Significant discoveries have been made at the ancient site of Kurd Qaburstan in Iraq, shedding light on Mesopotamian history. Artefacts including clay cuneiform tablets, a game board, and structural remains have been unearthed by a team led by Tiffany Earley-Spadoni, an associate professor of history at the University of Central Florida. The findings are believed to date back to the Middle Bronze Age, around 1800 BCE, and may provide fresh perspectives on the daily lives, literacy, and socio-political connections of the people from this ancient civilisation.

Insights from Recent Findings

According to the research conducted at Kurd Qaburstan, the clay tablets are the first of their kind to be discovered in the region. Preliminary analysis suggests they hold valuable information about the city’s residents and the historical events they faced, as reported by phys.org. Tiffany Earley-Spadoni, an associate professor of history at UCF, shared with phys.org that studying names, word choices and writing styles may offer an enhanced understanding of cultural identity and literacy in northern Mesopotamian cities.

The Middle Bronze Age in northern Iraq remains under-researched due to historical biases and limited prior excavations. The ongoing work aims to provide a narrative from the perspective of the city’s inhabitants, rather than relying on external accounts, as noted by the lead researcher.

Exploring a Forgotten Urban Center

Excavations at the site have uncovered monumental architecture, human remains, and evidence of destruction, hinting at significant historical events. A newly identified lower town palace, revealed through geophysical surveys, is being closely studied to determine its administrative significance. Artefacts found in the palace, including pottery and animal remains, suggest a more nuanced understanding of social and economic structures, with signs of private wealth and dietary diversity among the city’s population.

Future Research Potential

The site is hypothesised to be the ancient city of Qabra, a regional hub mentioned in Old Babylonian records. While definitive identification is ongoing, findings from the tablets and architectural remains bolster this theory. As reported by phys.org, researchers expect further analysis to uncover details about possible warfare and societal dynamics, potentially rewriting aspects of Mesopotamian history. Work at Kurd Qaburstan is set to continue in 2025, with hopes of revealing more historical secrets from this fascinating period.

A striking satellite image from 2023 revealed a rare combination of natural phenomena occurring simultaneously around Bear Island, or Bjørnøya, part of Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. The image showcases swirling atmospheric patterns alongside a massive algal bloom in the Barents Sea. Bear Island is surrounded by radioactive waters, remnants of a Cold War-era Soviet submarine, raising ecological concerns for the region’s wildlife. The photograph, taken on July 13, highlights the unique intersection of atmospheric and oceanic processes near this remote location.

Von Kármán Vortices Above Bear Island

According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, the cloud patterns, known as von Kármán vortices, were observed above the island, as reported by Live Science. These swirling formations occur when airflow is disrupted by a tall landmass. Miseryfjellet, Bear Island’s highest mountain, was identified as the source of the disturbance. Miseryfjellet’s three peaks, named Urd, Verdande, and Skuld after Norse mythology’s Norns, collectively reach a height of 536 metres above sea level. The vortices, resembling a braided design, trailed across the sky as clouds passed over the peaks.

Gigantic Algal Bloom in the Barents Sea

A separate phenomenon observed in the satellite image was a large algal bloom spanning approximately 400 kilometres across the ocean surface. According to reports, this light-green formation was attributed to chlorophyll produced by photosynthetic algae, or phytoplankton, which thrive in sunlight-rich conditions. The spiral shapes in the bloom were shaped by ocean currents, painting a vibrant image of natural activity in the sea below.

Impact of Radioactivity on Local Wildlife

Reports have highlighted concerns about the radioactive waters surrounding Bear Island. The source of contamination, the Soviet submarine K-278 Komsomolets, sank in 1989 roughly 185 kilometers southwest of the island. Elevated radiation levels in the vicinity, noted as 800,000 times higher than normal in 2019, have raised questions about potential risks to the local ecosystem. As reported by Live Science, the island’s fauna includes large populations of seabirds, foxes, and seals, though polar bears are seldom sighted.

The co-occurrence of atmospheric and oceanic phenomena in this satellite image underscores the dynamic and complex natural processes shaping the environment around Bear Island.

SpaceX launched 131 satellites into orbit during its Transporter 12 mission on 14 January 2025. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, at 2:09 p.m. EST. This mission added to the company’s rideshare programme, aimed at delivering payloads for multiple customers in a single launch. The first stage booster of the Falcon 9 executed a successful ground landing at Vandenberg’s Landing Zone 4 approximately 7.5 minutes after liftoff.

Key Details of Transporter 12

According to a report by space.com, Transporter 12 is the 12th mission in SpaceX’s Transporter series, designed to carry multiple payloads for commercial and government clients. 37 of the satellites on board were from Planet Labs, a San Francisco-based company specialising in Earth observation. These included 36 “SuperDove” cubesats and a single Pelican-2 satellite, designed for high-resolution imaging and equipped with advanced AI-powered solutions to analyse data in near real-time. The mission marked the second flight for this specific Falcon 9 booster, which had previously been used for the NROL-126 mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

Achievements and Statistics

This mission represents SpaceX’s continued leadership in deploying rideshare payloads. With the completion of Transporter 12, over 1,100 satellites have been launched across 13 rideshare missions for more than 130 clients, including 11 Transporter and two Bandwagon missions. The deployment process for the 131 payloads into low Earth orbit was scheduled over a 90-minute period, starting 54 minutes after launch.

SpaceX’s rideshare programme remains a critical service for companies like Planet Labs, offering economical and efficient access to space for satellite operators. As the global demand for satellite launches grows, missions like Transporter 12 play a significant role in advancing capabilities across multiple industries.