Tag Archives: Future

New Zealand

New Zealand’s mysterious ‘silent earthquake’ could help predict future tsunamis | Instant News


New Zealand

4 minutes to read

What is slow slip? Video / GNS Science

An earthquake that occurs slowly and quietly deep beneath the North Island can be the key to predicting future earthquakes and tsunamis generated by our biggest fault.

A million dollar, three-year project will increase scientists’ understanding of
Earthquakes “slow” along the Hikurangi Subduction Zone.

Scientists believe the subduction zone, which runs along the east coast of the North Island, could produce “megathrust” earthquakes larger than the scale of 8, such as the one that created the tsunamis that devastated Indonesia in 2004 and Japan in 2011.

The worst case scenario of a major Hikurangi event could include thousands of deaths and injuries, and billions of dollars worth of property losses.

But slow-slip earthquakes – where plate boundary faults release slowly buried tension over days to months instead of seconds in a typical earthquake – can help us better gauge threats.

Their discovery 20 years ago has revolutionized seismology and our understanding of fault mechanics.

Even though it happens off the east coast every few years, no one feels it when it happens – and the driving force remains unclear.

The new project, led by GNS Science, is designed to detect subtle physical changes in a fault before a slow-slip earthquake occurs, to uncover the mechanisms that regulate its timing.

“It will clarify if there is an observable physical change in the fault that could allow the development of a more accurate estimate of when the fault might fail, either in a slow earthquake or, possibly, a fast earthquake,” said project leader Dr Laura Wallace.

Tantalizing evidence has emerged in recent years that increased water pressure near the fault exerts great control over New Zealand’s slow-slip earthquakes.

GNS seismologist Dr Emily Warren-Smith said if this build-up affects slip times, then monitoring water accumulation in the fault could allow better forecasts for slow and possibly fast earthquakes in the future.

But it is possible that the change in fluid pressure within the fault may be a symptom of a slow earthquake rather than a direct cause, said Wallace.

Alternatively, there may be other processes such as a steady increase in stress from tectonic plate motion that controls the tempo of a slow slip earthquake.

The project aims to resolve this dichotomy by installing large-scale submarine and land monitoring instruments in the southern Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa.

It will monitor changes before, during and after the regularly expected recurring slow slip events offshore in this region in the next two years.

This picture illustrates where "slow slip" previous earthquakes occurred under the North Island. Image Science / GNS
This image depicts where a previous “slow slip” earthquake occurred beneath the North Island. Image Science / GNS

Wallace said the project would establish new ground in seabed geodesy and help put New Zealand at the forefront of global efforts to monitor offshore faults that can produce large earthquakes and tsunamis.

The team departed this weekend aboard the Niwa research vessel Tangaroa to carry out the first set of seabed sensor deployments.

“This project will generate new evidence-based information that will aid significantly in planning and preparedness and make New Zealand safer and more capable of recovering from a major earthquake.”

A separate voyage to the Hikurangi subduction zone – where the Pacific Plate is plunging downward, or “plunging” below the North Island’s east coast – has just finished.

US scientists recently dropped their own specialized equipment onto the ocean floor to visualize subsurface structures, and investigated how fluid is distributed within the sediments.

The Hikurangi subduction zone is where the Pacific tectonic plate sinks into - or dives beneath - the Australian tectonic plate. Image Science / GNS
The Hikurangi subduction zone is where the Pacific tectonic plate sinks into – or dives beneath – the Australian tectonic plate. Image Science / GNS

Program leader Dr Jess Hillman, from GNS Science, said this will allow scientists to better understand how fluid movement is related to activity in our largest offshore faults and the generation of gases beneath the ocean floor.

Shipping specialist Dr Peter Kannberg, from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the US, said earthquakes, the stability of the seabed slopes and the release of seabed gases were all regulated in part by the presence of fluids.

“Our instrumentation can detect where this fluid is on Earth, enabling us to better understand the role of fluids in regulating these natural hazards.”

The new three-year project is supported by a $ 960,000 grant from the Marsden Fund.

