Latest news with #GOLD
7NEWS
a day ago
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
HYROX may be the future of fitness — but is it ready for the Olympics?
The World Championships of HYROX just wrapped up in Chicago, and boy, what an amazing spectacle it was to witness. Feats of athleticism were witnessed across all age groups and abilities. Septuagenarians and adaptive divisions representing physical, neurological, and impaired visual and hearing abilities were present as well. Say what you will about it - HYROX is here to stay. These are amazing feats of athleticism which certainly make for a spectacular show. However, this event was not without controversy. All of sports is a stage, and every athlete plays a part In every great sport, you have various characters playing different parts. Intentional or not, it adds to the drama of sport. The heroes, the sweethearts, the battler, the villain ... And HYROX certainly has theirs. Who takes on what role depends on who you support, just like in footy, some people love Brisbane Broncos Reece Walsh, touting his supreme athleticism, while others may describe him as a trumped-up, spoilt brat. Allegiance and perspective are important. In HYROX, sportsmanship, scandal, perspective, and personalities are well and truly present. Characters A new sport but with the same characters forming and in play. You have the cheeky one (or arrogant ... depending on perspective) who thrives off setting up mind games pre-event, guaranteed to give you a great soundbite. The quiet achiever, who doesn't really say anything vocally, but for sure lets the race result speak for itself. The one all about the community, giving back, speaking accolades about the team, and not themselves. The rookie where all eyes are focused on some epic athletic feats and major upsets. The one to watch who earnestly shares every experience, not quite believing the life they are now living. Engaging, entertaining, and lots to talk about ... even scandal. Costly competition Big brands are paying attention. The athleticism and the personalities. GOLD's gym has announced a collaboration to open purpose-built HYROX performance centres within their juggernaut of a gym chain. PUMA has a collaboration, elites competed adorned in the brand, and the company held a 'shake out' run before the world champs, with all able to try their purpose-built branded shoes. All the individual elite athletes have their own brand collaborations they are repping, gyms, food companies, supplements … ca-ching, ca-ching. And the athletes need sponsorship as this sport is expensive. For a 'regular Joe' taking part, there's the training and nutrition for the event, and then the hardest task: securing a ticket to compete. There is so much demand to take part, events around the world in a season sell out. For a regional or world champs event, all travel, accommodation, and costs are self-funded, hence many a 'givealittle' popping up for crowd sourcing of money. Some of the elite athletes who fly around the world, entering in their respective divisions, do all the training, nutrition, and recovery required as well as holding down full-time jobs. It was astounding to hear from the incredible women in the elites presser how they calibrated their bodies to be at their very peak as well as manage full-time work, families (kids for some of them), and fund this sport they excel at. They love it - but not the cost. Controversy It's bound to happen in sport, and this growing one is no different. Expanding so quickly, you get a feel the rules are being refined as the experiences happen. What lines can be crossed and what can't. It's evolving. These world champs certainly proved that. There was a controversial push in the invitational team relay. Team USA (Hunter McIntyre) shoved team Ireland (Jeremy McConnell) during one of the runs, early. The result saw America scratched from the race, losing their first-place finish, hours after the finish line and podium presentations had been made. And this occurred only after the event had finished and a challenge had been lodged. The result, all of Team USA losing their first place for unsportsmanlike conduct. As the challenge was being deliberated by judges, organisers communicated the update over social media. Team USA was disqualified. Team Australia was declared the winner. But there was more: Second place was deemed a tie because the judges were unable to determine who crossed first between Belgium and England. Everyone's place was rejiggered. A new medal ceremony was scheduled. And a social media apology post-event from organizers was issued. New tools at the world champs The most scandalous athletic issue seemed to be new turf, ironically introduced to improve consistency in every race. New turf — which had been 'rigorously' tested — was introduced at the World Championships this year. It came as a surprise to everyone, to say the least. HYROX was confident the World Championships