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Doomed spacecraft, methane breakthrough and landslides

Doomed spacecraft, methane breakthrough and landslides in Nepal

Spacecraft falls to earth

A Russian spacecraft due to deliver supplies to the International Space Station has failed in its mission and is now spinning uncontrollably as it orbits Earth.

Due to deliver supplies to the International Space Station, the unmanned Progress 59 space craft, was launched in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, but Russian ground crew lost contact with craft shortly after it reached orbit, report NASA.

Russian officials scrambled to communicate with the spacecraft, which was carrying 272kg of food, fuel and supplies to the space station, but were unable to gain control of it.

Dr Duncan Steel, a space scientist, author and broadcaster currently based in Wellington, told the SMC that it was likely an explosion on board.

"These things happen! Because of the low altitude of the capsule, it is very unlikely that a collision with a piece of space junk was responsible. Most likely it was an onboard malfunction," he said.

“Because the capsule is apparently out of control it appears that it will not be possible to arrange re-entry over an unpopulated region (such as the middle of the Pacific). Therefore there is a small but finite risk that someone might get hit, or some property damage might occur.

Dr Steel did stress that personal injury was highly unlikely. "No-one has ever been hit by falling man-made space junk, such as this capsule.”

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Read more commentary on the Science Media Centre website.

Scimex Expert

Dr Steel, who completed his PhD at the University of Canterbury, is a featured expert in Scimex, our searchable database of experts across New Zealand and Australia for registered journalists covering science. Log into Scimex to browse Duncan's profile and media experience as well as hundreds of other scientists. Are you an expert? Register your Scimex profile here.

Cutting farm emissions

New Zealand researchers have identified promising compounds for reducing methane emissions from cows and sheep.

The compounds inhibit the activity of methane-producing bacteria that live in the gut of sheep and cows. Methane emissions from agriculture are the largest contributor to New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for
about one third of our total emissions.

Scientists at the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Conference this week presented research on efforts to reduce emissions from agriculture.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand, AgResearch Principal Scientist Dr Peter Janssen, said the results so far show impressive reductions in two-day trials in sheep.

“These initial steps are relatively short-term trials in sheep and they show that you get a reduction of methane between 30 to 90 per cent,” he said.

“It’s a very exciting result but there’s still a lot of checking to be done before you actually get something that a farmer can use safely.”

See full news coverage on the Science Media Centre website.

Nepal earthquake aftermath

Residents in quake-ravaged Nepal face the ongoing threat of major landslides, says New Zealand expert.

Overseas media including PBS News Hour and NBC News report that the devastating April 25 earthquake triggered many landslides, but aftershocks threaten to cause further slips. Increased rain during the approaching monsoon season will also raise the risk of further landslides.

On Tuesday, a landslide from quake-weakened slopes struck a village north of Kathmandu, leaving at least 250 people missing.

Here in New Zealand, Dr Tom Robinson, a Post Doctoral Research Associate at University of Canterbury, has modelled the landslide hazard in Nepal, producing preliminary maps of where landslides are likely to have occurred.

“The steep topography in Nepal along with the intense shaking this earthquake has generated makes landslides a major hazard, particularly in the epicentral region north of Kathmandu," he explains.

"A landslide can travel extremely quickly and wipe out virtually everything in its path. The chances of surviving a direct hit from a landslide are extremely small and a single slide can bury entire towns and villages. They can also block or severely damage roads into affected regions, cutting those locations off completely at the time when they most need access."

"With satellite images being limited by flight paths and weather conditions, landslide modelling immediately after the event has enabled us to rapidly identify areas where major landsliding is expected. This can help prioritise search and rescue zones on the ground as well as divert satellites to look at the regions of most concern first.

"Currently the models suggest the slopes between Kathmandu and the epicentre are likely to be the worst affected. This is an emerging field however, and this is the first event these models have been applied to in an emergency situation."

View the map and read more commentary on the Science Media Centre website.

Quoted: Radio NZ


"We've spent the last 150 years largely mapping what is above sea level. There is another piece of our continent called Zealandia that is about 20 times bigger and there's a lot out there."