Premium Subscription

.



image source

Australia

The next generation brings Australia’s ancient language into the future | Instant News


Before colonization, more than 250 First Nation languages ​​were spoken in Australia. Today, more than 100 are still in use and 90 percent are considered “endangered”.

That is a problem for many indigenous Australians, such as Elder Taribelang Melinda Holden.

“Without your language, you are nothing,” says Ms Holden.

“Your language describes your country and your culture. That’s why it’s so important to us.”

Ms Holden is one of a dozen committee members working for First Languages ​​Australia, a national organization working to reclaim and revive Indigenous languages ​​across the country.

“We have to protect our language … for a long time we were not allowed to speak our language, and that’s how we are in the trouble we have now,” he said.

Elder Taribelang Melinda Holden is working to revive Indigenous languages ​​across the country.(ABC Wide Bay: Johanna Marie)

Researchers from the University of Melbourne are also trying to address this problem, starting the 50 Words Project, which aims to record 50 colloquial words in each Indigenous language.

The project has been running for a year and currently has around 65 First Nations languages ​​recorded.

Researcher Rachel Nordlinger says the project is breathing new life into ancient languages, many of which have been dormant for decades.

“Indigenous languages ​​are a very important part of Australia’s heritage … they have been the language of this continent for over 65,000 years,” said Professor Nordlinger.

The online audio library is linked to an interactive map showing the country of origin of each language.

Professor Rachel Nordlinger
Professor Rachel Nordlinger from the University of Melbourne.(Provided: University of Melbourne)

Researchers hope that the language library will be used as an educational resource, and that more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages ​​can be included in the school curriculum.

“Obviously 50 words alone won’t defend language,” says Nordlinger.

“It’s only a small fragment of a language, but all of Australia should be very proud and fascinated by these languages.”

Language is the first step

At Adelaide’s prestigious Prince Alfred College boys’ school, getting to know Indigenous culture has become a journey.

With only a dozen Indigenous students enrolled in the school, Principal Bradley Fenner said they had to leave.

“We are seeing more and more people coming to us, because they know we respect and celebrate Aboriginal culture.”

He said understanding language was an important part of that journey.

“Language is the vehicle through which culture is transmitted from generation to generation … it is very important to understand it,” he said.

The school invites Kaurna linguist Jack Buckskin to teach students the traditional landowning language.

He then recorded submissions for the 50 Words Project on behalf of the Kaurna people.

Aboriginal Student Advisor Monica Magann said the school strives to be proactive in recognizing, promoting and respecting Indigenous culture.

“We don’t always get it right, and we have a long way to go, but I think we’ve made some very meaningful and significant groundwork,” he said.

The next generation took over

Nathaniel Keeler and Melique Andrews are two of the school’s Indigenous students on the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) team.

Nathaniel Keeler and Melique Andrews sat on the sofa
Indigenous students Nathaniel Keeler and Melique Andrews.(ABC News)

They said the RAP team gave them the opportunity to share the culture with the wider school community.

“We had a meeting and talked about Aboriginal culture,” said Melique.

“I like it because it shows my culture and my family.”

The boys said their more cultural introduction to school was well received by their peers.

“It’s great because all the boys are in it and you can laugh, but you know, you get into business too,” said Nathaniel.

“Then you can really make a difference.”

.



image source

Australia

Flinders University researchers developed a ‘space power’ framework for ranking countries | Instant News


With Australia investing billions of dollars in the burgeoning space industry, Adelaide-based researchers are developing ways to determine exactly where we are placed in the international space race.

Knowing how Australia’s position will help governments and space industry leaders to develop strategies as the local space sector grows.

That Australian Space Agency officially opened a new headquarters in Adelaide in February, with the Federal Government predicting activity at the site will help double the size of the country’s space industry.

Flinders University Fellow Professor Rodrigo Praino is leading a team developing a framework for measuring the nation’s “space power”.

Dr Praino said “space power” is a way of indexing where a space rover sits in relation to other nations by analyzing each nation’s power distribution, technical capacity and degree of autonomy (its ability to operate in space without assistance).

“We know for sure the United States is the most powerful space superpower, the Soviet Union is very strong historically and Russia still has a lot of extraterrestrial capabilities,” he said.

