Data from NASA’s latest mission to Mars, Maven, and data from Curiosity could detail Mars’ geologic history.
An artist’s concept of NASA’s Maven orbiting the red planet. (Courtesy of NASA.)
On 24 September, NASA’s Maven satellite entered into orbit around Mars. Maven is an abbreviation of Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, and its purpose is to record data from Mars’ upper atmosphere. Since it was determined forty years ago that Mars was once covered with water, the European Space Agency’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Mission have investigated the possibility of sub-surface water, but have so far found no evidence. The satellite is to make observations regarding the way the particles in Mars’ atmosphere interact with sunlight. Such observations have the potential to reveal whether or not the water that once covered Mars has since evaporated.
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Apple’s iPhone 6 breaks opening weekend sales record at 10 million units. Outrage for faulty iOS and ‘Bendgate’ follows.
Customers complain of the bending capabilities of the new iPhone 6 when put into the pockets of pants. (Image courtesy of Huffington Post.)
Apple broke a opening weekend sale record with the recent release of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. 10 million units were sold in the weekend following its release. The total number of pre-orders for the iPhone 6 variations was double that of the iPhone 5c and 5s.
However within six days of the release, customers began to report that their iPhone 6 Pluses were bending in their pockets. These occurrences have since been dubbed “Bendgate” by affected customers. Apple came out to say “with normal use a bend in an iPhone is extremely rare,” since as of 25 September, only nine people have contacted Apple reporting the problem. Scrutiny also follows the new iOS 8 for iPhone and iPad. Users have reported dropped calls, difficulties in making phone calls, and faulty fingerprint reading. The iOS 8.02 is planned for release in the following weeks to correct these glitches, and new iPhone 6s will be carrying it at purchase.
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Thousands of Doses of Experimental Vaccines Being Readied to Counter Ebola
Ebola overwhelms the body’s immune system to cause multiple organ failure and leaves victims to bleed to death. (Image courtesy of Adam Gault/Getty Images.)
Thousands of experimental Ebola vaccines should be available for use in the coming months. By January, the first vaccinations could be administered to health care workers and people who have been in contact with infected individuals. 10 000 doses of a vaccine developed by the US National Institutes of Health and GlaxoSmithKline will be available early next year. Canada has donated 800 vials of experimental vaccine, equaling approximately 1 500 doses. Further testing must be done to determine the size of an effective dosage. No vaccine has yet been proven to be effective in or safe for humans, though tests are ongoing. Using the blood of Ebola survivors, the World Health Organization is also prioritizing finding a treatment for Ebola; they are looking to see if research facilities can be implemented.
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Hong Kong Leaders Begin Bigger Protest for Democracy amid Student Standoff with Police
Student at a week-long boycott against classes in protest against China’s conservative political reform for Hong Kong. (Image courtesy of Getty Images.)
Hong Kong’s activists began a mass civil disobedience protest on 28 September 2014 to challenge Beijing on voting reforms. A large crowd of tens of thousands arrived at midnight on 27 September 2014 to support students who had stormed into the courtyard of the government complex. Armed with pepper spray, police have arrested seventy four people, including several teenagers. Supporters of the protest are demanding that China allow for fully democratic elections within Hong Kong by 2017. However, legislation passed in China in August does not allow the public to choose candidates; instead, candidates must be selected by a nominating committee composed of Beijing loyalists. Many young people in Hong Kong are concerned about Beijing’s tightening grip on the city and the erosion of civil liberties such as freedom of speech. Organizers of the protest estimated that 50 000 people were present at the peak of the demonstration.
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Mount Ontake Erupts in Japan; More than 30 Feared Dead
Search and rescue missions in progress at the peak of Mount Ontake for possible survivors. (Image courtesy of Kyodo News.)
About 30 people were found unconscious, near the summit of Mount Ontake after it erupted around noon on 27 September 2014. Four people with heart and lung failure were being brought to the town at the foot of the mountain, with reports of others in the same condition. The mountain, a popular climbing destination, spewed large plumes of white gas and ash into the air, trapping 250 on its slopes. Most were able to get down by nightfall. The Self-Defense Force, Japan’s military, has deployed seven helicopters and 250 troops. Rescue workers are helping the injured and those who had been stranded on the mountain overnight descend safely, and military helicopters have picked seven people off the mountain.
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