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A geological map of the moon’s Mare Orientale basin is anticipated to advance understanding of lunar impact history and aid future sample-return missions. This map, created through research led by Kirby Runyon of the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, aims to identify original impact melt beneath layers of lava flows and debris. By analysing this material, scientists could accurately determine the age of the basin, estimated at approximately 3.8 billion years.

Mare Orientale’s Significance in Lunar History

Mare Orientale is located along the boundary between the moon’s near and far sides, and its structure showcases a double ring, with an outer diameter of 930 kilometres. The basin, created by a massive ancient impact, holds hardened basaltic rock formed from the original impact melt.

However, over billions of years, its surface has been buried beneath lava flows and newer craters. The newly developed map identifies areas of the original basin floor and highlights younger craters, enabling targeted sampling, as per a Phys.org report.

Potential for Precise Dating of Lunar Basins

The new map distinguishes regions likely containing original impact melt, designated as “BFsc,” and areas covered by younger geological features. Runyon explained that if samples from these regions are found to share the same age, it would validate the method of using impact melt to date other lunar basins. Such findings could illuminate the timeline of giant impacts that shaped the young solar system, providing insights into Earth’s early history.

Implications for Earth’s Impact History

The moon’s preserved impact record offers a unique opportunity to explore Earth’s violent early history, where impacts likely influenced the planet’s habitability. These events may have evaporated oceans and delayed life’s emergence.

While some models suggest complete sterilisation of Earth was unlikely, repeated impacts could have significantly altered its evolutionary trajectory. The findings from lunar samples could reshape understanding of the role these impacts played in Earth’s development and guide future exploration efforts.

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Scientists Test Mobile Tower-Based GPS Signals for Pilots in Emergency

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November 26, 2024

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Scientists Test Mobile Tower-Based GPS Signals for Pilots in Emergency

Scientists are developing an alternative navigation system that utilises mobile signals to assist pilots if GPS fails, according to a study conducted by Sandia National Laboratories and Ohio State University. The system relies on signals from cell towers and communication satellites, offering a safety net for airborne navigation systems. The initiative aims to mitigate risks associated with GPS failures, which can occur due to technical malfunctions, malicious interference, or in areas of conflict.

Testing and Early Results

The global positioning system, consisting of 31 satellites, is certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide precise navigation data. However, it remains vulnerable to jamming and hacking, raising concerns about its reliability in critical situations.

The research team, led by Jennifer Sanderson, an electrical engineer at Sandia National Laboratories, said in a statement that to counter these challenges through a technology that employs “signals of opportunity”—unintentional signals like those from mobile networks and satellites.

As reported by Sandia National Laboratories, experimental trials have utilised weather balloons to carry antenna payloads into the stratosphere, achieving altitudes up to 82,000 feet (25,000 metres). These payloads capture signals from communication satellites and cell towers, potentially providing pilots with navigational data during GPS disruptions.

Initial findings suggest that cell tower signal beacons can be detected at such altitudes, though the process currently requires manual analysis to identify individual signals. Researchers plan to enhance the system using algorithms capable of real-time signal identification and positional calculations.

Challenges and Future Developments

While the system shows promise, obstacles remain. Communication satellites focus their signals towards Earth’s surface, making it challenging to detect them effectively at high altitudes. The researchers are working on improving detection capabilities and reducing errors to ensure the technology’s practicality for aviation.

If successfully implemented, this navigation system could significantly bolster aviation safety by providing a reliable backup for GPS, reducing risks associated with its failure during flights.

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4,000-Year-Old Maya Fish-Trapping Network Found in Belize

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November 26, 2024

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4,000-Year-Old Maya Fish-Trapping Network Found in Belize

An extensive fish-trapping network, believed to date back 4,000 years, has been discovered in Belize, shedding light on how the Maya civilisation sustained its communities through complex aquatic food systems. This research reveals that a network of ponds and earthen channels enabled ancient Maya people to secure food resources by channelling fish and other aquatic species into controlled areas. The study suggests that the network likely supported the nutritional needs of up to 15,000 individuals annually, playing a role in the growth of early Maya settlements.

Discovering a Pre-Maya Food System

The research, published in Science Advances on November 22, was led by Eleanor Harrison-Buck, an archaeologist from the University of New Hampshire, used advanced remote sensing techniques to locate 167 shallow channels and nearly 60 ponds in Belize’s Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.

These features, mapped during the 2017 dry season, are believed to have been initially constructed by local hunter-gatherers as a means to adapt to changes in the wetland landscape brought on by a drought between 4,200 and 3,900 years ago. During this period, locals are thought to have shifted from a diet dominated by maize to one reliant on fish, turtles, mollusks, waterfowl, and amaranth seeds.

Growth of Maya Centres Through Aquatic Resource Utilisation

The fish-trapping system was used intensively from around 3,200 to 1,800 years ago, a period that coincides with the establishment of larger Maya urban and ceremonial centres. One channel, identified by the team, connects directly to the Maya centre of Chau Hiix, suggesting the system’s role in sustaining nearby populations.

Further investigation is planned, with fieldwork aimed at uncovering remnants of pre-Maya settlements in the area and additional canal systems in other Belizean wetlands and in southern Mexico. This research offers new insights into how early human communities modified their environment to ensure food security, providing a crucial resource base for the eventual rise of Maya civilisation.

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This Is How Neanderthals Crafted Tar 60,000 Years Ago

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November 26, 2024

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This Is How Neanderthals Crafted Tar 60,000 Years Ago

A fire pit dated to 60,000 years ago has been identified as evidence of Neanderthals‘ ability to produce tar, a material crucial for crafting tools and weapons. The discovery highlights a ringed trench design used to extract tar from rockrose (Cistus ladanifer). This tar was utilised to bind stone tools to wooden shafts, demonstrating a previously underestimated technological sophistication.

Use of Fire by Neanderthals Explored

The study was detailed in Quaternary Scientific Reviews and it was noted on Science.org by Juan Ochando, a plant biology professor at the University of Murcia, Spain, that this was the first recorded use of Cistus ladanifer by Neanderthals for tar extraction. The discovery was described as unexpected and indicative of complex behavioural traits.

The role of fire in Neanderthal communities has been well-documented for basic activities like cooking and heating. However, evidence from this site has suggested its use in advanced processes, such as tar production. Chemical and geological analysis of the pit revealed its construction involved specific layers, including minerals, guano, and plant material. The study has pointed to this complexity as proof of highly organised activities.

Tar Production Process Reconstructed

To understand the Neanderthal method, the scientists recreated the fire pit and followed inferred steps. Rockrose leaves were first placed at the base of the trench, followed by a mixture of soil and sand, and a top layer of guano. Fire was initiated using dry grasses, and after cooling, tar was collected from beneath a hardened crust. Within four hours, usable tar was produced, which was successfully used to attach a stone tool to a wooden shaft.

Adaptation to Resources Identified

This fire pit has highlighted Neanderthals’ ability to adapt to their environment by using locally available resources. Rockrose was likely abundant in the area, making it a suitable alternative to birch, another plant historically linked to tar production. The study concluded that these layered fire pits reflected the deliberate and skilful construction of tools and weapons, reinforcing the advanced capabilities of Neanderthals.

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