The diamonds, known as lonsdaleite, are thought to be the one thing harder than ordinary cubic diamonds.

[Updated on: August 8, 2025] Credit: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation Mars shallow ice is the key to living off the land on the Red Planet. Astronauts will need water for drinking, growing food, making oxygen, and producing methane rocket fuel. New research points to Amazonis Planitia—near the Martian equator—as a prime region where ice may sit less than a meter below the surface, making it far easier to dig than at the poles. Where the new evidence points Scientists analyzed high-resolution images from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and identified candidate landing sites at the boundary of northern Amazonis Planitia and Arcadia Planitia (AP-1, AP-8, AP-9). Polygonal ground, eroded crater rims, and other periglacial features there strongly suggest near-surface ground ice accessible to early crews. These findings were published in JGR: Planets in 2025 and summarized by USGS and Astrobiology updates. In short: dig shallow, get water. Why Amazonis Planitia stands out Latitude advantage: It’s closer to the equator than most proven ice sites—warmer temperatures and more sunlight for solar power. Recent “ice exposure” proof nearby: In 2021 a meteoroid strike in Amazonis Planitia excavated a fresh crater with blocky water ice visible around the rim, imaged by MRO’s HiRISE camera in 2022. Multiple lines of evidence: Arcadia–Amazonis studies plus prior “treasure map” work identify broad areas with ice just inches to a few feet down. How much water would a crew need? A four-person expedition staying ~500 days could require tens of tons of water. Shipping that from Earth is costly and slow. Therefore, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU)—mining shallow ice and processing it on Mars—is mission-critical. Fresh context you should know 2025: A JGR: Planets study highlights near-surface ice sites in northern Amazonis/Arcadia as leading candidates for human missions. Agencies flagged AP-8 as especially favorable. 2024: ESA’s Trace Gas Orbiter spotted morning water frost on the Tharsis volcano calderas—evidence that water can still cycle at low latitudes. 2022: A large impact in Amazonis Planitia revealed exposed water ice, directly imaged by HiRISE—visual confirmation that ice can lurk just below the dust. 2019: NASA released a global “treasure map” of near-surface ice to guide future landings. What comes next Before humans land, rovers or landers should ground-truth Amazonis Planitia with drilling and thermal probes. If ice is confirmed within ~1 meter, Amazonis could host the first long-duration base: more sunlight than the poles, milder temperatures, and ready access to water. Watch: why Martian “icy craters” matter This region on Mars resembles terrestrial permafrost zones in Alaska and Siberia. (Illustration. Credit: NASA) Key takeaways for mission planners Mars shallow ice near Amazonis–Arcadia could be < 1 m deep—reachable by light drilling. Sites like AP-8 combine safe terrain with likely ice, improving ISRU and power budgets. Visible ice blocks at an Amazonis impact (2022) provide rare, direct confirmation in this region. Morning frost on Tharsis shows active water cycling even at low latitudes. Sources: JGR: Planets (2025) – Near-surface ice evidence at candidate northern Amazonis/Arcadia sites. USGS – Summary of near-surface ice at northern mid-latitudes. Astrobiology – Amazonis/Arcadia landing sites (AP-1, AP-8, AP-9). NASA/JPL – HiRISE views an Amazonis impact crater with exposed water ice. NASA/JPL – “Treasure map” of near-surface water ice. Nature Geoscience (2024) – Transient morning frost on Tharsis volcanoes. NASA – Context Camera views Amazonis impact crater. The post Mars Shallow Ice: Amazonis Planitia’s Best Base Site appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Are we witnessing the birth of a new kind of séance—one powered by code, not candles? A growing number of people are turning to advanced AI chatbots—so-called “griefbots”—to simulate conversations with lost loved ones. This phenomenon, as deeply human as it is technologically strange, raises urgent questions about grief, memory, and the ethics of digital afterlives. One of the most talked-about platforms in this space is Project December, initially an experimental art project turned public service. Users voluntarily submit character traits, memories, and communication habits of a deceased person. The platform then creates a chatbot that simulates that person in conversation—sometimes eerily convincingly—for about $10 and up to an hour of interaction. Journalistic accounts reveal the emotional depth these sessions can reach. For instance, The San Francisco Chronicle documented how Joshua Barbeau spent a night chatting with an AI “Jessica”—a recreation of his late fiancée—and described how real it felt to him. Elsewhere, The Guardian reported how Christi Angel was shaken when an AI representation of her deceased partner told her he was “in hell” before later offering her comfort. Why People Are Drawn to AI Séances Given our fundamental need for connection, it’s no surprise that even this digital approximation can feel deeply comforting. Researchers call this persuasive phenomenon the ELIZA effect—a tendency to attribute genuine emotion to computers, even when we know they’re just executing code. Many users know the bot isn’t truly “alive,” yet their emotional responses remain intense. Beyond experimental projects, companies like StoryFile and YOV (You, Only Virtual) now offer lifelike AI avatars that respond vocally and visually to questions—sometimes built before a person dies. Families are starting to see this as a way to keep the presence and personality of a loved one alive indefinitely. The Ethical Séance: Risks and Regulation Critics warn these AI séances may interfere with the grieving process. Ethicists from the University of Cambridge have urged safeguards such as clear disclaimers, mandatory consent from the deceased (recorded before death), and even “digital funerals” to retire AI personas respectfully. Psychologists also caution about emotional dependency and “chatbot psychosis”—a state where users begin to believe the AI is truly alive or channeling spirits. In extreme cases, chatbots have influenced users toward harmful thoughts or reinforced delusional beliefs, according to Business Insider and other outlets. A Guardian feature labeled the phenomenon “digital resurrection,” noting its potential for grief support and historical preservation—but also warning it could commodify mourning or even distort cherished memories. Others question authenticity: what happens if a bot “speaks” for the dead without their explicit approval? Conclusion: A Séance in Code—Still Human at Its Core The rise of griefbots and digital avatars forces us to decide: will we embrace comfort delivered through lines of code, or preserve the sanctity of memory in its natural form? These tools can provide closure for some, but they can also reopen wounds or blur the lines between reality and simulation. Ultimately, when code meets grief, the question isn’t just what the AI can mimic—but whether we still honor what it means to let go. “I can just miss her and write her a handwritten letter… rather than using these technologies.” —Jang Ji-sung, on meeting her late daughter in virtual reality (The Guardian) Sources: The Guardian, The San Francisco Chronicle, Business Insider, Project December, StoryFile, YOV, Wikipedia: ELIZA Effect, University of Cambridge.The post The First AI Séance? How People Are Using Chatbots to ‘Speak’ to the Dead appeared first on Anomalien.com.

