Latest news with #MichiganTechUniversity
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
How often do earthquakes happen? Another 2.3-magnitude earthquake shakes Knoxville
Another 2.3 earthquake shook East Tennessee on July 27, according to the United States Geological Survey. The minor earthquake had an epicenter just east of Knoxville in Mascot, Tennessee. The earthquake rattled the region at 12:16 a.m. on Sunday morning, according to the USGS. It had a very shallow depth of 2.4 kilometers, or about 1.5 miles below the Earth's surface. Shallow earthquakes, such as the July 27 event, are generally not felt as widely as ones that occur deeper below the Earth's surface, according to USGS scientist Jessica Turner. Small, shallow earthquakes can be felt in a contained and refined area. The universal magnitude scale shows that earthquakes as minor as 2.5 can be felt in a community and could cause minor damage. Typically, building damage starts at 5.5 magnitude, according to earthquake experts at Michigan Tech University. An estimated 500,000 earthquakes of 2.5 to 5.4 magnitude happen each year. This is the fifth earthquake to happen in East Tennessee in the past month alone. All of the events are considered "fairly small," as none of the earthquakes had a magnitude greater than 3.0. While that sounds like a lot of seismic activity, the pattern and frequency are normal for the region, according to Turner. In 2024, East Tennessee saw seven earthquakes between June 29 and July 28, according to USGS data. All of the earthquakes were below a 2.5 magnitude and are considered minor. How often do earthquakes happen in Tennessee? Earthquakes are fairly common in East Tennessee. Since the beginning of 2025, there have been more than 35 earthquakes in East Tennessee. One of those earthquakes was a major 4.1-magnitude event, which occurred on May 10. Five of those events have happened in July. July 27: Mascot, Tennessee, 2.3 magnitude July 20: Athens, Tennessee, 2.4 magnitude July 14: Dayton, Tennessee, 2.2 magnitude July 9: Greenback, Tennessee, 2.6 magnitude July 1: Lone Oak, Tennessee, 2.3 magnitude There were 177 earthquakes in Tennessee in 2024, according to USGS data. Ten of those were 2.5 magnitude or higher. What have been the strongest earthquakes in East Tennessee? These are the 10 strongest earthquakes to rattle East Tennessee since 1900, according to USGS data. 4.7 magnitude – Alcoa (1973) 4.5 magnitude – Greenville (1928) 4.4 magnitude – Decatur (2018) 4.2 magnitude – Vonore (1987) 4.1 magnitude – New Tazewell (1956) 4.1 magnitude – Luttrell (1913) 4.1 magnitude – Greenback (2025) 3.8 magnitude – Tazewell (1997) 3.8 magnitude – Fincastle (2020) 3.7 magnitude – Ducktown (1979) Is it possible to prepare for an earthquake? Unlike tornadoes or hurricanes, scientists can't predict earthquakes. USGS scientists don't know where or when an earthquake might happen; they can only estimate the probability of such geological events. However, that doesn't mean you can't prepare for the eventuality of an earthquake. Before an earthquake happens, make an emergency plan and secure heavy items in your home and objects that hang on the wall, according to Store any heavy or breakable objects on low shelves. When an earthquake happens, it's important to drop to the ground, grab onto a sturdy object and cover your head, according to If you're outside when an earthquake begins to rumble, get to an open area free of buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines. Allison Kiehl reports on trending and breaking news for the Tennessee Connect team. Email: This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: East Tennessee sees 5 earthquakes in July 2025. Is this normal?
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Earthquakes rattle US city under volcano advisory
The first tremor, a magnitude 3.2, was detected about 48 miles north at 5:23am (11:32am ET), but residents in Anchorage also reported feeling the shaking, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). An assessment from Michigan Tech University showed that people typically do not feel quakes with a magnitude of 2.5 or less. Anchorage sits about 78 miles from Mount Spurr, which continues to show signs of unrest with elevated seismic activity. Mount Spurr was under an eruption 'Watch' earlier this year, but it has since been lowered to 'Advisory,' meaning 'volcanic activity has decreased significantly but continues to be closely monitored for possible renewed increase.' Elmendorf Air Force Base, like all of Alaska, is prone to earthquakes due to its location along a major tectonic plate boundary. Specifically, it sits on top of the Aleutian subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate slides beneath the North American Plate, generating significant seismic activity. This plate movement creates stress that is periodically released in the form of earthquakes, some of which can be quite large. Elmendorf is the largest military installation in Alaska, as its 13,130 square acres are occupied by more than 800 buildings, two runways and more than 150 miles of roads. While the magnitude 2.9 quake is considered minor, dozens of locals reported feeling it to the USGS, while more than 100 reports came in for the stronger tremor. Mount Spurr has experienced dozens of small earthquakes in the last week, reaching up to a magnitude 2. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) issued the latest update on Wednesday, saying: 'Low-level unrest continues at Mount Spurr with occasional, small earthquakes occurring beneath the volcano. 'No activity was observed in mostly clear webcam images and satellite views from the past day.' However, the volcano was under a 'Watch' in March when it began releasing elevated levels of gas from its summit and a side vent that last erupted in 1992. During that month, Matt Haney, scientist-in-charge at the AVO told that eruption would most likely occur at the Crater Peak side vent, and 'it would be explosive. This event would spew multiple plumes of ash rising as high as 50,000 feet into the air, Haney said. Each ash-producing explosive episode would last three to four hours, and the resulting cloud could blanket the city of Anchorage and other nearby communities in a thick layer of dust. The eruption would also produce destructive mudslides and avalanches volcanic debris racing down the volcano's side at over 200 miles per hour, 'but fortunately, there are not any communities in that radius that would be affected,' Haney said.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Major US city under volcano advisory rattled by earthquakes
