An international team of astronomers has announced the discovery of 11 distant planets, bringing the number of known planets outside our solar system to 63.
One of the planets is in an Earth-like orbit around a sun-like star. It is located in what is known as the ?habitable zone,? where conditions would be ideal for the presence of liquid water, a necessary ingredient for life as we know it.
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It sounds like a scene from ?Raiders of the Lost Ark,? but it?s true: some of Egypt?s ancient monuments contain high levels of the lethal gas radon. Radon is produced by the decay of uranium, which is contained in the building blocks that were used to build some of the pyramids and other monuments. High levels of radon increase the risk of lung cancer.
Guides currently work inside these monuments for 4 hours a day. If their working hours were doubled, their radon exposure would exceed the international safety limit. Visitors are not at risk, since their exposure time is so limited.
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The most comprehensive scientific investigation into the existence of ghosts ever attempted is taking place in Edinburgh, Scotland. Over the next two weeks, 10 researchers, aided by more than 200 members of the public, will try to record the presence of various types of spirit beings.
They will be using sophisticated equipment to investigate areas such as the dungeons of Edinburgh Castle and the vaults underneath South Bridge. Edinburg was chosen because of its high concentration of paranormal sightings.
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A powerful X-class solar flare erupte at 1:25 AM EDT Tuesday, causing radio blackouts across the eastern hemisphere of earth and triggering a minor radiation storm. The flare hurled a coronal mass ejection directly toward earth. This CME joins another, smaller one already heading for our planet. The CMEs will reach earth on Wedneday or Thursday.
There is an estimated 25% chance of severe geomagnetic activity, which will mean disrupted communications, possible damage to satellites, and auroras across most of the northern teir of the United States.
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