Associate Professor Rodrigo Praino is developing a way to measure Australia’s space power.(Provided: Flinders University)

Dr Praino said Australia was classified as a “middle power country”, but it was important to understand accurately how we compared to strategically improve Australia’s relative status.

How do you measure space strength?

Dr Praino said to measure “space power” he would look at: the capacity and capability of a country in sending objects or individuals into space; the number of launches the country has made; and the amount of equipment it has.

“The other side that we are trying to look at in more detail is what we call autonomy,” he said.

Dr Praino said Australia relies on other countries in many ways, and the issue of determining our autonomy is complex.

He said that it is beneficial for a country to own and control its own space infrastructure rather than depending on other countries.

“Think about the number of activities that require some kind of space infrastructure to operate – from telecommunications to global positioning,” he said.

“In Australia we do a lot of tracking wildfires using space technology and these things have a daily operation type.

“Any kind of disruption to Australia’s space infrastructure can be detrimental. This can range from minor inconveniences in our daily operations, to threats to national security.”

Defense interests

The Australian Defense Force also has a special interest in the project, with the Department of Defense contributing $ 127,000 to the research project and investing $ 7 billion over the next decade in Defence’s space capabilities.

Hurricane Harvey pictured off the coast of Texas, USA from aboard the International Space Station
Australia uses space technology to track the weather.(Reuters: NASA)

Defense Secretary Linda Reynolds said the $ 7 billion investment would go towards satellite networks for independent and sovereign-controlled communications, sovereign space-based imagery to build Australia’s own geospatial information, intelligence capabilities and diverse space domain awareness capabilities.

“This government also plans to include developing options to enhance Defence’s capabilities to counter emerging space threats to Australia’s free use of the space domain, and ensure our continued access to space,” said Senator Reynolds.

Dr Praino said Australia was heavily involved with the space industry a few years ago before the break.

“Now the federal and state governments have seen the value of space technology and we have started a process of getting back involved,” he said.

The area is an asset

Rockets fly over farmland
The first commercial space rocket takes off from Koonibba in the interior of South Australia.(Provided: DEWC / Sean Jorgensen-Day)

With the recent development of the space industry in remote outback settings, such as the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia, and future plans to launch satellites from the Whalers Way on the Eyre Peninsula, Dr Praino said the area would be an asset to Australia’s space status.

Dr Praino said the rural project generated an important source of income in relation to launch activities and research projects.

“This is an opportunity to bring some activities to the region, and create many… opportunities that I hope will benefit the people who already live in the area,” he said.

.



image source

Fashion

Lisbon Holds Fashion Conference To Discuss How To Build A Greener Future | Instant News


After receiving European Green Capital 2020 title, Lisbon will host the first of many tomorrow’s events in its continued role as a facilitator of a more sustainable future for the fashion industry. Event, Sustainable Fashion Business, is a one-day conference that takes place at Lisbon Academy of Sciences, featuring an array of speakers from around the world, discussing topics and discussing how the industry can move forward in a positive manner.

Being the first Southern European capital to accept this distinction, it recognizes the developments that have taken place within the city over the past decade. Friday’s event will be hosted by Lisbon Environment Council Member José Sà Fernandes, who will present to both physical and digital audiences the benefits of manufacturing in Portugal and how the country is taking greater responsibility for its manufacturing capacity. With climate crises occurring more and more every day, it is imperative that we work across borders, industries and sectors to tackle this struggle together. By openly tackling global markets, the Portuguese capital wants to bring together leaders and visionaries in creating the circular and sustainable future we so desperately need.

The event will focus on various sectors in the industry such as clothing, jewelry, footwear and accessories, drawing on the heritage of craftsmanship and artisanal talent that form the cornerstone of the country’s infrastructure. The Transitional Minister for Environment and Energy, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, will also take part to highlight the business opportunities that lie ahead in the transition to a greener and more responsible industry.

