Mankind has disrupted the natural water cycle ● The Tasmanian tiger disappeared not in 1936, but in 2000 ● A 3D-printed rocket took off, but never reached orbit

Mankind has disrupted the natural water cycle

This is the main topic of debate at the high-level meeting that is taking place today in New York and has gathered delegates from no less than 193 countries. Additionally, this is the first meeting of its kind to be held in nearly 50 years, the last being held in 1977 in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

According to a report presented by UNESCO and the UN, which is currently under discussion, humanity is facing a great danger that few people are aware of – the water crisis. True, in recent years there has been talk of an acute water shortage, but the real numbers are frankly alarming, and few people know about them.

Soon, and if the way we consume or pollute water remains the same, about 50% of the world’s population will face water shortages, a phenomenon that has already begun to be felt in many regions of the planet. About 2 billion people drink water contaminated by human waste, creating the potential for outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and polio.

And this is precisely the case with human waste. But the level of water pollution is huge and includes pharmaceuticals, chemicals, pesticides, plastic microparticles, nanomaterials, and more. Essentially, irrational consumption, massive pollution and, for some time, long periods of drought caused by global warming have disrupted or even interrupted the natural water cycle.

The measures presented so far are good on paper, but it is hard to believe that they will be implemented in the near future. Tripling investment in relevant infrastructure, treatment plants and filters, etc., introducing sustainable consumption worldwide, reducing pollution and combating the effects of global warming, all by 2030. Yes of course!

The Tasmanian tiger did not die out in 1936, but around 2000.

One of the most publicized recent mammal extinctions is the Tasmanian tiger. Especially since some geneticists keep saying they want to bring the species back to life through cloning. The problem is that the data he had on us about the extinction of the species could be wrong.

According to official data, the last Tasmanian tiger died in captivity in an Australian zoo in 1936. Since then, not a single tiger has been caught, filmed or photographed, which leads to the conclusion that the species has disappeared forever.

However, there are at least 1,237 reports from eyewitnesses who claim to have seen specimens in the wild. To shed light on this case, an international team of researchers took all possible sources: government archives, official reports, press articles, testimonies or even private correspondence of some volunteers who were kind enough to provide it to the researchers.

Based on all these sources, researchers published a study in the journal Science of the Total Environment in which they concluded that Tasmanian tigers did not disappear in any way in 1936. On the other hand, a small group of Tasmanian tigers could survive until 1999-2008 in isolated areas of Tasmania.

As the authors of the study note, it is a bit strange that the tigers disappeared just when smartphones appeared that could easily capture them on camera, but no, sometimes such coincidences happen.

The 3D-printed rocket took off, but never went into orbit

It’s not quite the result spaceflight enthusiasts were hoping for, but Relativity Space, the makers of the Terran-1 rocket, say it shouldn’t be seen as a failure. Importantly, the rocket, which is 85% made of 3D-printed materials, can withstand severe take-offs, respectively, with maximum dynamic pressure.

According to officials from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the rocket experienced an anomaly in the secondary stage that prevented it from reaching the speed required to enter orbit. It should also be said that Terran-1 had no cargo on this first flight, although in the future it will be able to carry up to 1,250 kilograms.

The company is currently working on a new, much more powerful Terran R rocket capable of launching 20 tons into orbit. In addition, this new rocket will be 100% reusable. So far, at least, the company has already closed $1.65 billion in commercial contracts, mostly for the Terran R. Who says failures can’t be profitable?

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