$400m conveyer belt the width of Rhode Island opens in Texas to aid in fracking
Construction on the site was finished on March 12th, 2025 by Texas-based oil field company, Atlas Energy, and officially named "The Dune Express".
The sand is needed for fracking, where liquid is pumped into the ground at high pressure to create holes that release oil. The sand is used to keep those holes open.
But moving that sand by truck is inefficient and dangerous so a new solution was created.
Environmentalists have major concerns about fracking, saying it disturbs local habitats, causes air pollution, and more oil spills.
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The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Archaeologists uncover 800-year-old bones with strange details & they offer a surprising insight into Aztec life
ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered ancient bones that offer a surprising insight into the Aztec era. Historians noticed details on the remains, suggesting they may have served an unusual purpose. 3 3 Archaeologists carried out an in-depth analysis of 29 prehistoric human bones discovered along the southern Texas coast. Unusual markings on the skeletal remains suggest they may have carried out a purpose beyond death. Unusual details Historians suggested that the group of hunter-gatherers who once inhabited the area likely created music by transforming the human bones into instruments. Dr. Matthew Taylor, who works as a biological anthropologist at Georgia's Augusta University, identified a musical rasp fashioned from a human humerus while studying the artefacts. IFLScience reported that the item, which was part of a museum collection, resembled an omichicahuaztli, which is an instrument that was used by pre-Hispanic Mexican cultures, including the Aztecs. The remains date back to the Late Prehistoric era (AD 700-1500) in North America, according to an in-depth analayis published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. "Late Prehistoric South Texas (1300-1528 AD) was characterised by hunter-gatherer habitation," Dr. Taylor wrote. "Forager peoples lived in the region from Paleoindian times up to and beyond European contact and never adopted agriculture." He added that inhabitants of southern Texas and the associated Gulf Coast "have been historically documented since AD 1528". The analysis of the 29 bones found that 27 were made from either the arm or the leg. 'Once in a century' Pompeii discovery as ancient luxury SPA is saved from ashes with thermal baths & stunning mosaic Meanwhile, the remaining two objects were constructed from rib bones. According to archaeologists, the instruments were typically crafted using what's known as the "groove-and-snap" method. This involves sawing a groove around a bone's circumference before breaking it in half. "This process is labour intensive and represents hours of work," Dr. Taylor wrote. He emphasised the meticulous manual effort behind crafting these skeletal artifacts. Potential links Historical objects fashioned from human bone are often thought to signify practices like honouring ancestors or displaying war trophies. However, Dr. Taylor pointed out that such interpretations don't align with other archaeological findings from the region. The musical rasp made from an upper arm bone featured 29 carefully carved notches and decorative geometric patterns. One of the most intriguing discoveries, this instrument appeared to have been played by scraping another object along the grooves. While unique to South Texas, similar instruments are well-documented in central Mexican histories. Typically carved from human thigh bones, these objects are decorated with comparable designs. Dr. Taylor speculated the Texan rasp "may represent an emulation of Mexican religious practices." He pointed to a possible contact or influence between Indigenous tribes occupying the South Texas coast and the Aztec empire. "Whatever their original provenance, it is quite apparent that the Late Prehistoric inhabitants did not regard the handling of human remains as taboo," he concluded. "Although some may wish to equate the presence of these artefacts with the existence of cannibalism, this report does not support or refute that hypothesis." More on archaeology The remains of a lost Roman city have been uncovered on a popular holiday island. And the lost tomb of a 1,700-year-old king was uncovered in Mayan temple. Plus, the eerie "hybrid" skull that belonged to a "half human, half neanderthal girl". An ancient lost city from 3,500-years-ago that played home to the oldest civilization in the Americas' was uncovered in Peru. And AI has deciphered a hymn on a 4,000-year-old clay tablet, which is said unlock the mystery of the ancient city of Babylon. 3
The Independent
9 hours ago
- The Independent
Jeff Bezos blasts 80‑year‑old adventurer into space in latest Blue Origin launch
An 80-year-old thrill-seeker has been sent into space as part of Jeff Bezos ' Blue Origin 's latest rocket ride. Footage shows the rocket blasting a crew, which included seasoned world traveller Arvinder 'Arvi' Singh Bahal, into space for a 10 minute journey on Sunday (3 August). Joining Bahal were five other passengers, including cryptocurrency billionaire Justin Sun, who bid $28million for his seat back in 2021. The space tourism mission — known as NS-34 —was the 34th flight for the New Shepard program, and it set off from a private launch site in West Texas at 8.30am EDT.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Can you sneeze with your eyes open? Scientists finally reveal the eye-popping truth
It's a rumour that has circulated in playgrounds around the world for years. So, if you sneeze with your eyes open, will they really pop out of your head? Dr David Huston, a professor of medicine at Texas A&M University, has settled the debate once and for all. Contrary to popular belief, it's 'absolutely possible' to sneeze with your eyes open, the expert reassures. Closing your eyes while you blast out a sneeze is simply an autonomic reflex. This means your body does it without you needing to consciously think about it. And if you do manage to ignore this reflex, you'll be relieved to hear that your eyes will not pop out of your head. 'The fact that it is possible to sneeze with the eyes open suggests that it is not hard–wired or mandatory,' Dr Huston said. Sneezing is when your body forcibly expels air from your lungs through your nose and mouth. Usually, this happens when something infectious enters your nostrils – whether it's a virus, an allergen or a chemical. 'Your body uses sneezing as a defense mechanism to clear your nose of mucus – also known as snot – and prevent foreign objects and particles from entering your airway,' explained Meg Sorg, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing at Purdue University in an article for The Conversation. Sneezing can also occur in reaction to more unusual stimuli. 'Chemicals like piperine or capsaicin found in foods like black pepper and chili peppers can irritate the nerve endings inside your nose's mucous membranes and lead to a sneeze,' Ms Sorg added. What's more, some people experience something called 'photosneezia', where light can trigger a sneeze. Regardless of the type of sneeze, one thing is certain – most people close their eys when this happens. While the reason for this reflex remains unclear, Dr Huston suggest it may be a way to protect your eyes from germs. 'The body works to rid its airways by sneezing when it detects irritating particles in the nose,' he explained. 'By automatically shutting the eyelids when a sneeze occurs, more irritants can potentially be prevented from entering and aggravating the eyes.' Though your eyes do automatically close in response to a sneeze, technically you could fight the reflex, and keep them open. Thankfully, Dr Huston confirmed that playground claims that this would cause your eyes to pop out are 'far–fetched tales'. 'There is little to no evidence to substantiate such claims,' he said. 'Pressure released from a sneeze is extremely unlikely to cause an eyeball to pop out even if your eyes are open.' When pressure builds up in your eyes, usually it's in the blood vessels, and not the eyes or surrounding muscles, Dr Huston added. In certain scenarios, this can cause your smallest blood vessels – called capillaries – to burst. 'During childbirth, excessive straining can cause some veins to hemorrhage, leaving a mother's eyes or face to appear red or markedly bruised,' Dr Huston said, 'But it is irresponsible to claim that such pressure could dislodge the eye from its socket.' What are the symptoms of hayfever? Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen, typically when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat. Pollen is a fine powder from plants. Symptoms include: a runny or blocked nose itchy, red or watery eyes itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears loss of smell pain around your temples and forehead headache earache feeling tired The NHS recommends staying indoors whenever possible, keeping windows and doors shut, and showering and changing clothes after being outside to minimise contact with pollen.
