A unique carved amber bear was found when workers were delving into the peat in 1887. It is believed that this was worn as a protective charm during the Stone Age, as bears were considered the most powerful and threatening animal of that period. This amber bear was named “Słupcio”, or a “little guy from Słupsk” in Polish. A Polish kindergartner named it after winning the contest of naming this artefact. Now, this carved bear is at the National Museum in Szczecin, placed around 220 kilometres from the original location where it was found.

Discovery of Gummy Bear

Mostly, people were hunters during this period, so their archaeological evidence is rare. However, in the Pomerania region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea, Stone Age sites with artefacts have been found by archaeologists, such as tools, pottery and weapons, along with the amber-made objects that had washed ashore. After a study of 2023 conducted by archaeologists Daniel Groß and Peter Vang Petersen, where several amber bear statuettes were discovered from the Baltic Sea, it was concluded that the objects are likely to be from a period of Palaeolithic tradition, i.e. 50,000 to 12,000 years ago.

After World War II

During the end of World War II, Słupcio was taken out by Germans from Poland with other ancient artefacts. The amber bear was then placed in the Stralsund Museum until its return to Szczecin in 2009. In Germany, the experts studying it called it “Bernsteinbär” (amber bear) and claimed the carving to be from an ancient period. Since Slupcio was founded more than 100 years ago, there were still arguments when it was made.

Appearance and Use

This carved amber bear is now famous as a local symbol, and its copies are widespread as souvenirs. The statuette is 10.2 centimetres long and 4.2 centimetres tall, weighing 85 grams.
In the statuette’s middle part at the trunk, a hole can be seen that goes all the way through the whole body, used by the ancient hunters to tie a strap across this gummy bear and carry it like a necklace or wrap around the waist or arm.

Ancient Times Perceptions

The amber bears may be further evidence of the Palaeolithic tradition of representing animals in cave paintings and portable objects, and they also show that people shifted their hunting from reindeer on the open tundra to elk and bear in the forest. Due to its properties of being translucent when polished and fragrant on burning, it was perceived as the material of magic, which transformed it into a Stone Age amulet.

NASA has set the date for the next commercial resupply mission for the International Space Station (ISS), which will be carried out by Elon Musk-owned SpaceX. The launch is set for 4:15 am EDT (1:45 pm IST) on April 21. During the mission, SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will carry more than 6,400 pounds (2,902kg) of supplies for the astronauts. The spacecraft will be launched via a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The mission is called CRS-32. It will deliver science tools, supplies, and hardware to the ISS. These materials will support ongoing space research.

Mission Overview

According to NASA, the Dragon capsule will carry more than 6,400 pounds of equipment, supplies, and research materials to the International Space Station as part of the CRS-32 mission. In order to improve autonomous operations in space, one of the main experiments is a robotic manoeuvring demonstration. It will test improved manoeuvres for free-floating robots.

Thus, to assist the health of astronauts on upcoming missions to the Moon and Mars, there is an air quality monitoring system. Two atomic clocks will also be used to verify Einstein’s ideas of relativity and research sophisticated timekeeping techniques.

Launch and Docking Schedule

The CRS-32 mission is scheduled to launch at 4:15 a.m. EDT on Monday, April 21, 2025. NASA will begin live coverage of the event at 3:55 a.m. on its streaming platform, NASA+. After liftoff, the Dragon spacecraft will travel toward the ISS and is expected to dock at 6:45 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, April 22. The docking will take place at the zenith port of the station’s Harmony module. The process will be fully automated, with mission teams monitoring every step from the ground.

Scientific and Technological Significance

The CRS-32 mission supports several key scientific projects. One experiment will test free-floating robots. This will improve autonomous operations in space. Another project will monitor air quality. It will help protect astronauts on future Moon and Mars missions. The mission also carries two atomic clocks. These clocks will be used to measure relativity and advance the worldwide timing system. Every one of these experiments is necessary for penetrating the cosmos.

Viewing the Launch!

The launch will be broadcast live on NASA+. It will begin at 3:55 a.m. EDT on April 21, 2025. So, viewers will be able to watch the launch and the spacecraft’s docking with the ISS. The program will cover these two events in great detail. This is a great opportunity to follow the latest space exploration efforts.

A rare but powerful event occurred between April 12 and 13, where two distinct coronal mass ejections (CME) were launched from the Sun toward the Earth. This incident can lead to the formation of auroras or northern lights on April 16. The CMEs could also lead to geomagnetic storms or solar storm effects in some regions. The double CMEs were spotted by space agencies during routine observations, and due to the trajectory and proximity of the solar particles, researchers have given it a high chance of geomagnetic storms.

Powerful Solar Eruption: NOAA Issues Storm Watch

The CMEs were rooted from a highly active sunspot area, which produced M-class and X-class solar flares in the past days. As per the observation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these solar eruptions have issued a geomagnetic storm watch and are expected to arrive on April 16, resulting in moderate (G2) or strong geomagnetic (G3) storms. However, such storms can lead to spectacular auroral activity, which is worth watching. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Centre contributes to monitoring this event regularly.

Visibility of Auroras

The possibility of auroras is generally at the polar regions, where geomagnetic storms are high. This time, these storms extend their visibility much farther south. Skywatchers can see auroras across Canada, Minnesota, Michigan, Idaho, New York and a glimpse in Northern Europe.

Predictions released by the European Space Agency (ESA) show the possible intensity and trajectory of this incoming solar material. Space weather Physicist Tamitha Skov wrote in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) that these solar storms will likely travel slowly but are dense, which could pack a decent punch.

How CMEs Affect Earth

CMEs are the explosion of solar plasma and magnetic fields that, upon reaching the Earth, intersect with the planet’s magnetosphere. At the time, when this intersection gets strong, the charged particles collide with the atmosphere of Earth and lead to the formation of colourful lights called auroras. These may impact radio communications, GPS systems or electrical power transmission.

Future Implications

It is expected that there are higher chances of such activities to happen from time to time over the remainder of this solar cycle, the highest that we could experience, said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the Space Weather Prediction Centre. In simple words, more geomagnetic storms can be expected as the Sun reaches through its cycle.