GNS Science Chief Executive Mike McWilliams on the
institute's long history of scientific research

Policy news & developments

Invitation to discuss 2018 Census: The government has opened an online forum on the 2018 census to the public, whose input will make sure the census reflects real-world change and stays relevant. The forum will close on 10 June 2015.

Agricultural greenhouse gases: The Government has welcomed news of a breakthrough by New Zealand researchers which offers the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions from sheep and cattle by 30 to 90 percent without cutting production.

Canterbury rebuild guidance updated: An updated guidance on site ground improvement now has more options for repairing and rebuilding structures on some land. The update is based on research data collected from recent extensive ground improvement trials that is peer reviewed by international experts.

Reassessment for maize herbicide Callisto: The Environmental Protection Authority is calling for submissions on a modified reassessment of the already-approved herbicide Callisto, which contains the active ingredient mesotrione.

PredaSTOP baits reassessment: The Environmental Protection Authority has scheduled a hearing for reassessing PredaSTOP baits. PredaSTOP is used to control stoats and feral cats.

New from Sciblogs

Some of the highlights from this week's Sciblogs posts:

Milk cow blues: dirty dairy costs NZ dear, but methane cuts might work - Gareth Renowden discusses the latest agricultural research.
Hot Topic

Science, Poetry & Responsibility - Lynley Hargreaves interviews Caoilinn Hughes on her poetry book, Gathering Evidence, a finalist for the 2015 Royal Society of New Zealand Science Book Prize.
Infrequently Asked Questions

Puffed up penguins: World Penguin Day - Victoria Metcalf tells us why penguins are awesome - in cool and weird ways.
Ice Doctor

Natural disasters: insurance costs vs. deaths - Paul Walker discusses how being a high income country is big factor is reducing deaths from natural disasters.
The Dismal Science

Slugs and snails and … facials? - Alison Campbell takes a scientific look at the latest beauty trend: the snail facial.
BioBlog


Upcoming events

Please see the SMC Events Calendar for more events and details.

TEDx Auckland - 2 May, Auckland. Inspiring stories and ideas worth talking about.

Climate Change in the 21st Century: Food, Health, Politics and Socio-Economics –2 May, Auckland. One-day series of talks as part of the University of Auckland’s ‘Great Minds and Big Ideas’ seminar series.


The Survival of the Earth depends on frogs! - 5 May, Dunedin. Inaugural Professorial Lecture by Professor Phil Bishop from the University of Otago's Department of Zoology.


Beyond Touch: using everyday tools as input devices - 7 May, Auckland. The University of Auckland's Dr Beryl Plimmer discusses how human thought, toolmaking and intelligent computing are connected.


ends

Some of the highlights from this week's Sciblogs posts:

Milk cow blues: dirty dairy costs NZ dear, but methane cuts might work - Gareth Renowden discusses the latest agricultural research.
Hot Topic

Science, Poetry & Responsibility - Lynley Hargreaves interviews Caoilinn Hughes on her poetry book, Gathering Evidence, a finalist for the 2015 Royal Society of New Zealand Science Book Prize.
Infrequently Asked Questions

Puffed up penguins: World Penguin Day - Victoria Metcalf tells us why penguins are awesome - in cool and weird ways.
Ice Doctor

Natural disasters: insurance costs vs. deaths - Paul Walker discusses how being a high income country is big factor is reducing deaths from natural disasters.
The Dismal Science

Slugs and snails and … facials? - Alison Campbell takes a scientific look at the latest beauty trend: the snail facial.
BioBlog


Upcoming events

Please see the SMC Events Calendar for more events and details.

TEDx Auckland - 2 May, Auckland. Inspiring stories and ideas worth talking about.

Climate Change in the 21st Century: Food, Health, Politics and Socio-Economics –2 May, Auckland. One-day series of talks as part of the University of Auckland’s ‘Great Minds and Big Ideas’ seminar series.


The Survival of the Earth depends on frogs! - 5 May, Dunedin. Inaugural Professorial Lecture by Professor Phil Bishop from the University of Otago's Department of Zoology.


Beyond Touch: using everyday tools as input devices - 7 May, Auckland. The University of Auckland's Dr Beryl Plimmer discusses how human thought, toolmaking and intelligent computing are connected.

ends


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