Two new minerals made from titanium and oxygen have been found in lunar material brought back by the Change-5 Moon mission. These are the seventh and eighth minerals to be found on the Moon and have never been seen naturally on Earth‚ or anywhere else.Recent research has revealed the importance of titanium to the geology and history of the Moon. As on Earth‚ this titanium often comes bonded with oxygen to form titanium dioxide (TiO2). Yet the new discovery reveals these two elements can also bond in the reverse ratio‚ but apparently only on the Moon.The shock produced by meteorite impacts leaves a lot of glass on the lunar surface‚ and the team studied a glass bead brought back by Change-5. Using a transmission electron microscope‚ they found the same elements structured in three different ways. One of these‚ rutile‚ is the most common natural form of titanium dioxide on Earth‚ heavily used in optical equipment for its ability to bend light.Titanium dioxide is found in other crystal structures on Earth. But instead of these‚ the team found Ti2O crystals. Referred to by the authors as trigonal and triclinic Ti2O until official names are given‚ the two testify to the changes wrought when there is nothing to protect titanium-rich minerals from bombardment from space.After the Apollo astronauts returned with several minerals never found on Earth‚ geologists have put considerable effort into attempting to work out how they were formed. Samples were exposed to hydrogen and helium ions to replicate the solar wind and bombarded with lasers. This produces new phases of iron and silicon-rich minerals‚ but despite the abundance of titanium on the near side of the Moon‚ no new forms of titanium-bearing minerals were found‚ either in lunar samples or the simulations.The problem may have been neglecting micrometeorites.As their names suggest‚ micrometeorites are very small. Those thought responsible for the effects the researchers studied are 1-100 m across‚ or from 0.000004 inches to a hundred times smaller. Small as they are‚ they can pack a punch‚ traveling at speeds greater than 20 km/s (45‚000 mph) with no atmosphere to slow them down. On impact‚ they can melt the rocks they strike‚ even if only a tiny segment‚ or even vaporize them. What solidifies may be quite different from the previous material.The bead the researchers studied‚ itself formed by meteorite impact‚ has a micrometeorite crater on it with four irregularly shaped grains that combine titanium and oxygen around its rim. All contain crystal lattices. In some cases‚ there are two oxygen atoms for every titanium‚ as expected‚ but the others show the reverse.How micrometeorites turn titanium dioxide to di-titanium oxide crystalsImage Credit: Zeng et al. background image‚ Lunar and Planetary Data Release SystemThe trigonal and triclinic Ti2O have the same elemental ratios‚ but differ in the way the atoms are put together.The grains are so tiny as to seem insignificant‚ but the authors note that titanium oxides in general act as catalysts for many reactions in the presence of sunlight. Ti2O absorbs more ultraviolet and visible light than TiO2‚ and is therefore likely to be an even stronger photocatalyst‚ potentially causing significant changes in the dust around it. Indeed‚ while Ti2O does not exist naturally in any structure on Earth‚ it has been produced in labs to make photocatalytic films.One previous lunar mineral unknown on Earth was discovered in Change-5s samples. The other five came from the Apollo and Luna missions.The study is published in the journal Nature Astronomy.[H/T South China Morning Post]

In a move that aligns with a global trend‚ the Australian government has made public a dossier of files related to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs)‚ following a request under the Freedom of Information Act.This release adds Australia to a growing list of countries‚ including the United States‚ UK‚ Canada‚ and Sweden‚ that have disclosed their investigations into the enigmatic UFO phenomenon.The 10-page dossier‚ released by Australias Department of Defence‚ encompasses notes and investigations up to May 2023. Despite the publics keen interest in the subject‚ the dossier reveals a palpable lack of enthusiasm from Australian officials regarding UFOs. The documents detail that the Department of Defence does not have a specific policy in place for the reporting of UFO sightings. Furthermore‚ it is noted that the Australian Air Force ceased recording and investigating UFO reports as far back as 1996‚ citing an absence of scientific or other compelling reason to continue such inquiries.The dossier also acknowledges the existence of the US-based All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) and confirms that Australian officials are keeping a watchful eye on its reports. However‚ as of April 19th‚ 2023‚ the examination of several cases has yielded no credible evidence to support the existence of extraterrestrial activity‚ technology‚ or objects.The stance of the Australian Air Force remains firm‚ as stated in the dossier: there is no scientific or compelling rationale to allocate Defence resources to the recording and investigation of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. This position is in line with the Defences priorities‚ mission‚ and objectives‚ indicating a strategic choice to focus on more grounded concerns.Regardless of perspective‚ this development marks another chapter in the global narrative of UFOs and their mysterious presence.You can read the full dossier for yourself here.The post Australia joins global trend by releasing UFO files appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Intels next gen CPUs are coming to gaming PCs soon‚ and weve just been given our first glimpse of the socket that will be used by the chips and their supporting motherboards. The new lineup of Intel Arrow Lake CPUs are set to use the Intel LGA1851 socket‚ with the previous LGA1700 socket being retired for the next generation of CPUs after three solid years of service. Continue reading Intels new Arrow Lake CPU socket has just been revealedMORE FROM PCGAMESN: Core i5 14600K review‚ Best gaming CPU‚ Core i9 14900K review

