Latest news with #geography
The Review Geek
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Murderbot – Season 1 Episode 7 Recap & Review
Complementary Species Episode 7 of Murderbot begins with us at Port Freecommerce, one month earlier. It's the eve of the Chatterjee memorial lecture and Gurathin immediately lowers the mood when he admits that he was a corporation spy. His target is Mensah and he's sick of lying to everyone. He even wants to end his life. This is why he moved to the Preservation Alliance, to get away from everything. Outside, Gurathin admits that he's nervous about this new expedition and he's not sure it's a god idea. He's also nervous about the SecUnit joining them. Back in the present, the group are still reeling after LeeBeeBee's death. Murderbot is adamant that they need to move, and he tries a softer approach than his initial stern hook, which actually works surprisingly well. The group leave the base, jumping onboard the hopper, but they're still not sure whether they can trust Murderbot or not. As they weigh up their options, so too does our titular character. It wonders whether to just leave them to it, or even sit around and watch Sanctuary Moon until its battery runs out. Eventually both sides hash out their issues, with Mensah explaining that she looks at Murderbot as someone trying to help. She wants it to have that same feeling and look at them favourably, but their chat is interrupted. Hostile creatures surround the hopper, but they're not actually fighting, they're mating. Both Gurathin and Murderbot contemplate whether to just electrify the hull, but the humans refuse. Unfortunately, the creatures also leave eggs all over the ship. There are bigger problems though, when another SecUnit shows up and jams the assessment threat for our Murderbot. When the hostile SecUnit destroys some of the eggs, one of the creatures arrives and absolutely obliterates it, ripping its head off. Thankfully it doesn't attack Preservation Society, who stand and watch as the centipede-esque creature grabs the eggs and heads underground. Gurathin is not in a good state though, and as he collapses on the ground, the group decide to take him back to the habitat, despite the risks and the potential hostiles crawling round the area. The Episode Review Murderbot returns with another good episode this week, zeroing in on the threat the group are facing and presenting this hostile SecUnit as another of the company's minions looking to take the group down. There's some pretty good questions about morality in here too, namely that of the two creatures mating and whether to kill them or not. While the humans all have empathy and decide this isn't a good idea, the androids – namely Murderbot and Gurathin – both think they should kill them. It's a nice way of presenting the difference in machine and human thinking, and it works well to add a slightly more dramatic side to what's otherwise only really been explored through the lens of comedy. This has been a good watch though and it'll be interesting to see where this one goes next. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
Forbes
7 hours ago
- Science
- Forbes
Get Ready For The Shortest Day Since Records Began As Earth Spins Faster
Earth could be about to record its fastest-ever rotation. Since 2020, Earth has been rotating faster than at any point since records began in 1973, with each successive year producing the shortest day. Last year, the shortest day was recorded on July 5, and Earth is expected to get close to this again on or close to July 9, July 22 and August 5, according to "Rapidly spinning globe. Symbolic of time passing, travel and other metaphors of space and time." Earth takes a nominal 24 hours to rotate once on its access, which is equal to 86,400 seconds. Until 2020, Earth's rotation had been gradually slowing down, and the shortest ever day recorded was just 1.05 milliseconds under 86,400 seconds. However, on July 19, 2020, Earth rotated 1.47 milliseconds less than 86,400 seconds. Last year, on July 5, it was even shorter at 1.66 milliseconds. Since 2020, Earth has seen 28 of its fastest days and predictions from International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service and U.S. Naval Observatory indicate that Earth will again rotate faster on July 9, July 22 or August 5. The uncertainty comes from the exact position of the moon, which acts as a drag factor, particularly when it's close to the equator. In the long-term, the moon is gradually slowing down the Earth's rotation, its gravitational pull causing tides and making Earth's orbital path around the sun slightly elliptical. Precise measurements of the length of a day come from atomic clocks and monitoring by the IERS. Scientists do not know why Earth's rotation has been speeding up since 2020. various factors are likely at play, including the motion of Earth's core and mantle, a shifting of mass due to the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, and variations in ocean currents and air movement. All of these could influence the day length by milliseconds. It could also be down to the 'Chandler wobble' — the movement of Earth's geographical poles across its surface. Historically, international timekeepers have added leap seconds to keep atomic time aligned with Earth's spin. However, since Earth is now rotating faster, not slower, so leap seconds are redundant. Instead, negative leap seconds— i.e., removing a second) — are being considered. IERS confirmed earlier this month that no leap second would be added in 2025. The last leap second was positive and used at the end of December 2016. Scientists are unsure what to do because the current speeding-up may be a blip in a longer trend of Earth's rotation slowing. It may seem trivial, but the fact that Earth is spinning faster in 2025, shaving milliseconds off the day, is critical for maintaining time accuracy worldwide. Maintaining alignment between Earth time and atomic time is crucial for GPS and satellite navigation, financial systems reliant on precise timestamps and synchronizing networks across the world.