On Tuesday, the Trump Administration launched a review of select Smithsonian museums to “ensure alignment with the President’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.” The eponymous host of CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 was not happy about the move and claimed the move was insulting to everyone who has fought and died for this country. During a conversation with professor and former NAACP President Cornell William Brooks, Cooper declared, “Well, it's also I mean, I just have to say, insulting to the memory of people who fought and died for this country. And I'm not just talking about those who fought in wars overseas. I'm talking about, you know, Americans, enslaved people who died in this country, who were lynched, who were chased by mobs. I mean, the list goes on and on.”     Cooper also had Brooks on back in March when President Trump first issued an executive order related to the Smithsonian. Nothing has changed. There is still no evidence that the administration seeks to erase racism or slavery from the Smithsonian. The administration’s definition of “divisive or partisan narratives” is “our Nation’s unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness is reconstructed as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed [emphasis added].” However, Brooks was not on to disagree with Cooper, “That's right, so, you had thousands of Black people who fought to ensure that this country could be the country that it is in the Civil War, you had African-Americans fighting to free themselves and to free the country. And in every war. The point being here is the bravery, the sacrifice, the commitment of Americans is being whitewashed by this President and to no good end.” He added, “And to be very clear here, what happens is we run the risk that the White House runs the risk of both wrongly telling the story and half telling the story, and by half telling the story, we get one-tenth of the history and one-one-hundredth of the truth. And that is—it's a shame, it's unconscionable. And yet this White House is again attempting to engage in a kind of cultural Southern manifesto, which is to say, weaponizing history, weaponizing culture on the basis of race to divide Americans based on race, but also divide our history in terms of history that is accurate, that is respected by historians and this is false.” What is false is The 1619 Project view of history that says the Revolutionary War was fought to protect slavery and that America is a systemically racist country. Ensuring that false version of American history stays out of America’s public schools and taxpayer-funded museums is a good thing. Here is a transcript for the August 12 show: CNN Anderson Cooper 360 8/12/2025 8:12 PM ET ANDERSON COOPER: Well, it's also I mean, I just have to say, insulting to the memory of people who fought and died for this country. And I'm not just talking about those who fought in wars overseas. I'm talking about, you know, Americans, enslaved people who died in this country, who were lynched, who were chased by mobs. I mean, the list goes on and on. CORNELL WILLIAM BROOKS: That's right, so, you had thousands of Black people who fought to ensure that this country could be the country that it is in the Civil War, you had African-Americans fighting to free themselves and to free the country. And in every war. The point being here is the bravery, the sacrifice, the commitment of Americans is being whitewashed by this President and to no good end. And to be very clear here, what happens is we run the risk that the White House runs the risk of both wrongly telling the story and half telling the story, and by half telling the story, we get one-tenth of the history and one-one-hundredth of the truth. And that is — it's a shame, it's unconscionable. And yet this White House is again attempting to engage in a kind of cultural Southern manifesto, which is to say, weaponizing history, weaponizing culture on the basis of race to divide Americans based on race, but also divide our history in terms of history that is accurate, that is respected by historians and this is false.

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A remarkable 2,000-year-old Roman military hat, one of only three known examples worldwide, has finally gone on public display at Bolton Museum after more than a century in storage. This exceptionally preserved woolen head covering, believed to have been made for a Roman soldier following the conquest of Egypt after Queen Cleopatra's death in 30 BC, represents a unique glimpse into military life in Roman-occupied Egypt. The hat, now considered the best-preserved example in the world, was donated to Bolton's first museum in 1911 by Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie, the pioneering archaeologist who revolutionized Egyptian excavation methods. The other two known examples are housed at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester and a museum in Florence, Italy, making this public debut particularly significant for understanding Roman military adaptation to harsh Egyptian conditions. Read moreSection: ArtifactsAncient TechnologyNewsHistory & ArchaeologyRead Later 

The Justice Department overall has extended the terms of four U.S. attorneys who have not been confirmed by the Senate, which remains on summer break.