S27E133: Earth's Mantle's Dual Blobs, China's Lunar Ambitions, and Crew 8's Return

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 133
*Earth's Mantle: Two Distinct Domains Revealed
Ground-breaking research has unveiled that the Earth's mantle is composed of two distinct and separate types of materials, forming independent African and Pacific domains. This discovery, published in Nature Geoscience, challenges previous assumptions of a chemically uniform mantle. The study highlights how these domains have been shaped by the formation and breakup of supercontinents over the past 700 million years, revealing the Earth has two chemically distinct hemispheres.
*China's Ambitious Lunar Plans
China is accelerating its space ambitions, aiming to send its first taikonauts to the moon by 2030. The China Manned Space Agency plans to use its new Long March 10 rocket to transport taikonauts and a lunar lander to the moon's surface. This mission marks a significant step in China's lunar exploration, with plans to establish a joint base with Russia on the lunar surface by the early 2030s.
*NASA's SpaceX Crew 8 Returns to Earth
After a seven-month mission aboard the International Space Station, NASA's SpaceX Crew 8 has safely returned to Earth. During their mission, the crew conducted over 200 scientific investigations, including studies on space-based manufacturing, gene editing in Space environments, and plant growth in high radiation settings. These experiments aim to advance our understanding of long-duration Space missions and their potential applications.
The Science Robert
Australia's climate continues to change with more extreme heat events and extended fire seasons. The latest State of the Climate Robert highlights ongoing shifts in weather patterns, rising sea levels, and increasing temperatures. Meanwhile, a new study suggests vitamin K2 could help reduce night-time leg cramps, and the Australian Defence Force receives new Black Hawk helicopters amidst regional tensions.
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