NASA spacecraft Cassini’s images provide clues for life on a Saturn moon.
Enceladus seen next to a part of Saturn’s rings (Source: Associated Press)
The NASA spacecraft Cassini flew through geysers just 30 miles above the surface of Enceladus, capturing pictures and evidence to aid scientists in the search for life. Enceladus is a small satellite, no bigger than Arizona, but has become an area of high interest to scientists due to the presence of a large ocean under its surface. Scientists will examine the evidence captured by the probe to look for hydrogen gas and salt, clues for life and analyze how liquid water is present so far from the Sun. Later this year, the 18 year-old spacecraft will measure the temperature of the moon in its final fly-by.
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Syrian anti-ISIS blogger and friend found beheaded.
The murdered blogger, Ibrahim Abdul Qader (Source: Twitter)
Ibrahim Abdul Qader, an anti-ISIS blogger was found dead at his home in Sanliurfa, Turkey on 30 October along with his friend Fares Hamadi. Both members of an activist group, Qader was well-known for his outspoken blog on the conditions in the ISIS-controlled province of Raqqa in Syria. Qader and Hamadi were both originally from Raqqa, but fled to Turkey once ISIS seized the province and made it its Syrian headquarters. Anti-ISIS groups have accused ISIS of the murders but the group has yet to officially claim responsibility. This marks the first time members of an activist group have been found murdered outside of Syria.
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Russian plane crashes, killing 224 people.
The remains of a Russian plane crash in Sinai Egypt. (Image Courtesy of EPA.)
On Saturday, a Russian plane travelling from a Red Sea resort to St. Petersburg crashed in Sinai, Egypt by an unknown cause, killing all 224 people on board. Bodies, wreckage, and the plane’s “black box” were recovered from the crash. Although jihadis of the Islamic State have claimed responsibility, there is no evidence of their role in the crash. Some airlines, including Lufthansa, are re-routing their flights around the area while airlines such as British Airways, will continue to travel the same route.
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Small German village takes 750 asylum seekers.
The mayor of Sumte, Christian Fabel, stands in front of a facility for the refugees. (Image Courtesy of Gordon Welters/ The New York Times.)
The village of Sumte, population 102, was informed by the district government that they would be receiving 750 refugees running away from poverty or war from Syria, Iraq, Africa, and other countries in early October. The village, who was once part of Communist East Germany, is struggling to find enough space for so many people before winter. Many current residents of Sumte are unhappy, with their village soon to be almost 10 times the size it is now.
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Grenade-like liposomes that can kill cancer cells are being researched.
Scientist are using liposomes that will explode like a grenade to kill cancer tumours. (Image Courtesy of Kostas Kostarelos.)
Scientists have designed microscopic bundles of liposomes that can explode like a grenade, destroying cancer tumours. The liposomes, tiny bubbles of fat, are filled with a toxic drug that will only release in raised temperatures. In order to avoid side-effects, the grenade will explode only within the cancer tumour. However, scientists are still having difficulty in regulating the temperature of the grenade to insure that it is safe and that the toxic drugs will not leak. The creation of this grenade has been regarded as proof of the power of nanomedicine.
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