I';m a sucker for all things dark and eerie. As someone who keeps making Lasombra vampires for her Vampire: The Masquerade sessions and always chooses the stealth route in any videogame she plays‚ Ereban: Shadow Legacy looks like the perfect game for me. With colorful Cyberpunk 2077-style visuals‚ Assassin';s Creed';s flashy assassinations‚ and the sci-fi stealth focus of Metal Gear Solid‚ this new Steam platformer is one you won';t want to miss. Continue reading Metal Gear Solid meets Assassins Creed in new Steam platformerMORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best stealth games‚ Best indie games‚ Best cyberpunk games

Cities Skylines 2. SimCity. Theme Park. The PC has a rich history of management‚ building‚ and strategy games. But theres one series that brings us all together‚ one instantly connecting classic that virtually every player can agree warrants a place on PC gamings Mount Rushmore. A mainstay of cereal boxes in the 90s‚ its also a subversive playground for all kinds of deviousness and macabre humor. At 25 years old‚ it remains a true original‚ and an absolute must for anyone with even a passing interest in videogames. And now you can own two of the series all-time greats for $3. Continue reading You can get two of the best games in PC history for just $3MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best building games‚ Best management games‚ Best strategy games

The Fallout show on Prime is finally here. Fallout 5 is still a speck in the distance as developer Bethesda Games Studios focuses on post-launch Starfield content and development of The Elder Scrolls 6. However‚ the retro-futuristic‚ post-apocalyptic series isback in the spotlightwith an all-new tale in the form of an Amazon Prime show from Westworldcreators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan. Ahead of its debut‚Iattended a special press screening for PCGamesN in London‚ where I watched the first two episodes of the new series. While my initial impression is that it';s far from perfect‚ I found it to capture the essence of thegames remarkably well. Continue reading The Fallout show finds the Bethesda spark that Starfield lostMORE FROM PCGAMESN: How Fallout 2 defined the series‚ Best Fallout companions

Hamas is demanding a permanent end to the war in Gaza and Israels full withdrawal from the area in exchange for the remaining hostages.

