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NASA probe makes closest ever pass by the Sun

NASA's pioneering Parker Solar Probe made history Tuesday, flying closer to the Sun than any other spacecraft with its heat shield exposed to scorching temperatures of more than 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit (930 degrees Celsius).

Saving the mysterious African manatee at Cameroon hotspot

Ever since his first hard-won sightings of African manatees, award-winning marine biologist Aristide Takoukam Kamla has been devoted to protecting the little known and atrisk aquatic mammals.

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Climate change threatens Hadrian's Wall treasures in England

Nineteen hundred years after it was built to keep out barbarian hordes, archaeologists at Hadrian's Wall in northern England are facing a new enemy -- climate change, which threatens its vast treasure trove of Roman artefacts.

Soviet-era outpost helps Russia retain a foot in Norwegian Arctic

With its bust of Lenin, cultural centre and KGB offices, the abandoned Soviet outpost of Pyramiden may seem like a time-warped Arctic oddity but is valued by Moscow as it vies for clout in the warming region.

Israeli desert town aims to be medical 'cannabis capital'

In Israel's Negev desert, far from the skyscrapers of Tel Aviv, the town of Yeruham hopes to cultivate an international reputation as the country's medical cannabis technology powerhouse.

Plan to dismantle iconic bridge splits opinion in Rotterdam

An iconic steel bridge blocking passage to the sea for a superyacht built for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is splitting sentiments along Rotterdam's windy quays, with opinions swinging between pride and dismay.

New 'highly virulent' HIV strain discovered in the Netherlands

Oxford researchers announced Thursday the discovery of a highly virulent strain of HIV that has been lurking in the Netherlands for decades, but because of the effectiveness of modern treatments, is "no cause for alarm."

'Moonfall' and the art of the disaster film cliche

Director Roland Emmerich knows a thing or two about the ingredients needed for a good disaster flick, having given the world "Independence Day", "2012" and "The Day After Tomorrow".

Mexican kayaker on mission to clean up floating gardens

As dawn breaks over Mexico City's floating gardens, Omar Menchaca paddles his kayak through a maze of canals collecting garbage left by visitors to one of the last vestiges of the ancient Aztec capital.

Wreck of British explorer James Cook's Endeavour found: researchers

The wreck of Captain James Cook's famed vessel the Endeavour has been found off the coast of the US state of Rhode Island, Australian researchers said Thursday.

For the 280th time, senator urges US to 'wake up' on climate

US senator Sheldon Whitehouse dusted off his dog-eared "Time to Wake Up" poster Wednesday to deliver his 280th climate speech in the upper chamber -- ending a year-long break from delivering weekly addresses urging lawmakers to mobilize on global warming.

Rotterdam to dismantle historic bridge for Bezos superyacht

The Dutch port city of Rotterdam said Wednesday it would temporarily dismantle an historic bridge to allow a superyacht built for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to pass.

24 dead, dozens injured as flooding hits Ecuador capital

The heaviest flooding to hit Ecuador in two decades has killed at least 24 people in Quito, inundating homes, swamping cars and sweeping away athletes and spectators on a sports field, officials said Tuesday.

Corals doomed even if global climate goals met: study

Coral reefs that anchor a quarter of marine wildlife and the livelihoods of more than half-a-billion people will most likely be wiped out even if global warming is capped within Paris climate goals, researchers said Tuesday.

Greenland ice cap loses enough water in 20 years to cover US: study

Greenland's immense ice sheet has lost enough ice in the past 20 years to submerge the entire United States in half a metre of water, according to data released this week by Danish researchers.

In space race, Europe faces choice: passenger or pilot

As the race to send people to the Moon and beyond heats up, Europe faces calls to make a choice: Keep paying for seats on spacecraft or finally fly its own manned vehicle.

Swedish film festival puts audiences under hypnosis

To add another dimension to the cinematic experience, Scandinavia's largest film festival introduced 20 minutes of hypnosis ahead of the featured movies.

Bosnian embraces 'Viking' lifestyle after binge-watching TV series

With his thick grey beard, plaited hair and an arsenal of medieval weapons, Bosnia's "first Viking" relaxes by hurling axes in the attic of his stone cottage.

Gay dating app Grindr disappears from China app stores

Gay dating app Grindr has disappeared from multiple app stores in China as authorities tighten control of the country's already heavily policed internet and purge online behaviour the ruling Communist Party dislikes.