The schedule, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CET, consists of panel discussions, conversations, interviews and talks from various industry players. It will address topics such as education, and its role in sustainability, as well as green financing schemes, textile waste and the importance of technology. Emerging into the post-pandemic world, this topic has never been more prevalent. Organizations like Ellen MacArthur Foundation, PANGAIA and Farfetch were just a few of the few who spoke at the event with input from such designers Priya Ahluwalia, Mats Rombaut and Alan Crocetti. In addition to the scheduled talks, there will be opportunities for visitors to network with investors and industry leaders throughout the day. An exhibition space has also been installed to showcase recent Portuguese initiatives and help visitors to better understand the scope of possibilities available through collaboration and partnerships.

Seeing the country’s textile heritage, the Portuguese State Secretary for the Environment, Inês Costa, remains hopeful about the future. “Disruption must be the basis for the evolution of this industry,” he said. “To innovate and invest in sustainable raw materials and production processes, low-carbon logistics and circular business models are key. Businesses that value quality and longevity, over quantity and brevity, alongside the value of repair and reuse, represent the future. “With the government now working more closely with the industry itself, this presents a sense of optimism and hope in instilling and acting in a change mindset.

Although Portugal may be a small country, its readiness to adapt has solidified its offering as a manufacturing hub. When the textile industry experienced a crisis in 2003, with the relocation of production to other regions such as Asia, forcing business owners and entrepreneurs to look for alternatives. Today, with most of the production plants located in the North, the country’s industry is distinguished by special offerings and high quality, mastering complex design work with technological innovations and, most importantly, advanced solutions in the field of sustainability. “The fashion industry is one of the most polluting in the world and there is an urgent need to find new solutions that meet the needs of responsible consumption,” commented José Sá Fernandes, Environmental, Climate, Energy and Green Structure Advisor in the City of Lisbon, as he discussed the importance of upcoming conference. “While we may undertake a reduction in quantity to ensure better quality and durability of materials, talking about it is everyone’s job. I believe that those who will attend this conference will also begin to believe and have hope for a better future. “

With tomorrow’s conference only one way to draw attention to the actions that need to be taken in realigning the industry, the city is set to organize ongoing events to keep issues at the forefront of everyone’s mind. “Events like Sustainable Fashion Business are very important to raise public awareness about the changes that are being made,” Costa continued. “Good practices, brands and institutions that invest to be part of a circular economy, and that place sustainability at the heart of their business, are what we need to address.”

Laura Balmond, a research analyst at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and Program Manager of the Make Fashion Circular Initiative, was excited to be a part of the discussion. “Sharing knowledge will be key to finding innovative solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing fashion,” he said while explaining the critical need for such events. “The crisis cannot be solved with just one organization. By bringing together people from across the fashion industry to tackle this problem, the level of collective ambition can be increased. We are all responsible for creating a better fashion industry and hold each other accountable for making it happen. “

This event is a call to action, uniting the industry to rewrite the road that lies ahead. If each participant can leave even with 1-2 changes to make in their business, the long term impact of this event will be very important in the years to come. Now is the time to share ideas, resources and expertise to ensure that as an industry, spread around the world, we can become a positive force for good both socially and environmentally. And, as Balmond concludes, “While the challenges can be daunting, it’s important for fashion brands to get started and explore the possibilities rather than waiting until all the answers are available. Businesses need to work together to allow clothing to keep circulating, policymakers need to create the enabling conditions for these materials to emerge, investors need to support the scaling of new innovations, and academics need to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. “Everyone has a role to play and going forward we must take responsibility to ensure that, through individual circles of influence, we can be a part of this collective change.

RSVP for event and access the full program here.

.



image source

Technology

The dismissed Americans are caught in a harsh reality: millions of jobs will never come back | Instant News


But the cash ran out after 8 weeks, and she was fired again. Her company informed her that they planned to bring her back in early September, but in the past 2 weeks, she learned that her mission was chosen as outstanding.

She said: “I definitely think I will resume work on September 1.” For Lorincz, like millions of others, short-term layoffs are ultimately long-term. She has no confidence in discovering anything new anytime, anywhere.

She said: “It was a devastating experience.”

