​The amount of methane released into the atmosphere after the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines was insignificant

The amount of methane released into the atmosphere after the Nord Stream diversion was insignificant

A group of specialists from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences claims that estimates of the amount of methane released into the atmosphere after the diversion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline were exaggerated.

Chinese scientists say in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences that data provided by high-performance satellites indicating that initial estimates of 0.5 million tons of methane gas were released over 1-2 days are not based on clear scientific evidence, and all will be misinformation. In reality, it would be 0.22 million tons, equivalent to one day’s emissions from the oil industry.

According to Chinese experts, the methane released into the atmosphere would be equivalent to 20.6 million tons of carbon dioxide, a concentration that would increase current levels by only 0.0026 parts per million. In practice, the amount of methane emitted by the Nord Stream gas pipelines cannot affect ecosystems or human society. However, the real danger remains in the oil industry and agriculture, the main sources of pollution today, where the values ​​are incomparably higher.

A new major episode of extinction of life has been discovered

Officially, according to the generally accepted view, there have been five great extinctions in the history of life, the last such episode, the sixth, is what we are experiencing now. However, a new study published in the journal PNAS contradicts established ideas and claims that there was another episode, the first one the researchers conceptualized to have occurred around 560 million years ago.

More precisely, according to experts involved in the project, the mentioned episode is the one that makes the transition from life forms characteristic of the geological period called Ediacaran to the Cambrian, which until recently was considered the key moment for the appearance of multicellular life. However, evidence from recent decades confirms the fact that the Ediacaran fauna, marked by static life forms, was much richer than previously thought.

Later, about 560 million years ago, about 80% of these life forms disappeared, and their place was taken by dynamic ones, much more efficient at harvesting microbial food sources on the ocean floor. The fact that only large species survived from the old Ediacaran fauna could be a sign of their adaptation to low oxygen levels. In fact, according to the researchers, this would be the first major episode of extinction of life, somewhat similar in proportions to what happened 66 million years ago, when the dinosaurs disappeared.

An ancient, completely unknown odeon was discovered in the south of the island of Crete

Located in a bay surrounded by mountains in southwestern Crete, the ancient city of Lissos was difficult to access even for modern archaeologists. It can be reached only by sea or, depending on the circumstances, by difficult mountain roads. This is why Lissos has only been explored sporadically to date.

Initial research more than 50 years ago led to the discovery of a temple dedicated to Asclepion, the god of medicine, Roman baths, a cemetery and several residential buildings. However, new excavations revealed an odeon, the existence of which experts did not even suspect.

The Odeon, according to Greek archaeologists, was built during the Roman occupation, namely in the 4th century AD, and most likely was not only a cultural center, but also a place where the main meetings of the city government were held. However, the existence of the building was short-lived. Archaeological research carried out at the site suggests that the Odeon was badly damaged by a major earthquake that occurred in 365 AD.

The local authorities have already opened the site for visitors, and restoration work on the odeon will begin in the near future.

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