were the perfect timing for introducing an anomaly into the arduous event to iron out any inconsistencies in races around the world. The elite athletes seemed on board. Like it or lump it, if they wanted to race, they didn't have a choice. There seemed to be issues with the adherence of this new turf on the stadium ground, meaning some lanes slipped while others held strong. A problem no athlete had encountered before. This meant a lane with a slip felt slow and heavy, like pushing an immovable truck, while a non-slip lane felt faster and freer, like the truck was on ice. Which lane you got depended on how fast and in what order you entered. So random, inconsistent and unfair. And another social media apology post event from organizers was issued. All the gear, no idea In a few of the races, there seemed to be confusion amongst race officials about the equipment needed to be ready and waiting for each fitness spot, as well as where to direct competitors running in and out of the station. There was gear not ready for athletes with the right weight, hindering their time and messing with their heads, in a time-based competition. There was a lack of clarity on where an athlete was to run to in a station or run out from (and in which direction). Confusing — causing costly seconds. Likewise, there seemed to be judging inconsistency in reps — or what was accepted as a HYROX standard repetition, and what was not. It depended on who was watching, and if someone was in fact watching. Some dodgy depths were allowed to pass on things like wall balls with some judges, while considered a 'no re'' by others. There seemed to be the same inconsistency with burpees … Where are your feet supposed to finish? Are you allowed to creep forward to your hand placement? I have questions. Each individual instance may seem trivial, but as a whole, it's important. This matters to athletes who have spent time … and money to compete. And especially given the Olympic ambitions of this exploding competition, it's important to get it right. And another social media apology post-event from organizers was issued. Put into perspective you have people all over the world, spending a fortune. They've trained for weeks to improve their times. They don't care about a medal, they just care they were there at the start line … and able to see it through to the end. They were left crushed when their legs blew out and uncertain if they would even make the finish line. With sweaty, shaking hands on sled poles, they for the darndest couldn't understand not being able to push a sled one metre when only last week they had been flying 100m. Inconsistent. That matters if you want the Olympics, and HYROX does. Founders Christian Toetzke and Moritz Fürste made a very unexpected announcement in the press event before the World Champs stating the Olympics were very much in their sights. It was a mic-drop moment when Fürste said plans were in place to lobby for as early as Brisbane 2032. There was an audible intake of breath from every elite athlete in the room. Any meetings with Olympic officials? No. Queensland Premier David Crisafull i or government reps? No. Sources close to the founders said the discussion with the IOC has happened, and HYROX as an Olympic sport is nearly there. What is unclear whether it will be a medal-winning event or a demonstration sport held during the Games. But with the Olympics, there can be no 'social media apology post event form organizers issued'. As much as there was controversy, the sport is exploding on social media and in cities around the world. It's taking on its own life, rapidly in this modern social media era. HYROX knows the digital space is where their foundation lives … and their fan base started. Is this the way sports develop for the future? Will we be talking about the birth of this new Olympic event in a decade … time will tell.
West Australian
3 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
ADX gears up for multi-well gas push in Upper Austria
ADX Energy is poised to spark a new energy chapter in gas-hungry Europe after the company locked and loaded seven shallow gas drill targets with a combined mean prospective net resource of 29 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of gas in Upper Austria's Molasse Basin. The play has been planned as a low-risk, low-cost exploration program. The total net resource estimate for all targets ranges from 12.1Bcf as a low-ball guesstimate and to 49.4Bcf at the upper end. The company expects to kick off a multi-well campaign across its fully owned Austrian exploration ADX-AT-I and ADX-AT-II licences as early as the fourth quarter of this year. Permitting, rig contracting, and land access negotiations have begun. Land for two wells is already secured. ADX has identified seven drill-ready prospects and is actively maturing a further four. Of the seven, five sit within the proven Hall Formation, which is a prolific Miocene-age sandstone reservoir that