The excitement is sky-high for the upcoming total solar eclipse that is due to occur on August 21, 2017, and along with major events such as this come safety concerns regarding observers’ eyesight, as looking directly at the sun — even when much of it is blocked as it is over the duration of an eclipse — can cause permanent damage to the viewer’s eyes.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating what appears to be an attack on U.S. diplomats working in Cuba involving a covert sonic weapon. Last fall, a number of diplomats with the newly-opened U.S. embassy in Havana began to suffer an unexplained loss of hearing, forcing many of the afflicted diplomats to return home for medical treatment. Diplomatic ties were re-opened between Cuba and the U.S. in 2015, following decades of tension between the two countries.
read more
In many places throughout the world some old traditions hold steadfast, with Ireland being no exception to this phenomenon: Irish Teachta Dála (Member of Parliament) Danny Healy-Rae says that a persistent dip in a road running through his constituency in County Kerry is being caused by the presence of nearby "fairy forts", an arrangement of standing stones that, according to tradition, is associaread more
NASA has announced the creation of a new position within the space agency titled "Planetary Protection Officer" (PPO), and is currently looking for candidates suitably qualified to protect the Earth — and other planets — from possible biological contamination. The salary for this singular position will be between $124,406 to $187,000 per year, with the successful applicant being responsible for preventing the transmission of potential contamination to and from Earth by astronauts and space probes during their expeditions.
read more