Latest news with #Winchcombe
The Print
15-07-2025
- Science
- The Print
Sotheby's poised for red hot bidding battle as largest Martian meteorite goes up for auction in NY
With a reddish-brown Martian feel, the 24.67 kg meteorite is expected to attract intense bidding in New York. Measuring 15 inches wide, the meteorite dwarfs the previous largest Martian specimen by 70 percent. The NWA 16788 was discovered in Niger and is assumed to have travelled 140 million miles to reach Earth. As opposed to meteorites that erode over centuries, it has minimal weathering, a point highlighted by meteoriticists. Bengaluru: The largest piece of Mars on Earth is going up for auction Wednesday in New York. The bid amount for this meteorite collision remnant is set to open at USD 1.6 million, according to Sotheby's auction house. It was in the 1980s that the scientists first started to confirm meteorites from Mars with the help of isotopic analysis—a technique used to understand the age, origin, and chemical composition of a sample. Since then, the demand for authentic pieces has grown. The global craze for astronomical artefacts reportedly surged in the 2010s, with meteorite prices climbing to record figures. In 2013, Chelyabinsk meteorite fragments were sold, with one small piece reaching a price of around $7,000 back then. In 2022, a Costa Rican meteorite was sold for $35,000. In the UK in 2021, 15 gm of Winchcombe meteorite fetched $3,500. In this case, the meteorite is expected to fetch $4 million. The Martian rock is part of Sotheby's Geek Week 2025, featuring more than a hundred lots, including fossils and gem minerals. A juvenile dinosaur skeleton is also set for the bid. The Ceratosaurus was discovered in 1996 at Wyoming's Bone Cabin Quarry, a dinosaur fossil site. The event opens a market for rare scientific and natural history artifacts. CNN reported that some palaeontologists are not happy with the auction. The rock should not be hoarded by a private collector, but it deserves a museum for science and the public, according to Steve Brusatte, a palaeontologist at the University of Edinburgh. Beyond the scientific value, NWA 16788 represents a tangible piece of another planet. In the case of institutions, it's an opportunity to understand the clues about geology. The Martian meteorite is a rare specimen, as only 400 out of 77,000 documented meteorites on Earth originate from Mars, according to Sotheby's auction house. A fragment of this meteorite was analysed in a specialised laboratory, confirming its Martian origin by matching its chemical composition to samples collected during the 1976 Viking space probe mission. The meteorite is assumed to have formed from slowly cooled Martian magma and contains minerals like pyroxene and olivine, giving it a unique texture. The glassy surface as seen is probably due to the intense heat during atmospheric entry. The rock was previously displayed at the Italian Space Agency, Rome, but the meteorite owner remains confidential as the auction house did not reveal the name. The exact arrival date on Earth is still unknown. That said, tests suggest it landed in recent years, according to the New York auction house. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Shubhanshu Shukla carried sleeping water bears to ISS. How experiment could unlock space travel secrets
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Plan to tackle bins 'blighting' Tewkesbury to be explored
Plans to tackle the issue of wheelie bins "blighting" a historic town centre are set to be Borough Council's scrutiny committee will investigate how the council can curb the presence of unsightly bins on the streets after more than 230 people signed a petition calling for Purkiss, chairman of Tewkesbury Civic Society, presented the "bin blight" document at a council meeting where he said they degrade Tewkesbury town centre, devalue properties, block wheelchairs and prams, and put off agreed to set up a working group to address the issue in the town and across the wider borough, with concerns raised about a similar situation in Winchcombe. The civic society petition urged the council to only provide wheelie bins to those with access to appropriate storage within the town's conservation area. It suggested using blue bags or community storage for those who do not have space for a bin and asked the authority to consider fining those who leave their bins out on the streets, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service."Tewkesbury's unique conservation area is being severely degraded by domestic and increasingly by commercial bins," Mr Purkiss said at the meeting on Tuesday."People do and will flee such an environment. Rights of way of prams and wheelchairs are often compromised." Independent councillor Mike Sztymiak said: "Bins are a nuisance."We spent a million pounds plus on the centre of town and then we go and spoil it by putting bins in front of all these shop windows. It does detract from the area."Councillors agreed for the issue to be looked at by the overview and scrutiny committee over the next four months, with any proposals to be brought back for approval by full council.
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Countryfile host to leave his farm as children want different careers
Countryfile presenter Adam Henson is preparing to leave his Cotswold farm when his tenancy runs out, marking the 'end of an era'. Henson's father, Joe, started the 650-hectare Cotswolds Farm Park estate in 1971. Henson and his wife Charlie plan to relocate to a nearby bungalow in Winchcombe, as their children have pursued careers outside of farming. Henson noted his children's lack of interest in farming, with his daughter working as an events organiser in Perth and his son as a financial advisor in Leeds. Despite the move, Henson hopes to continue enjoying the countryside and keep a few sheep and dogs.