The good news for the labor market is millions of employees Laid-off has resumed work In the past 5 months, considering Peak unemployment Happened in April
However, as the case of Lorincz reveals, not all short-term layoffs can rely onCall back to work Therefore, the total job opportunities brought by the removal of employees due to short-term layoffs obscured more and more Permanent unemployment, Causing lasting damage to the task market.

Permanent mission losses are increasing rapidly and will continue to climb

The number of unemployed who actually lost long-term tasks or completed short-term tasks has actually soared in the past 7 months, from 1.9 million in February to 4.5 million in September.

This means that in the past six months, the increase in this proportion is actually the fastest in more than 50 years on record.Never before has the losses of these long-term missions doubled in such a short period of time, even during the entire Great Recession.

And long-term mission losses are bound to continue to rise.

American (AAL) with United Airlines (UAL)32,000 layoffs Only on Thursday. Disney (DIS) Actually reveals the strategy of complete reduction 28,000 workers o Prior to this, he had actually taken a vacation in its American amusement park. JCPenney (JCP) Ready to cut 15,000 jobs The company closed 149 stores before the holiday shopping season as part of its strategy to escape bankruptcy. Last Sunday, Cineworld, owner of Regal Cinemas, said that more than 500 US theaters may need to be permanently closed.

None of these long-term mission losses are shown in the latest figures from the Department of Labor.

Lorincz said that she was actually unemployed in the past when a start-up company she worked for left the company. But she never feared the ability to discover new things.

She said, “I’m looking for odd jobs here and there. I’m rushing through the door and doing my best to pay for it.” “I don’t know what I will do if I want to support my family. During the pandemic, I have no insurance. too frightening.”

In fact, in the past 7 months, the number of people unemployed due to short-term jobs has actually increased rapidly, increasing by nearly 100,000. Many of these employees are accustomed to moving from one task to another, but now they are not able to discover the typical next task.

Considering finishing university studies, Justin Doan, 29, actually worked as a travel supervisor, production supervisor and audio engineer in the live music market. He made a lot of money in tasks that he dreamed of constantly. But considering the trip on March 13, he did not have an operation at all.

“Everything stopped. At the time we didn’t realize it would be closed for so long,” he said. “The thought was that we would reschedule in May. This never happened.”

Focus on changing careers

Doan has actually been trying to save money and said that now he emphasizes that live music will not resume until the second half of next year. This may indicate that he needs to change his career. But he said this is a truly challenging time to think about such a major shift.

He said: “There are millions of unemployed people out there.” “Many people may have more written experience than me.”

Most people who are now completely unemployed have actually lost their long-term jobs, which are the majority of their occupations.

Juan Jose Martinez Camacho, 59 years old, has actually been a chef for thirty years, considering that one day he worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant When asked to fill in.

In March 22 years later, Juan Jose Martinez Camacho lost his job as a hotel chef.

He has actually been a chef at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Redondo Beach, California for 22 years. When he was fired on March 23, he thought it was only 2 or 3 months before things returned to normal. But late last month, he was told that he had actually completely lost his job, paying $22 per hour. In fact, he has been looking for other cooking jobs with bad luck.

Mexican immigrant Martinez-Camacho (Martinez-Camacho) said: “Thinking that if the situation does not get better, I may have to do other types of work, which makes me feel pain.” “This is what I like to do.”

Luggage and backpack designer Ann asked to use a pseudonym due to the terms of the severance contract, and was also annoyed by her inability to discover new tasks in her field. Travel demand has actually fallen, which means that the luggage of several people is required. As millions of trainees gradually learn about remote information, the demand for backpacks has become scarce.

She lost her mission at a Zoom meeting in August.

Nearly 4 million jobs in the U.S. disappear forever

Ann said that during the entire Depression, she also lost a mission, but this time she was more worried.

She said: “To be honest, I don’t know what to do.” “It’s much scarier. You can’t even meet people face to face when it comes to finding a job. It’s too scary.”

Ann said that because she was 53 years and 11 years older than the last time she was unemployed, she was also worried about losing her job this time.

She said: “This is just a competitive landscape.” While her partner is still working, “This is no longer a single-income economy. You must have two incomes.”

-CNN’s Tami Luhby was added to this story.

.



image source