Non-IT News Thread
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Scientists explain magnetic pole's wanderings
European scientists think they can now describe with confidence what's driving the drift of the North Magnetic Pole.
It's shifted in recent years away from Canada towards Siberia. And this rapid movement has required more frequent updates to navigation systems, including those that operate the mapping functions in smartphones. A team, led from Leeds University, says the behaviour is explained by the competition of two magnetic "blobs" on the edge of the Earth's outer core. Changes in the flow of molten material in the planet's interior have altered the strength of the above regions of negative magnetic flux. "This change in the pattern of flow has weakened the patch under Canada and ever so slightly increased the strength of the patch under Siberia," explained Dr Phil Livermore. -
@mlnews This was in textbooks 20 years ago, I dont understand how this is news from those Scientists. I'll read article soon.
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@jmoore said in Non-IT News Thread:
@mlnews This was in textbooks 20 years ago, I dont understand how this is news from those Scientists. I'll read article soon.
IKR?
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@jmoore said in Non-IT News Thread:
@mlnews This was in textbooks 20 years ago, I dont understand how this is news from those Scientists. I'll read article soon.
Agreed.
The question I have is, if the magnetic poles shift because of molten material flow, does that shift the stronger or "thicker" portions of the Earth's magnetic field, thereby potentially blocking or allowing more solar wind to hit colder climates?
Always wondered that but never bothered to look it up.
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Ex-Trump adviser Michael Flynn charges of lying to FBI dropped
The US Department of Justice is moving to drop the criminal charges against former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Flynn was among the former aides to President Donald Trump convicted during the special counsel's investigation into Russian election interference. He had pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about contacts with Russia's ambassador to the US. Flynn had been seeking to withdraw his guilty plea. The justice department's decision also follows criticism of the case by President Trump and his supporters. -
Washington state now has another bug to worry about after 'murder hornets.' Gypsy moths
Add another giant bug to the list of things Washington state is working to handle right now.
Earlier this week, scientists said they had spotted Asian giant hornets in the state -- and it's still unknown how they got there. Now there's another threat: a non-native gypsy moth. Such a threat, in fact, that Gov. Jay Inslee issued an emergency proclamation because of the creatures, saying there was an "imminent danger of an infestation" of the plant pests in parts of Snohomish County. -
@pmoncho I don't think the amount of solar wind that hits us will be affected. This is just talking about where the poles are. The molten material flow is made up of mostly iron and other heavy metals. The magnetosphere extends all around around Earth and outwards a lot. this is what keeps the solar winds from damaging us and the planet more.
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Coronavirus: Italy death toll tops 30,000, highest in EU
Italy has become the first country in the European Union to register more than 30,000 coronavirus-related deaths.
It reported 243 new fatalities on Friday - down from 274 the day before - taking the total to 30,201. The daily number of confirmed new cases fell slightly to 1,327, bringing the total number of infections to 217,185. Restrictions have begun to ease around the county, but one doctor described the city of Milan as a time "bomb," according to local media. Italy has the third highest number of officially recorded coronavirus deaths in the world, after the United States and the UK. -
Little Richard has just passed away at 82.
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India's carbon emissions fall for first time in four decades
India's CO2 emissions have fallen for the first time in four decades - and not just as a result of the country's coronavirus lockdown.
Falling electricity use and competition from renewables had weakened the demand for fossil fuels even before the coronavirus hit, according to analysis by the environmental website, Carbon Brief. However, it was the sudden nationwide lockdown in March that finally tipped the country's 37-year emissions growth trend into reverse. The study finds that Indian carbon dioxide emissions fell 15% in March, and are likely to have fallen by 30% in April. Virtually all of the drop-off in power demand has been borne by coal-fired generators, which explains why the emissions reductions have been so dramatic. -
Coronavirus: England housing market is released from lockdown
The government has set out plans to re-start England's housing market, which has been in deep freeze since the coronavirus lockdown.
Effective immediately, estate agents can open, viewings can be carried out, and removal firms and conveyancers can re-start operations. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said the changes must be carried out under social distancing and safety rules. It is estimated that there are 450,000 buyers and renters with plans on hold. Mr Jenrick said: "Our clear plan will enable people to move home safely, covering each aspect of the sales and letting process, from viewings to removals. "This critical industry can now safely move forward, and those waiting patiently to move can now do so." -
We will have summer tourist season, promises EU
A gradual lifting of borders has been proposed by the EU's executive in an attempt to kick-start a tourist industry hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
"Our message is we will have a tourist season this summer," said economic affairs commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, "even if it's with security measures and limitations." Borders closed across the EU, including the border-free Schengen zone. But states are starting to reopen them. Austria and Germany have become the latest EU countries to agree to remove travel restrictions. From Friday there will be random checks at border crossings and then on 15 June free movement should resume. "We want to make people's everyday lives easier and take another step towards more normality," said Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. -
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Richard Burr: US Senate intelligence chief quits amid virus trading scandal
The Republican chairman of the US Senate intelligence committee will resign from the post amid an insider trading investigation.
Richard Burr of North Carolina would step down on 15 May, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. It has emerged on Thursday that Mr Burr's phone has been seized by the FBI as part of the probe. The senator is alleged to have used inside information to avoid market losses from coronavirus. He and his wife sold as much as $1.7m (£1.4m) of equities in February, just before markets plunged on fears of an economic crisis. -
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Richard Burr: US Senate intelligence chief quits amid virus trading scandal
The Republican chairman of the US Senate intelligence committee will resign from the post amid an insider trading investigation.
Richard Burr of North Carolina would step down on 15 May, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. It has emerged on Thursday that Mr Burr's phone has been seized by the FBI as part of the probe. The senator is alleged to have used inside information to avoid market losses from coronavirus. He and his wife sold as much as $1.7m (£1.4m) of equities in February, just before markets plunged on fears of an economic crisis.Misleading. Headline :astonished_face:
He is only stepping down as the head of the intelligence committee. He is still a senator. THough he has previously stated he will not be seeking reelection in 2022 -
@JaredBusch said in Non-IT News Thread:
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Richard Burr: US Senate intelligence chief quits amid virus trading scandal
The Republican chairman of the US Senate intelligence committee will resign from the post amid an insider trading investigation.
Richard Burr of North Carolina would step down on 15 May, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. It has emerged on Thursday that Mr Burr's phone has been seized by the FBI as part of the probe. The senator is alleged to have used inside information to avoid market losses from coronavirus. He and his wife sold as much as $1.7m (£1.4m) of equities in February, just before markets plunged on fears of an economic crisis.Misleading. Headline :astonished_face:
He is only stepping down as the head of the intelligence committee. He is still a senator. THough he has previously stated he will not be seeking reelection in 2022Its pretty bad when both sides want you gone.
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@popester said in Non-IT News Thread:
@JaredBusch said in Non-IT News Thread:
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Richard Burr: US Senate intelligence chief quits amid virus trading scandal
The Republican chairman of the US Senate intelligence committee will resign from the post amid an insider trading investigation.
Richard Burr of North Carolina would step down on 15 May, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. It has emerged on Thursday that Mr Burr's phone has been seized by the FBI as part of the probe. The senator is alleged to have used inside information to avoid market losses from coronavirus. He and his wife sold as much as $1.7m (£1.4m) of equities in February, just before markets plunged on fears of an economic crisis.Misleading. Headline :astonished_face:
He is only stepping down as the head of the intelligence committee. He is still a senator. THough he has previously stated he will not be seeking reelection in 2022Its pretty bad when both sides want you gone.
Or pretty good.
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