N.Ireland marks 50 years since 'Bloody Sunday'

Relatives of 13 civil rights protesters shot dead in Northern Ireland by British soldiers 50 years ago demanded justice on Sunday, as they commemorated one of the darkest days in modern UK history.

New Delhi's homeless shiver through harsh cold snap

India's capital New Delhi is shivering through an unusually harsh bout of harsh winter cold, blamed for killing scores of homeless people and leaving other hard-up residents struggling to keep warm.

Top SoftBank exec quits after reported clash over compensation

Japanese investment giant SoftBank Group said Friday its chief operating officer Marcelo Claure is leaving the company, following reports that his demands for as much as $1 billion in compensation had fuelled an internal clash.

NASA aims to make observations from space junk collision with Moon

NASA said Thursday it aims to survey the crater formed when the remains of a SpaceX rocket are expected to crash into the Moon in early March, calling the event "an exciting research opportunity."

Object found in the Milky Way 'unlike anything astronomers have seen'

Australian researchers have discovered a strange spinning object in the Milky Way they say is unlike anything astronomers have ever seen.

Israeli film revisits alleged 1948 massacre of Palestinians

Israeli director Alon Schwarz concedes he might face a backlash over his documentary on an alleged 1948 massacre of Palestinians, but says the Jewish state's citizens need "to understand our history".

Oil spill tars Peruvian seaside towns, leaves fishermen jobless

Thousands of barrels of crude oil that were spilled off Peru's central coast have taken a grim toll: dead birds adrift in the sea and irate fishermen stuck on the docks.

Cold War flashbacks in Russia-US talks in Geneva

Geneva, the neutral turf that was once host to so much Cold War bargaining, is again welcoming Russian and US officials to discuss missiles, nuclear arms and spheres of influence on the eve of a possible conflagration.

Oil cleanup crews replace bathers on Peru beaches

At Miramar Beach in Peru's popular resort of Ancon, there are no bathers despite the summer heat. Instead, it teems with workers in coveralls cleaning up an oil spill.

The Caravaggio, the American princess and a bitter family dispute

Princess Rita Jenrette Boncompagni Ludovisi has the rarest of guilty pleasures: gazing up at the world's only Caravaggio mural, as she practises yoga in her Roman villa.

Crashed World War II aircraft found in India after 77 years

A missing World War II plane has been identified in India's remote Himalayas nearly 80 years after it crashed with no survivors, following a treacherous search that led to the deaths of three guides.

The dribble test: How toddlers spot close social ties

The thought of sharing an ice cream cone with a stranger can trigger feelings of disgust -- however that's often not the case with someone close to us, such as a romantic partner or child.

Monster iceberg released 'billions of tonnes' of fresh water into ocean

A giant iceberg that detached from Antarctica in 2017 released the equivalent of 61 million Olympic-sized swimming pools of fresh water as it melted, according to research published Thursday, raising questions over the impact on the marine ecosystem.

Polish researchers invent anti-smog sound cannon

In a battle against Poland's constant smog, scientists are testing out a new "cannon" that uses soundwaves to push toxic particles higher into the atmosphere to allow residents to breathe.

Beatles producer signed Fab Four because they were 'good people'

The Beatles producer George Martin signed the legendary rock band in its early days more for its four members' endearing personalities than for their music, he once revealed in a video posted on Twitter Wednesday by his son.

In UK 'rhubarb triangle', spring arrives in January

Robert Tomlinson picks rhubarb stalks by candlelight in the dark, carrying on a century-old family tradition that survives today despite the challenges posed to his business by Brexit and climate change.

Peru beaches suffer oil spill blamed on waves from Tonga volcanic eruption

Peruvian authorities sealed off three beaches Monday after they were hit by an oil spill blamed on freak waves caused by the volcanic eruption in Tonga.

Shock waves, landslides may have caused 'rare' volcano tsunami: experts

A rare volcano-triggered tsunami sparked by the eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai in Tonga could have been caused by shock waves or shifting underwater land, experts said Monday.

Ozone pollution costs Asia billions in lost crops: study

Persistently high levels of ozone pollution in Asia are costing China, Japan and South Korea an estimated $63 billion annually in lost rice, wheat and maize crops, a new study says.

Bombay Durpun - Technology (English)