EARTH

Jun 29 2025SCIENCE

Japan's Final H-2A Rocket Launch: A New Era in Space Exploration

Japan's space program reached a milestone on June 28 with the final launch of its H-2A rocket. This event marked the end of an era for a rocket that had been a reliable workhorse for the country's space missions. The H-2A rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center, successfully deploying t

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Jun 27 2025BUSINESS

Trump's Trade Talks: A New Deal with China?

Trump has been talking about a new trade agreement with China. He mentioned this deal during a recent interview, but he didn't share any specifics. The Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, also confirmed that a deal was signed earlier in the week. However, neither Trump nor Lutnick gave any details a

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Jun 23 2025SCIENCE

Venus' Secret Asteroids: A Future Risk?

Venus, our neighboring planet, might be hiding a secret. It could be harboring a group of asteroids that could potentially hit Earth. These asteroids are hard to spot because they are near the sun. They are called "city-killer" asteroids because they are big enough to cause serious damage if they hi

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Jun 22 2025SCIENCE

Gold and other precious metals are on the move from Earth's core

Volcanic activity in Hawaii is revealing a surprising secret. Scientists have found that gold and other precious metals, long thought to be stuck deep within Earth's core, are actually making their way to the surface. This discovery came from a study that analyzed lava flows from Hawaii's volcanoe

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Jun 19 2025SCIENCE

The Big Eye in the Sky: Chile's Giant Camera

Chile is home to a remarkable piece of technology. The Vera Rubin Observatory is a telescope with a camera as big as a small car. This camera is the largest of its kind on Earth. It is designed to take incredibly detailed pictures of the night sky. The camera's sensors are grouped into 21 rafts,

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Jun 18 2025SCIENCE

The Early Earth's Chemistry Trick

The early Earth was a wild place. The planet was full of chemicals that don't exist today. One big mystery is how life started from these chemicals. Scientists have been puzzling over this for a long time. One key question is how phosphorus, an important element for life, got involved in the ear

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Jun 10 2025POLITICS

The Rare Earths Gambit: Trump and Xi's Phone Call

On June 5th, a phone conversation between U. S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping took place. This was the first direct talk between the two leaders since Trump's second term began and since tensions soared in the 2025 U. S. -China trade war. Trump quickly shared his t

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Jun 09 2025POLITICS

The US-China Chip and Rare Earths Trade-Off

The US and China are in a tense trade standoff. It is not a new thing. The two superpowers have been at it for years. The latest round of talks happened in London. The US wants China to speed up the export of rare earths. These are crucial for making high-tech products. In return, the US might

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Jun 09 2025SCIENCE

How to Extract Rare Earths Efficiently and Cleanly

Rare earth elements are crucial for modern technology. They are often found in weathered crusts. However, extracting them is tricky. The process usually brings out unwanted impurities. These impurities need to be removed before the rare earths can be used. This removal step can lead to significant l

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Jun 08 2025WEATHER

Bogota's Big Shake-Up

Colombia's capital, Bogota, got a rude awakening on a Sunday morning. A strong earthquake hit the area. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured it at a magnitude of 6. 3. However, the Colombian Geological Service had a different take on it. They said it was a bit stronger, at 6. 5 on

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