Astronomers cannot agree on how fast the universe is expanding
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ITV News
2 days ago
- ITV News
Investigative work into cause of crayfish symptoms after many found dead in Northumberland last year
Investigative work is underway in Northumberland to try and identify the cause of unusual symptoms in crayfish, after around 100 were found dead last year. The white clawed crayfish were found dead in the River Wansbeck catchment last autumn, and a subsequent investigation found crayfish displaying similar symptoms were widespread across the area. The endangered native species were seen with unusual orange patches on their shells, and were spotted in the catchments for the neighbouring rivers Tyne and Blyth too. Early surveys carried out by the Environment Agency show that healthy populations still remain in the North East, but symptoms are persisting. Experts are conducting studies across Northumberland and the wider area to identify problem locations, and say looking at the Hart Burn, where the initial deaths were reported, as well as at some other sites, will help them understand the mortality rates in the population. Sarah Jennings, Area Environment Manager at the Environment Agency, said: "There's a lot we still don't know but we hope this new work sheds some light as we continue efforts to safeguard the future of the white clawed crayfish." Surveys of the area could not take place through the winter and spring months due to high river levels. The Environment Agency is working with both the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and experts at Teesside University in efforts to understand more about the situation. Dr Jamie Bojko, Associate Professor in Disease Ecology (Research and Innovation) at Teesside University, said: "We are applying metagenomic and metatranscriptomic methods, in combination with histology, to uncover potential novel pathogens that may be the cause of the shell abnormalities seen in the white claw population." When the dead crayfish were found at the end of September 2024, testing showed negative results for the listed disease white spot syndrome virus, Bunya-like brown spot virus, crayfish plague, and no evidence for any significant bacterial infection was identified. Surveys also show populations of the invasive American signal crayfish are affected by the same symptoms. What can we do to protect the endangered species? River users are being urged to follow advice to prevent the spread of symptoms: Members of that public that spot a crayfish - alive or dead - is advised to leave it alone and report the sighting to the Environment Agency. It is illegal to handle or remove crayfish from the water without the correct licences.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Trump's top US intelligence chief says she believes in aliens and vows to ‘share the truth' on UFOs
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE US intelligence chief has vowed to "share the truth" on UFOs after saying she believes in aliens and that extraterrestrials are real. Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence in Donald Trump's administration, hinted that she has a lot of classified information on aliens but is forced to remain tight-lipped due to her job. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The US Department of Defense released footage of one UFO caught by an aircraft Credit: AFP 5 UFOs were spotted hovering over top-secret military bases and flying near aircraft, according to the US Navy (computer-generated image) Credit: Getty 5 Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has hinted that she has a lot of classified information on aliens Credit: The Mega Agency Speaking with Pod Force One podcast host Miranda Devine, Gabbard was asked if "there could be aliens". The US intel chief replied: "I have my own views and opinions. In this role, I have to be careful with what I share." Devine then asked Gabbard if she believes aliens and UFOs are real, to which she replied: "Yes." She said that right now she has "nothing to share with the public about aliens and UFOs today". read more on UFOs UFO DECLASSIFIED First ever bombshell vid of infamous 'Mosul orb' UFO is released But she vowed to reveal the truth when the time comes. "We're continuing to look for the truth and share that truth with the American people," Gabbard told the New York Post podcast host. Americans are curious and fascinated about aliens more than ever. One Pentagon whistleblower who claims UFOs are real presented his bombshell testimony at a major "alien" hearing before the US Congress last year. Former counterintelligence officer Luis Elizondo, who is said to have investigated UFO cases while at the Department of Defence, claimed America is in "possession of UAP technologies". In Elizondo's written testimony, the former defence expert said many "advanced technologies" that do not belong to the US or any other government exist around the world. First ever bombshell vid of infamous 'Mosul orb' UFO is released Trump has long pushed for more transparency on UFOs and ET life. He vowed last year to reveal exclusive UFO footage if he was elected back to the White House. The MAGA prez said he would push the Pentagon to declassify the alleged UFO sighting videos in a sensational interview. He told popular American podcaster Lex Fridman that he would "surely" make secret footage of alleged UFO sightings public. During the chat, Fridman asked Trump: "Will you help push the Pentagon to release more footage, which a lot of people claim is available?" To which Trump readily agreed and said: "Oh yeah, sure, I'll do that. I would do that. I'd love to do that. I have to do that." The Republican leader also claimed he had faced pressure to declassify previous records of alien encounters as he admitted "there could be life on other planets". 5 Donald Trump vowed to declassify footage of alleged UFO sightings Credit: AP 5 A whistleblower came forward with bombshell allegations that the US has a secret UFO retrieval program Credit: Getty He added: "People begged me not to do it but I'll be doing that very early on." It comes after the first-ever bombshell footage of the infamous "Mosul orb" UFO captured by a US spy plane in Iraq has now been released. The declassified video, filmed in 2016 by a US MC-12 surveillance aircraft, shows a mysterious metallic spherical object flying over the city of Mosul. Interestingly, the four-second footage shows the UFO flying at a constant speed without dropping altitude. The object appeared suddenly and moved erratically in and out of the camera's view. The clip was obtained by Dustin Slaughter, a leading UFO investigator, through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request - and was shown to the public by UFO podcaster Jeremy Corbell. It comes two years after the first still image from the video was declassified by the Pentagon. Meanwhile, another declassified UFO footage showed a similar mystery metal orb soaring above the ground - leaving US officials puzzled. In 2023, A testimony was heard at Capitol Hill, Washington DC, as the Pentagon's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office revealed the shocking clips. The videos released in the declassified cases are said to have been observed by US military drones. The footage showed a mystery "metal orb" as it hovered and flew across open airspace. The incidents were believed to have been recorded in the Middle East and South Asia.
Economist
4 days ago
- Economist
Astronomers cannot agree on how fast the universe is expanding
IT IS ONE of the biggest mysteries in cosmology—and getting bigger all the time. Ever since Edwin Hubble, an American astronomer, published observations of distant galaxies in 1929, scientists have known that the universe is expanding. For almost 30 years they have known that the expansion is accelerating (that discovery, made in 1998, was honoured with a Nobel prize in 2011). What they cannot agree on, though, is how fast it is currently growing.