The Guardian
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Experience: I've walked across three countries in a straight line
Growing up, I loved the outdoors. I gallivanted through the Staffordshire countryside with my stepbrother, Greg. We used to pick a point in the distance and create 'missions' to walk towards it. It was a mischievous challenge that saw us hopping fences, wading through rivers and sneaking around farmers. I was also obsessed with maps, and even read the Birmingham A-Z for fun. When Google Earth came out in 2005, I spent hours studying satellite images. As I got older, countryside adventures became rarer. In 2018, I was working as a van driver but made videos about geography and map-based games in my spare time. I found myself craving a challenge. I thought back to my hedge-hopping days. What if, instead of walking across a few fields, I could cross the width of a whole country – and in a perfectly straight line? I had no idea if it was possible, but using mapping software, I plotted a line across Wales from the English border to the west coast. Following a straight line might sound – literally – straightforward; the reality is anything but. Plot the wrong course, and you'll end up reaching rows of houses that are impossible to pass. You're forced to shimmy or climb over every obstacle. Trips would take multiple days, so I would carry food and toilet roll in my backpack and a tent to camp in at night. I would have to eat, sleep and 'use the toilet' without leaving the line. And even if I managed to navigate all these, there was still a risk being thrown off private farmland. My parents and my girlfriend, Verity, were sceptical and also concerned for my safety. They may have had a point. I didn't train for my first attempt, in early 2019. I got stuck on a mountain with no signal, darkness falling and hypothermia setting in. I had to abort the mission. Nonetheless, when I posted the footage online, I was blown away by the response. Viewers loved the silliness and originality of the concept, and recognised my joy as I scrambled over barbed wire, across rivers and through fields of startled sheep. I'd failed but knew I had to keep trying. After another failed Wales attempt in 2020, I decided to try Norway. The north of the country is less than 30km wide, with few farms and a right to roam – so no risk of angry farmers. But the landscape was alien to me. On one occasion, I barely escaped from a peat bog after being trapped up to my waist. Still, after two days, I finished it – crossing an entire country in a straight line for the first time. Verity was there at the finish line. It felt amazing to share the moment with her. But I couldn't stop there. After my first video, others began to try their own missions. In 2023, two straight-liners told me they planned to cross Wales. By that point, a GPS malfunction had caused my third attempt to fail; the idea of someone else doing it first was devastating. I devised a new route, prioritising mountains over farmland. It was longer, but I felt that avoiding farmers gave me the best chance of completion. I was right, and finished it in February that year, after four days. The satisfaction was incredible. Next came England, something I'd long thought was impossible. The route was more than 100km, twice the length of most of my previous walks. I travelled lighter and a crew followed me in a support van. We met whenever my line crossed a road, and I'd restock my supplies and sleep. It was my toughest challenge yet. Much of the route was forest, and on the last day I hit a sea of fallen trees. The height of the pile, and sharpness of the branches, meant a single slip could be fatal. I faced a gut-wrenching decision: abandon the mission after six days of pain or risk my life to continue. Miraculously, I found a route avoiding the worst of it and got to the end. Still, I'm glad I won't have to do it again. Since then, I've become a father, and my appetite for danger has changed. I'm incredibly thankful to my viewers, whose support has enabled me to do these challenges full-time. I'm certainly not your typical adventurer. But if I were to have any label, that's the one I'd choose – after all, isn't it every kid's dream? As told to Ed Harding Do you have an experience to share? Email experience@
NHK
13 hours ago
- NHK
Life with the Giant Snake
Discover Sekikawa Village, where the pristine Arakawa River nurtures life. Locals cherish its gifts, while legends tell of giant snakes bringing floods. Explore its rich nature and traditions. Preparations for a local festival Sugai Masaharu fishing for ayu Sugai Toshiko growing shiitake mushrooms
Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Canada is not for sale – and neither are our skies
Ajay Virmani CM is the founder and executive chair of Cargojet. Thursday's recommendations from the Competition Bureau to open Canada's skies to foreign airlines may sound like a pro-consumer move. But beneath the surface, the move risks undermining our aviation industry, threatening Canadian jobs, and handing over control of a vital sector – all without getting a single thing in return. The bureau suggests allowing foreign carriers to fly domestic routes in Canada – a move known as 'cabotage' – and phasing out foreign ownership restrictions entirely. If adopted, these changes would fundamentally alter the aviation landscape in Canada. And not for the better. Watchdog says Ottawa should allow foreign-owned airlines to fly domestic routes to boost competition Let's start with the obvious: There is no reciprocal access. The foreign carriers most likely to cash in on this opportunity will be American ones, because of geography. But the United States, our closest trading partner, does not allow foreign carriers to operate domestic routes. It guards that privilege closely – as does many other major nations. Why, then, should Canada unilaterally open our skies? Competition is healthy – but only when it's fair. We cannot be the only country willing to give away our market while others protect theirs. That's not strategy – that's surrender. Canada is a country of extremes. We are the second-largest nation by landmass, but with a population spread thinly across vast geography. Air travel isn't just a convenience – it's a necessity. But let's be blunt: Canada is not big enough to support even three major airlines as the past two decades have shown. More than 15 carriers – from Jetsgo to Lynx – have gone out of business trying. Foreign airlines, with deep pockets and no long-term obligation to our infrastructure, will swoop in to cherry-pick profitable urban routes – Toronto to Vancouver, Montreal to Calgary – and leave Canadian carriers to subsidize unprofitable regional and remote routes. When the local players fold, who will serve the North? Who will fly to the small towns? Prices will go up, and service will disappear. The impact won't just be felt in boardrooms – it will hit everyday Canadians across the aviation workforce. We're talking about pilots, engineers, mechanics, technology professionals, baggage handlers, call centre teams and support staff. Foreign carriers have no incentive to hire in Canada beyond what's absolutely necessary. Opening the door to foreign dominance means exporting opportunity, experience and expertise – and leaving a skilled Canadian workforce behind. In today's geopolitical climate, the last thing we should do is hand over our aviation sector to foreign ownership. Aviation isn't just another business – it's a strategic asset. In emergencies, natural disasters and national defence, a strong domestic aviation backbone matters. Foreign ownership comes with no such loyalty. If the government truly wants to improve Canadian aviation, it should start with what's in its control: modernize our airports, lower sky-high airport rents and fees, invest in regional infrastructure and overhaul NAV Canada, which operates our civil air navigation system. These structural issues are what make flying in Canada expensive – not a lack of foreign players. Opinion: Stop the charade. Ottawa isn't prepared to do what it takes to improve airline competition Opening the door to foreign carriers without fixing the broken foundation is like inviting guests into a crumbling house and hoping they'll renovate it for you. The promise of cheaper fares is always tempting. But the reality is, foreign carriers will skim the cream off the top – and leave Canadian operators to handle the rest. Once Canadian carriers are weakened or gone, what leverage will we have left? The decisions will be made in boardrooms far away, with no regard for Canadian jobs, service standards, or national resilience. We need smart competition, not blind deregulation. We need policy that supports homegrown carriers and gives them the tools to grow and compete globally. And we need to recognize that our aviation sector isn't just about profits – it's about sovereignty, accessibility and nation-building. Canada is not for sale – and neither are our skies. Let's not let short-term thinking cost us our long-term future.