has already delivered more than 230Bcf of cumulative production across 83 fields in the region. ADX's shallow gas initiative was first announced to the market two years ago and has been developed using local know-how combined with the sharp eyes of world-class stratigraphic trap specialists. It sits close to existing pipeline infrastructure. Armed with cutting-edge seismic technology, ADX deployed advanced 3D imaging techniques to pinpoint gas-charged sweet spots hiding in permeable reservoirs. The targets also bear striking similarities to the seismic signatures of proven gas fields already producing across the basin. ADX sees the GOLD cluster targets as the crown jewels in its exploration portfolio. The company's 100 per cent-owned AT-II licence includes three shallow Hall Formation prospects – dubbed GOLD, GRAB and ZAUN – and holds a combined mean resource estimate of 13Bcf, with geological chances of success ranging from 55 per cent to a massive 81 per cent. The GOLD-1 well will be the first cab off the rank and will target two high-confidence gas sands, GOLD A and C, which the company thinks have the highest chances of success at 77 per cent and 81 per cent, respectively. The GOLD wells will be drilled to depths of just 700 metres to 850m using slim-hole designs and mobile carrier rigs, which should enable cost-effective drilling and an uber quick turnaround of as little as nine days per well. ADX says it plans to link any discoveries into cluster developments, tying multiple wells into centralised production hubs to cut capital and running costs and boost output. A dedicated processing facility has already been mapped out, drawing on an initial design capacity of 140,000 cubic metres per day, expandable to 280,000 cubic metres/day for the full cluster development. Beyond the GOLD cluster, the company is targeting two additional prospects, PIC and STEY, also in the ADX-AT-II licence area, which have a mean prospective estimated gas resource of 8.1Bcf and paydirt probabilities of 75 per cent and 68 per cent, respectively. The final two prospects, HOCH and SCHOE, sit in the ADX-AT-1 licence area 50 kilometres to the west of the GOLD cluster and are held in a 50:50 joint venture with industrial giant MND Austria. Although these targets are estimated to hold the biggest combined net mean resource of all the prospects at 14.4Bcf, their probability of coming in is lower at 62 per cent and 51 per cent, respectively. ADX, meanwhile, has opened its data room to farm-in partners, promoting the prospects as a fast-track pathway to gas production in a first-world jurisdiction with existing infrastructure and an underexplored resource base. The company says several groups have already expressed interest, with deals potentially timed to line up with the company's forecast drilling dates. As the company finalises its permits and hones its drill plans, ADX looks well-positioned to convert its shallow gas play into a significant revenue stream exactly when Europe needs it most. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NASA discovers mysterious X-shaped structures in Earth's upper atmosphere
Source: NASA's GOLD mission has made a discovery that is changing how scientists understand Earth's upper atmosphere. For the first time ever, GOLD has seen X-shaped patterns in the ionosphere—a layer of charged particles that stretches from about 50 to 400 miles above Earth's surface. These X-shaped structures were found during calm space weather, which is surprising because such patterns were thought to happen only during strong solar storms . The discovery, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, could affect how we manage satellite communications, GPS signals, and space weather predictions. The mystery behind the X-shaped structures discovered Normally, the ionosphere has two bands of dense plasma on either side of the magnetic equator. According to IDR, these bands, called the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA), usually run parallel to each other like lanes on a road. But GOLD's new observations show that these plasma bands don't always stay in straight lines. Sometimes, they twist and merge to form X-shaped patterns. Scientists used to think these X-shapes only appeared during geomagnetic storms caused by solar activity. However, GOLD's ultraviolet camera captured them even when space weather was calm. This unexpected finding raises new questions about what causes these shapes. As per the reports, scientist at the University of Colorado, Fazlul Laskar, who led the study, said it was surprising to see the X-shapes during quiet conditions. Understanding the Ionosphere's behavior The ionosphere is a very complex and changing part of Earth's atmosphere made up of charged particles. Before, scientists mainly studied how solar storms affected it, but now they see local factors might also be important. Jeffrey Klenzing, a NASA physicist, said the X-shapes show there are