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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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Unusual seismic activity and gas emissions have been reported at Mount Spurr, a stratovolcano located 130 kilometres west of Anchorage, Alaska. Increased earthquake frequency, melting of snow and ice on its slopes, and rising levels of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions have been observed, suggesting movement of magma beneath the surface. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) has indicated that current activity is more likely to result in an eruption, marking a shift from previous assessments that considered both dormancy and eruption as possibilities.
Scientific Observations on Mount Spurr’s Activity
As per reports, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), the current period of unrest is expected to culminate in an explosive eruption. Matt Haney, Scientist-in-Charge at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), told Live Science that past eruptions in 1953 and 1992 occurred at Crater Peak, a vent located 3.2 kilometres from the main summit. The last known eruption from the summit itself is estimated to have occurred over 5,000 years ago, making it unlikely that magma would break through the solidified rock in that area.
Historical records indicate that Crater Peak’s last eruptions sent ash plumes 15,240 metres into the atmosphere, affecting Anchorage with measurable ashfall. In 1992, one of the explosions resulted in 3.1 millimetres of ash accumulating over the city, while the 1953 eruption led to an ash deposit of 6.4 millimetres.
Indicators of an Impending Eruption
Reports suggest that if magma movement continues, volcanic tremor will be the next major indicator of an imminent eruption. Unlike short seismic events recorded over the past year, volcanic tremor involves continuous shaking lasting from minutes to days. Past eruptions in the region, including Mount Spurr’s 1992 event and Mount Redoubt’s 2009 eruption, were preceded by weeks or months of tremor. Scientists are monitoring the situation closely, with any emergence of tremor likely to signal a further escalation toward eruption.
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A new study suggests that iguanas crossed over 5,000 miles from North America to Fiji around 34 million years ago by clinging to rafts of floating vegetation. The journey, considered the longest-known transoceanic migration by a terrestrial species, is believed to have occurred shortly after Fiji’s islands formed. Researchers speculate that extreme weather events, such as cyclones, could have uprooted trees and carried iguanas across the Pacific. The reptiles, which are the only iguanas found outside the Western Hemisphere, have long been a subject of debate regarding their origins.
Genetic Study Reveals Direct Link to North America
According to the study published in PNAS, researchers found that Fiji’s iguanas share a closer genetic link with species from North America than previously thought. Simon Scarpetta, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at the University of San Francisco, stated in a press release that the evidence supports a direct journey from the West Coast of the United States to Fiji. This challenges earlier theories suggesting the reptiles may have arrived via Antarctica or Australia.
Reportedly, Jimmy McGuire, Professor of Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, said that alternative explanations for their migration did not fit within the geological timeline. It was noted that the iguanas likely reached Fiji soon after land became available in the region.
Adaptations May Have Helped Survival
More than 200 museum specimens were analysed for the research. The findings indicated that the Fijian iguanas, classified under the Brachylophus genus, are closely related to the Diposaurus genus, which includes desert iguanas found in North America. Scarpetta explained that these lizards are highly resistant to starvation and dehydration, which may have increased their chances of surviving the journey.
The estimated timeline of their migration aligns with the formation of Fiji’s islands. Researchers suggest that once land appeared, the iguanas established themselves, highlighting the remarkable nature of their journey.
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