Water may have been brought to Earth by asteroids from the outer edges of the solar system, scientists said after analysing rare samples collected on a six-year Japanese space mission. Hayabusa-2 returned to Earth's orbit two years ago to drop off a capsule containing the sample. In a quest to shed light on the origins of life and the formation of the universe, researchers are scrutinising material brought back to earth in 2020 from the asteroid Ryugu. The 5.4 grams (0.2 ounces) of rocks and dust were gathered by a Japanese space probe, called Hayabusa-2, that landed on the celestial body and fired an "impactor" into its surface. Studies on the material are beginning to be published, and in June, one group of researchers said they had found organic material which showed that some of the building blocks of life on Earth, amino acids, may have been formed in space. In a new paper published in the journal Nature Astronomy, scientists said the Ryugu samples … [Read more...] about Space mission shows Earth’s water may be from asteroids: study
Earth observation
Hanoi’s students to begin new academic year on September 5
The school opening day is set at the appointed time after the Covid-19 pandemic has been controlled. The Hanoi Department of Education and Training has decided that the academic year of 2022-23 will start on September 5 as usual, according to a decision issued by Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Chu Xuan Dung. The decision will be applied to educational facilities from kindergarten to high schools, as well as centers for continuing education. Ceremonies to kick off the school year city-wide are scheduled for September 5, with the first and second semesters planned to be completed before January 16 and May 25, respectively. “The school opening day is set at the appointed time after the Covid-19 pandemic has been controlled. However, educational institutions will have to strictly implement measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 disease in accordance with the protocols as the pandemic threat remains,” Dung said. He noted that inaugural ceremonies held for … [Read more...] about Hanoi’s students to begin new academic year on September 5
Net zero, Russia war driving nascent hydrogen economy
Green hydrogen is in sharp focus as governments seek to slash carbon emissions amid record-high temperatures and to safeguard energy supplies hit by the invasion of Ukraine by oil and gas producer Russia. But the "hydrogen economy" has not fully kicked into gear awaiting significant uptake from high-polluting sectors like steel and aviation. For Kendall, being an early user of green hydrogen means he does not have to queue during his lunchtime trip to what resembles a petrol pump. "There is very little green hydrogen being produced in Britain at the moment," the professor of chemical engineering tells AFP. "It needs now to move forward." In Birmingham, central England, it costs about £50 ($60) to fill Kendall's Toyota Mirai with the green hydrogen that is produced at a plant next to the refuelling station. That is around half the bill for a similar-sized diesel car after the Ukraine war sent fossil fuel prices rocketing. Despite the price benefit, Britain is home to around … [Read more...] about Net zero, Russia war driving nascent hydrogen economy