smaller, local forces at work. NASA's computer models suggest that winds high in the atmosphere, just before sunset, push the plasma bands closer together. When these bands collide, they form the X-shape. Also, waves from lower in the atmosphere help disrupt the plasma. This means weather near Earth's surface can affect the ionosphere far above, impacting communication and GPS systems worldwide. Why better space weather forecasting matters We already know that solar storms cause the ionosphere to change unpredictably, disrupting signals. But GOLD's discovery shows it's more complicated. The X-shaped patterns happen even when the sun is quiet, meaning models that predict space weather need to consider more than just solar flares and storms. Since the X-shapes happen at night when the sun's influence is low, it points to winds and atmospheric tides as important drivers. How X-shapes affect communication and navigation Although these X-shaped patterns last only a few hours, they can cause big problems for communication systems like GPS. These disturbances can bend radio waves and cause errors in location data, which can affect things like farming equipment or military tools that rely on precise GPS. Jeffrey Klenzing said the different shapes of plasma bubbles close together show that the ionosphere's behavior is more complicated than scientists thought. The X-shaped events usually happen after sunset and disappear by midnight but can cause major disruptions while they last. Karan, another researcher, warned that if strong winds or vortices form in the plasma, signals can be completely lost. Also read | 100-million-year-old dinosaur eggs recovered in Jurassic America
Scottish Sun
21-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Prized ‘Bucket of Death' was stuffed with remains of ‘dead VIP' in bombshell Anglo Saxon Sutton Hoo discovery
That's not the only impressive find inside the bucket either KICKED THE BUCKET Prized 'Bucket of Death' was stuffed with remains of 'dead VIP' in bombshell Anglo Saxon Sutton Hoo discovery Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MYSTERIOUS bucket found at Sutton Hoo in 1986 was stuffed with the remains of a dead VIP, archaeologists believe. This "bucket of death" contains the cremated remnants of both human and animal bones – solving a decades-old mystery. 8 The Bromeswell bucket is a Byzantine copper-alloy contained that was stuffed with human remains Credit: PA 8 The 'Bucket of Death' is remarkably well preserved despite dating back 1,400 to 1,500 years Credit: PA 8 Archaeologists unearthed the base of the bucket in the most recent discovery at Sutton Hoo Credit: FAS Heritage Archaeologists say that the human remains found inside the posh Byzantine bucket belonged to an "important person". The so-called Bromeswell Bucket was discovered at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, an archaeological treasure trove with two major Anglo-Saxon burial sites dating back around 1,500 years. The site is famous for its undisturbed ship burial, which was found back in 1938. Pieces of the copper-alloy bucket have been unearthed over the decades, with a fresh discovery last year. Read more on archaeology STRUCK GOLD Breakthrough as ring unlocking secrets of 'vanished' kingdom is unearthed in UK The latest find was made by TV show Time Team working with the National Trust and FA Heritage. "Because of its proximity to fragments discovered much earlier, we had hoped this year's dig would yield more of the Bromeswell Bucket," said Angus Wainwright, of the National Trust. "Which originated from the Byzantine empire in the 6th century – around a hundred years before the ship and its extraordinary treasure was put to rest." Wainwright continued: "Thanks to closer inspection, we now believe that the bucket had been previously damaged and then repaired. "In-depth analysis of the metals suggest it might even have been soldered back together." The bucket contains a "very norther, very Germanic cremation", according to Time Team archaeologist Helen Geake. 'Once in a century' Pompeii discovery as ancient luxury SPA is saved from ashes with thermal baths & stunning mosaic "It epitomises the strangeness of Sutton Hoo - it has ship burials, horse burials, mound burials and now bath-bucket burials," she told the BBC. DIG IN! The discovery was made at Garden Field, which has now been fully metal detected. All of the items found at the site have been recorded in 3D and will be processed – so more discoveries might be on the horizon. The bucket itself has been a longstanding mystery for scientists. 