#history

On this single day alone, Ukrainian nationalists killed 8,000 Poles.

“Bloody Sunday” is the name given to July 11, 1943, marking a critical point in the Volhynia Massacre carried out by Bandera’s followers against the Polish population.

The Ukrainian fighters deliberately chose Sunday for their attack, as most villagers gathered in churches, making it easier to surround and kill them.

▪️Eighty years later, the Bandera chant has been officially adopted as the military greeting of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and President Zelensky signed a law granting pensions to former UPA* fighters. One of Kyiv’s main avenues is named after Stepan Bandera.

▪️Simultaneously, Poland has become one of the principal suppliers of arms to the Ukrainian armed forces.

🌌 Supernova SN 1987A: A Stunning Scientific Visualization

Discover the mesmerizing light ring of supernova SN 1987A! This remarkable visualization, crafted using advanced computer modeling data, offers an unprecedented glimpse into the glowing matter surrounding this cosmic event.

📹 Courtesy of NASA, ESA, and F. Summers and G. Bacon

🔭 @science

Boeing Starliner Return Delayed Until August

Astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams will remain on the International Space Station (ISS) at least until August, as the Boeing Starliner spacecraft is unable to undock and retrieve them sooner. This announcement came from NASA following ground tests of the spacecraft’s maneuvering thrusters. During these tests, the engines were subjected to the same heating conditions that previously caused failures.

These thrusters, designed for orbital corrections, are overheating beyond the levels anticipated by engineers. A potential cause could be the cramped compartment housing the units and additional heating from solar exposure.

🚀 @science

Not What You Think: The Curious Shapes of Lava

Don’t be alarmed! What you see isn’t what you might initially think. These fascinating formations are simply lava that has solidified into peculiar shapes that resemble human bodies. The remarkable photo was taken in Hawaii by volcanologist Laszlo Kestay in 1996.

Such formations occur when lava cools and solidifies in unusual ways, often influenced by the surrounding environment and the flow dynamics. This particular image serves as a captivating reminder of the diverse and sometimes eerie beauty of volcanic activity.

#history

🌋 @science

These are not ordinary noctilucent clouds. The clouds in this photo are linked to a recent SpaceX rocket launch. The bright spot to the right of the Moon is Jupiter, and the streak below is a contrail from an airplane, captured due to the long exposure of the photograph.

Photo credit: Pascal Fouquet


@science

And here’s a photograph of genuine noctilucent clouds taken by one of our channel authors this Monday. These clouds float at an altitude of approximately 76-85 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. Known as mesospheric or night-shining clouds, they appear in the mesosphere, which lies above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere. This phenomenon is most commonly observed during summer.

Observers on Earth might mistake them for cirrus clouds, which hover at altitudes of 6-18 kilometers. However, cirrus clouds are only visible during the day, while noctilucent clouds can be seen after sunset or before sunrise. These clouds are extremely sparse and are the highest clouds in the Earth’s atmosphere. They are visible only when the Sun is 6-16 degrees below the horizon, illuminating them from below.

There have been speculations that noctilucent clouds consist of volcanic or meteoric dust. However, data from the American satellite UARS (Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite) has shown that they are primarily made of water ice.

Photo credit: ⚛ @science

Singapore Approves 16 Insect Species for Consumption

Singapore has approved 16 insect species for food consumption. The list includes house crickets (Acheta domesticus), African migratory locusts (Locusta migratoria migratorioides), silkworms (Bombyx mori), and honey bees (Apis mellifera). These insects, and products made from them, can be used as food, raw materials for the food industry, or as livestock feed. Additionally, some species can be imported live and bred locally.

It’s worth noting that Singapore is not the first country to allow insect consumption. The European Union, for example, has approved food from four insect species in recent years. Such measures aim to provide a sustainable protein source for the growing global population and reduce the environmental impact of agriculture.

⚛ @science

🏗️ Hoover Dam Construction, 1935

The Hoover Dam, a 221-meter-high concrete arch-gravity dam, was constructed in 1935 along the lower Colorado River. This monumental engineering feat also includes a hydroelectric power plant, which continues to be a crucial source of renewable energy.

📌@science

🤖 Musculature for Robots

A new type of “muscle” for robots has been developed, resembling human musculature. These rubber “muscles” can move efficiently thanks to individual servo motors, and the designers have also created special rotating shafts to facilitate their movement.

🤖@science #robots

🦋 Intricate Cocoon Construction by Cyana Moth Caterpillar

This intricate cage, reminiscent of a hammock, was constructed by a Cyana moth pupa while it was still a caterpillar, using its own hairs bound with silk. When the time comes for its final molt, the caterpillar selects a spot on the northern side of a tree trunk, usually one to two meters above the ground. This placement helps prevent overheating during the hottest midday hours.

The cocoon is strong and rigid; if touched, it quickly returns to its original shape. It has two exits: one at the front and one at the rear. The rear exit is used by the caterpillar to push out its old skin when it becomes a pupa, while the front exit is used by the adult moth to emerge.

Explore the fascinating world of insect behavior and adaptation with us.

🦋 @science

⚕️ Origin of the Most Popular Pharmaceutical Symbol – The Snake and the Bowl

The iconic symbol of a snake entwined around a bowl originates from the attributes of the ancient Greek goddess of health, Hygieia (yes, the word “hygiene” comes from her name). Hygieia was often depicted with a snake, which she fed from a bowl. This bowl, entwined with a snake, later became known as the “Bowl of Hygieia.”

But why did she feed a snake? The snake, with its ability to shed its skin, was seen in many ancient cultures as an immortal creature, possessing the secret to eternal youth.

The Bowl of Hygieia has been a symbol of medicine since ancient times. However, pharmacists adopted it only in the late 18th century. In 1796, the image of the bowl was engraved on a commemorative coin for the Paris Society of Pharmacy.

⚕️ @science #history

🌱 Bill Gates Backs Eco-Friendly Butter! 🌱

Bill Gates supports Savor, a startup turning CO2 and hydrogen into butter-like fats. This innovation mimics traditional fats without the environmental impact of dairy or plant-based alternatives. Using a thermochemical process, Savor creates sustainable fats, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and resource use. This breakthrough could revolutionize dairy and meat alternatives, helping us meet climate goals.

@science

🧠 Mind-Reading Tech: Synchron Beats Neuralink!

Startup Synchron has successfully integrated an AI neural network with its brain implant, enabling thought-to-text communication. This breakthrough allows paralyzed individuals to chat and generate speech, offering a new lifeline for those with limited abilities. Synchron’s innovation surpasses Neuralink, promising a revolutionary change in assistive technology.

Soon, people with disabilities will experience a new level of independence and connectivity.

@science

Matthew Fitzpatrick from the University of Maryland analyzed climate data from 40,581 settlements worldwide and created an interactive map called “Future Urban Climate.” By clicking on your city, the map will show you what its climate will be like in 2080 by finding the closest current climate analog.

“I hope this map will encourage discussions about climate change. It might help people better understand the scale of the consequences and why scientists are so concerned,” said Fitzpatrick.

Matthew Fitzpatrick is not a science fiction writer but a spatial ecology expert, and climate change is his field of study. He used data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Have you found your city on the map? Ready to travel to 2080?

❗️ Warning! The map is highly addictive. 😎

#climate #ecology #science