A major Alaskan city was rattled Thursday by two earthquakes that struck just hours apart. Anchorage, home to around 300,000 people, experienced a magnitude 2.9 quake at 10:13am local time (2:13pm ET) near Elmendorf Air Force Base. The first tremor, a magnitude 3.2, was detected about 48 miles north at 5:23am (11:32am ET), but residents in Anchorage also reported feeling the shaking, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). An assessment from Michigan Tech University showed that people typically do not feel quakes with a magnitude of 2.5 or less. Those from 2.5 to 5.4 are often felt but only cause minor damage. No injuries or damages have been reported on Thursday. Anchorage sits about 78 miles from Mount Spurr, which continues to show signs of unrest with elevated seismic activity. Mount Spurr was under an eruption 'Watch' earlier this year, but it has since been lowered to 'Advisory,' meaning 'volcanic activity has decreased significantly but continues to be closely monitored for possible renewed increase.' This is a developing story... More updates to come Elmendorf Air Force Base, like all of Alaska, is prone to earthquakes due to its location along a major tectonic plate boundary. Specifically, it sits on top of the Aleutian subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate slides beneath the North American Plate, generates significant seismic activity. This plate movement creates stress that is periodically released in the form of earthquakes, some of which can be quite large. Elmendorf is the largest military installation in Alaska as its 13,130 square acres are occupied by more than 800 buildings, two runways and more than 150 miles of roads. While the magnitude 2.9 quake is considered minor, dozens of locals reported feeling it to the USGS, while more than 100 reports came in for the stronger tremor.
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘Palm oil prevails from soap to napalm — it feeds billions but pollutes Earth'
Jonathan E. Robins Jonathan E. Robins is Associate Professor of History at Michigan Tech University. Speaking to Srijana Mitra Das at Times Evoke , he discusses the story — and challenges — of palm oil: What is the history of palm oil? ■ This product had been used for thousands of years in Africa. But the beginnings of the transatlantic slave trade in the 16th and 17th centuries brought people, food and products outside Africa. Palm oil was used to feed enslaved captives on slave ships. It was also used as a cosmetic — before they were auctioned off in America, it was applied to make the skin of enslaved people look shiny and healthier. It also played a role in the colonial scramble for Africa — palm oil was an important motivation for European empires to seize territory, trying, for instance, in Nigeria and Cameroon to secure and monopolise access to oilproducing regions. Later, it reached Southeast Asia — in the 19th century, the British began to expand their control over the Indian Ocean area. They transferred oil palm seeds and other plants they thought were economically useful across the region. The Dutch were also involved — a consignment of oil palm reached then-Dutch East Indies in 1848, taking root there. Who were the workers growing this crop? Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Redefine Your Future with a Top Online MBA SRM Online Enquire Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola ■ Initially, in Southeast Asia, there was little local interest in palm oil because coconut was a well-established industry. In the 20 th century, when prices for all commodities, but particularly edible oils, began to skyrocket around WWI , high prices for oil drew Europebased companies to invest in oil palm plantations in the region. They copied the established business model for rubber, where colonial governments took land from local people and leased it to European companies — they then imported workers from India, Java or China, often under indenture contracts. The wages these plantations paid were simply not high enough to attract locals — they thus relied on recruiting labour from places with fewer opportunities, limited access to land, overpopulation and often, famine conditions which compelled people to seek overseas work, even at low wages. How did palm oil then get involved in post WWII development plans? ■ In the 1950s-60s, the World Bank and former colonial powers, like the British and French, began looking for projects that could create jobs in ex-colonies and increase supplies to address what many believed was an impending global food crisis. Being a labour-intensive crop, the palm oil industry provided a lot of employment while creating a material useful for food and other products. Eventually, that became part of the development narrative of post-colonial economies like Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, etc. Instead of rejecting colonial crops, independent governments embraced them as a source of revenue that could be channelled into other development projects. What is the history of palm oil, fats and 'an industrial diet'? ■ This story begins in the 19th century when a series of discoveries in chemistry revealed new ways of manipulating natural fats from plant and animalbased oils. Manufacturers were seeking to reduce costs — one way was by making raw materials interchangeable. So, they used chemistry to modify fats from different plant and animal sources. The cheapest products using palm oil first were candles and soap — it then found itself in food. In the late 19 th century, new products, like margarine, cooking and frying fats, began to be developed. They were simply sold as new 'industrial' fats — one week, they might be made with hydrogenated cottonseed oil, another week, with palm oil. For manufacturers, these fats being substituted so easily was very appealing. Palm oil became such a significant part of this system because the plant is an extremely efficient producer of fats and has both