8 Sutton Hoo is an iconic archaeological site in Britain, and is the location of a well-preserved Anglo Saxon ship burial Credit: Getty - Contributor 8 This replica shows an Anglo Saxon helmet like the ones found at Sutton Hoo Credit: PA:Press Association 8 Replicas of the treasures found at Sutton Hoo show the craftsmanship of the people who used the site in Anglo Saxon times Credit: PA:Press Association It's decorated with a mysterious hunting scene that depicts naked warriors fighting with lions. And it has an inscription in Greek that says: "Use this in good health, Master Count, for many happy years". The latest dig unearthed the base of the bucket, which was packed with cremated remains. "We knew that this bucket would have been a rare and prized possession back in Anglo-Saxon times, but it's always been a mystery why it was buried," Wainwright said. 8 Archaeologists have even recreated a replica of the Anglo Saxon burial ship found at Sutton Hoo Credit: Alamy "Now we know it was used to contain the remains of an important person in the Sutton Hoo community. "I'm hopeful that further analysis will uncover more information about this very special burial." DECADES-LONG MYSTERY The bucket has been found in several parts, with the first discovery made in 1986. More parts were unearthed in 2012, with a fresh lot discovered in the latest Time Team digs. SUTTON HOO EXPLAINED Here's what you need to know... Sutton Hoo is an important archaeological site. It's the location of Anglo-Saxon cemeteries dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries. The site is located near Woodbridge in Suffolk, UK. Excavations began in 1938 with the discovery of a ship burial packed with Anglo-Saxon treasures. Countless artefacts have been found at the site since then – with treasures still turning up today. The name Sutton Hoo comes from Old English with Sutton meaning "southern farmstead" and Hoo referring to "shaped like a heel spur". Picture Credit: Getty Images The bucket's base contained a burned comb with remarkably well-preserved teeth. Archaeologists believe it was likely made from an antler belonging to a deer. The human remains are believed to belong to a high-status individual, while the cremated animal bones have been linked to an animal that's "larger than a pig", like a horse. This may have been a way of showcasing the elite status of the person whose remains were stored in the bucket. 8 Sutton Hoo is the site of Anglo Saxon burial mounds Credit: Alamy Human remains include parts of a skull and ankle bone. Details on the age and sex of the individual haven't been revealed, by archaeologists hope to probe the comb for long-lost DNA that may shed light on the person inside the bucket. "This year's dig has been fantastic, and we've really been able to piece together part of a 40-year mystery and unearth a new chapter in the Sutton Hoo story," said Time Team creator Tim Taylor. He described Sutton Hoo as "England's Valley of the Kings'."
India Today
12-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Biggest solar storm heated Earth's atmosphere, generated largest electrical current
One year after the most severe geomagnetic storm in two decades struck Earth, NASA scientists continue to unravel its big the Gannon storm in honour of space weather physicist Jennifer Gannon, the May 10, 2024, event began as a training exercise for US agencies-a simulation that abruptly became real.'Our hypothetical scenario was interrupted by a very real one,' said Jamie Favors, director of NASA's Space Weather Ground and Air DisruptionsThe storm triggered cascading effects on Earth's the US Midwest, GPS-guided tractors veered off-course, compounding planting delays from heavy spring affected lost an average of $17,000 each. Trans-Atlantic flights rerouted to avoid radiation spikes and navigation failures, while power grids faced transformer overheating and tripped high-voltage UpheavalThe thermosphere, Earth's upper atmospheric layer, heated to a record 1,150C, causing it to expand and loft heavy nitrogen particles higher. NASA's GOLD mission captured this expansion, which increased satellite drag. ICESat-2 entered safe mode, and the CIRBE CubeSat deorbited prematurely. The ionosphere-a critical layer for radio communications-warped into a checkmark shape, creating a temporary equatorial and Radiation BeltsThe storm generated the largest electrical currents in Earth's magnetosphere in 20 years, observed by NASA's MMS and THEMIS-ARTEMIS waves along coronal mass ejections (CMEs) dumped energy into the magnetosphere, while two new temporary radiation belts formed between the Van Allen belts-a discovery critical for astronaut and spacecraft Auroras and Scientific InsightsAuroras lit skies worldwide, with NASA's Aurorasaurus project logging 6,000 reports from 55 Japan, magenta hues puzzled scientists until imaging revealed the lights originated 600 miles high-200 miles above typical red auroras-due to nitrogen and oxygen mixing in the storm-heated atmosphere. Though the Gannon storm caused no catastrophes, it shows vulnerabilities in satellite operations, agriculture, and aviation.'These findings are helping us prepare for the next big storm,' Favors noted. With solar activity peaking in 2025, NASA's data will refine predictive models, ensuring safer navigation through the Sun's Watch
