit. The deployment of these satellites was confirmed at approximately 2 a.m. PDT on March 15. Over the next ten days, signals will be transmitted to ensure they are functioning properly before commencing their 18-month mission.

Mission Objectives and Scientific Significance

According to the mission details shared by NASA, EZIE’s satellites will operate in a formation known as “pearls-on-a-string,” flying between 260 and 370 miles above Earth. These satellites will map the intense electrical currents that flow through the upper atmosphere in polar regions. These currents, linked to solar storms, influence auroras and Earth’s magnetic field. The study aims to improve understanding of space weather and its effects on technology, including satellite operations and communication systems.

Speaking to NASA, Jared Leisner, Program Executive for EZIE, stated that small-scale missions like EZIE are being prioritised for their scientific value despite their inherent risks. The data collected will contribute to research not only about Earth but also about magnetic interactions on other planets.

Unique Approach to Orbit Control

Instead of traditional propulsion methods, EZIE satellites will utilise atmospheric drag to adjust their positions. As reported by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Larry Kepko, EZIE’s mission scientist, explained that previous studies have focused on either large or small-scale observations of these currents. EZIE’s approach will provide new insights into their formation and evolution.

Public Engagement and Educational Outreach

To expand public participation, magnetometer kits known as EZIE-Mag are being distributed to students and science enthusiasts. Data collected from these kits will be integrated with EZIE’s space-based measurements to provide a more detailed understanding of Earth’s electrical currents.
The mission is managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and funded by NASA’s Heliophysics Division. The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory leads the project, with CubeSats developed by Blue Canyon Technologies and magnetometers built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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Antarctic Ice Melt Weakens Strongest Ocean Current, Disrupting Global Circulation

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March 21, 2025

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Antarctic Ice Melt Weakens Strongest Ocean Current, Disrupting Global Circulation

Earth’s most powerful ocean current is losing strength, with potential consequences for global ocean circulation. Scientists have projected that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) could slow down by as much as 20 percent by 2050. The weakening of this current, which connects multiple oceans and regulates heat exchange, is being attributed to the increasing influx of cold meltwater from Antarctica. This shift in ocean dynamics could have far-reaching effects on sea levels, temperatures, and marine ecosystems worldwide.

Findings from Climate Modelling

According to a study published in Environmental Research Letters, a team led by Bishakhdatta Gayen, a fluid mechanist at the University of Melbourne, has analysed how Antarctic ice melt is affecting the ACC. Using one of Australia’s most advanced climate simulators, researchers modelled interactions between the ice sheet and ocean waters. The study indicates that the introduction of fresh, cold meltwater weakens the current by altering ocean density and reducing convection between surface and deep waters.

Consequences of a Slower Current

The slowdown of the ACC is expected to disrupt global ocean circulation. As convection weakens, warm water may travel further into Antarctic waters, accelerating ice melt and contributing to rising sea levels. The weakening current could also allow invasive species to reach the Antarctic coastline, affecting the region’s ecosystem.

Speaking to Live Science, Gayen compared the process to a “merry-go-round,” explaining that a slower current could lead to faster migration of marine organisms toward Antarctica. Long-term monitoring will be necessary to fully understand these changes, as scientists have only recently begun studying the ACC’s behaviour in detail. The impact of these shifts will not remain confined to Antarctica but will influence ocean circulation patterns across the planet.

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Wolf-Rayet 104’s Orbit Tilt Reduces Gamma-Ray Burst Threat, Study Finds

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March 20, 2025

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Wolf-Rayet 104's Orbit Tilt Reduces Gamma-Ray Burst Threat, Study Finds

A new study has shed light on the orbital alignment of the well-known Wolf-Rayet 104 (WR 104) system, long considered a potential threat due to its speculated gamma-ray burst (GRB) risk. Observations conducted using multiple instruments at the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaiʻi have confirmed that the star system‘s orbit is tilted 30 to 40 degrees away from Earth. This discovery significantly reduces concerns that a supernova from WR 104 could direct a GRB toward the planet.

Study Confirms Orbital Tilt

According to research published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, WR 104 comprises two massive stars locked in an eight-month orbital cycle. The system features a Wolf-Rayet star emitting a strong carbon-rich wind and an OB star producing a hydrogen-dominated stellar wind. Their collision generates a distinctive dust spiral that glows in infrared light.

The structure was first observed in 1999 at the Keck Observatory, and early models suggested that the pinwheel-like dust formation was face-on from Earth’s perspective. This led to speculation that the rotational axis of the stars—and potentially a GRB—could be aimed directly at Earth. However, new spectroscopic data contradicts this assumption.

Unexpected Findings Challenge Previous Models

Reportedly, Grant Hill, Instrument Scientist and astronomer, stated, that their view of the pinwheel dust spiral from Earth absolutely looked face-on and it seemed like a pretty safe assumption that the two stars are orbiting the same way. However, his analysis revealed a surprising discrepancy, with the stellar orbit misaligned from the dust structure.

This unexpected finding raises new questions about how the dust plume forms and whether additional factors influence its shape. While the discovery brings relief regarding potential GRB risks, it also suggests there is still much to understand about WR 104’s unique characteristics

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