unsaturated liquid components and saturated fats, which makes it applicable across industries. Can you tell us about its presence in modern soap? ■ West Africans made soap using palm oil centuries ago — in the 18th century, European travellers there described such locally-made soaps. Europeans began using it first as a colouring agent. Raw, unrefined palm oil has a striking red or orange colour — when fresh, it also has a very interesting scent. This combination made palm oil an attractive ingredient for early soap manufacturers. In the 19 th century, as Britain moved to abolish the slave trade, British merchants and shipping companies began exporting more and more palm oil to make up for that commercial loss. Its price fell and as it became cheaper, soap makers began to use it as their main ingredient. How did it make its way into weaponry? ■ The main connection is through a product that all fats contain called glycerine — for years, this had been discarded as a waste product but then, chemists discovered it could be used to make, among other things, explosives. Nitroglycerin was the first major explosive based on this. A series of other applications derive from this use of palm oil — napalm was initially developed using palmitic acids drawn from it, a thickened sort of gasoline product that burns. Later manufacturing shifted to other materials — yet, palm oil was important enough to give this weapon its name 'napalm'. What are palm oil's environmental impacts? ■ The Southeast Asian industry in particular grew at the expense of destroying primary forest which was first targeted by colonial plantations. This continued post-independence. Deforestation is also of great concern in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. But other impacts include water pollution — factories extracting palm oil use enormous amounts of water. Until the 1980s, most byproducts of this process were just dumped into local waterways, causing pollution. This is still a problem in many 'frontier' areas where oil palm is a newly developed industry. The mills started there often don't have the equipment and infrastructure to safely process waste — hence, deforestation combined with water pollution produces very negative impacts. PROFUSE, YET UNSEEN: Palm oil is widely used Palm oil employs millions though — are there sustainable ways forward? ■ It's a challenge because palm oil is often invisible in the products we consume — rarely can we see its colour or taste its flavour. Those components have been intentionally removed from most palm oil added to consumer products. I'd suggest people think about palm oil with curiosity and concern. It is a very important food product, it sustains billions and converting it now, for instance, into biofuel is a concern for some who worry that the rush to embrace biodiesel and 'green fuels' will not only accelerate deforestation but also increase food prices. These issues are one reason I use a commodity approach in my research — this allows us to grasp onto physical objects that connect us to different regions, organisations, governments, corporations and real people who produce and consume these things. Commodities help us avoid abstractions — they ground our understanding of global challenges, environmental to economic, in a way where we can see their origins in history and hopefully use that to address our own world.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Unexpected medical issue grounds Isle Royale wolf-moose survey
A last-minute medical issue grounded researchers' annual wolf-moose survey on Isle Royale this past winter, marking yet another year that scientists have run into problems trying to count the animals on the remote island park. Isle Royale is a 134,000-acre (54,200-hectare) island in far western Lake Superior between Grand Marais, Minnesota, and Thunder Bay, Canada. The island, which doubles as a national park, offers scientists a rare chance to observe wolves and moose in their natural habitat, free from human influence. Researchers have conducted an annual survey of the island's wolf and moose population since 1958. Scientists from Michigan Tech University had planned to return to the island in January to conduct seven weeks of aerial surveys by ski-planes. Snow and bare branches make tracking easier from the air in winter, but the island lacks a land-based runway, forcing the scientists to use ski-planes that can land in the island's ice-covered harbors. The scientists released their annual report on Tuesday, but it does not include any new population estimates. The report notes that the researchers were not able to get into the air at all this winter because 'our usual aviation resources became unexpectedly unavailable due to extenuating circumstances and there was insufficient time to find a suitable alternative.' Michigan Tech spokesperson Hailey Hart explained in a telephone interview that the ski-plane pilot developed a last-minute medical issue and couldn't fly. The scientists were unable to find a replacement pilot. 'It was very sudden,' Hart said. 'It was a big bummer for them.' Researchers have experienced disruptions in three of the last five years they've attempted the survey. The COVID-19 pandemic forced them to cancel the survey in 2021, marking the first time since 1958 that population counts weren't conducted. They had to cut the survey short in February 2024 after weeks of unusually warm weather left the ice surrounding the island unsafe for ski-plane landings. The National Park Service suspended the researchers' work and ordered them to evacuate. Data the scientists gathered before they left showed the wolf population stood at 30 animals, down from 31 the previous year. The moose population stood at 840, down 14% from 2023. Most of Tuesday's report discusses observations a group of college students made on the island in the summer of 2024. They noted regular wolf sightings, observed a wolf chasing a moose and found the bones of a wolf that died a decade ago, well before the park service began relocating wolves to the island in 2018. The students also found the remains of 115 moose, including 22 believed to have died in 2024. Researchers believe wolves killed all but three of those moose. Hart said the scientists are planning another aerial survey next winter.