Bidens Medicare Advantage Cuts Are Tantamount to Throwing Grandma Over the Cliff

Apple released its new M3 MacBook Air laptop lineup last month after making the announcement quietly with nothing but a press release. Honestly‚ a big event would';ve been a mistake for sure‚ because the M3 model is not a big upgrade at all. Sure‚ it';s a little faster‚ but the M2 MacBook Air offers the same 18-hour battery life and almost the same performance. With that in mind‚ the M2 MacBook Air model is definitely the only Apple laptop I would personally buy right now‚ and that';s because it has huge discounts until it';s sold out.Since Apple discontinued it when it announced the M3 version‚ the M2 MacBook Air with Apple';s powerful M2 chip is on sale right now at the best prices I';ve seen. You can get the M2 MacBook Air 13-inch for just $849 at Amazon‚ and the larger M2 MacBook Air 15-inch starts at $999 at Best Buy.Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display‚ 8GB RAM‚ 256GB SSDPrice: $849 (reg. $999)You Save: $150.00 (15%)Buy NowApple - MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop - M2 chip - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSDPrice: $999 (reg. $1‚299)Buy NowRead our M2 MacBook Air review‚ and you';ll see how impressive Apple';s previous-generation laptops are. It';s not quite as powerful as Apple';s M3 MacBook Air models‚ but it';s closer than you think.New generations of Apple laptops typically offer huge performance increases‚ but that';s not the case this time around. This is from Apple';s own press releases:Last year‚ Apple noted that the M2 MacBook Air is ";up to 12x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air.";This week‚ Apple said in its announcement that the new M3 MacBook Air is ";up to 13x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air.";Really? A difference of 1%?! I';d rather save some money‚ thank you very much.And what about the MacBook Pro‚ you ask? Personally‚ I';d skip it.Unless you need to do some very heavy-duty work that requires tons of processing power‚ the M2 MacBook Air will definitely suit your needs. I';ve used several different MacBook Air models over the years myself‚ and I have never been disappointed. That';s especially true with the M2 MacBook Air‚ which might just be my favorite laptop that Apple has ever released.I have an M2 MacBook Air 15-inch‚ and I love it. To be honest‚ however‚ sometimes I wish I had opted for the 13-inch version instead. It';s just as fast‚ but it';s more compact and even lighter. I think I would probably have appreciated the portability more than the extra screen real estate.Apple';s M2 MacBook Air has a gorgeous 13.6-inch 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina Display. It also has Apple';s updated screen design with a notch at the top for the FaceTime HD camera. This is Apple';s new signature look‚ and I really like it. It';s unique‚ and it lets Apple keep the bezels very narrow around the rest of the screen.The M2 chipset makes big strides in terms of both power and efficiency. You get all-day battery life‚ as well as an 8-core CPU‚ an 8-core GPU‚ and a 16-core neural engine.Apple';s M2 MacBook Air is sleek‚ thin‚ powerful‚ and nearly as powerful as the newer M3 model. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGRApple discontinued the M2 MacBook Air when it announced the M3 upgrade. That makes sense‚ of course‚ since they';re basically the same laptop unless you';re 1% of users who REALLY care about ray tracing.Since it';s been discontinued‚ Amazon is clearing out its remaining inventory‚ and you can get one for just $849.Apple 2022 MacBook Air Laptop with M2 chip: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display‚ 8GB RAM‚ 256GB SSDPrice: $849 (reg. $999)You Save: $150.00 (15%)Buy NowThat';s the lowest price ever for this model‚ and it';s an incredible value. It';s not every day that you see a powerful Apple laptop on sale for less than $900.Or‚ if you want the larger M2 MacBook Air with a 15-inch display‚ that version is down to $999 at Best Buy.Apple - MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop - M2 chip - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSDPrice: $999 (reg. $1‚299)Buy NowAs I said earlier‚ that';s the only Apple laptop I would personally buy right now. Not everyone feels the same way‚ though.If you want the latest and greatest MacBook Air models and don';t mind spending some extra cash‚ both versions of the M3 MacBook Air are also discounted right now. The M3 MacBook Air 13-inch starts at $1‚024 instead of $1‚099‚ and the M3 MacBook Air 15-inch model is on sale with prices from $1‚149.99‚ which is a $149 discount.Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M3 chip: 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display‚ 8GB UnifiePrice: $1‚024 (reg. $1‚099)You Save: $75.00 (7%)Buy NowApple 2024 MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop with M3 chip: 15.3-inch Liquid Retina Display‚ 8GB UnifiePrice: $1‚149.99 (reg. $1‚299)You Save: $100.00 (8%)Buy NowDon';t Miss: Todays deals: $189 AirPods Pro‚ $6 Kasa smart bulbs‚ Samsung foldables from $899‚ Hersheys candy‚ moreThe post Why you should get Apples M2 MacBook Air instead of the new M3 model appeared first on BGR.Today';s Top DealsBest Echo Dot deals for April 2024Amazon gift card deals‚ offers &;amp; coupons 2024: Get $425+ freeTodays deals: $4 smart plugs‚ HP laptops‚ Duracell batteries‚ $23 Echo Pop‚ Under Armour sale‚ moreTodays deals: HP &;amp; Lenovo laptops‚ $18 Echo Pop‚ Lexar memory sale‚ Funko Pop toys‚ Shark vacuums‚ more

After its CES 2024 introduction‚ Roku is releasing its Pro Series TV in the US. The affordable‚ high-end product combines advanced picture innovations with a great design‚ immersive side-firing audio‚ a new Voice Remote Pro‚ and Roku OS.We';ve invested years in making the picture great for the shows and movies you';re watching and nowweve added the simplicity of automation‚ said Chris Larson‚ Vice President of Retail Strategy at Roku. Our Pro Series TVs not only look and sound beautiful; they also give our customers the best possible viewing experience‚ no matter what theyre watching.The Roku Pro Series TV features miniLED backlighting for deep blacks and beautiful colors. This 4K QLED TV has a 120Hz panel with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision IQ technologies. Some of the core features of Roku Pro Series TV are:Sleek design: At only 1.9 and with a striking shadowbox frame‚ the Pro Series clean lines andarchitectural styling are an eye-catching complement to any home.Snappy streaming: All new quad-core processor and Wi-Fi 6 allow users to search‚ navigate‚ andlaunch content faster than before.Automatic brightness: Automatically adjust brightness settings based on room lighting for abright‚ clear picture at any time of day.Roku Soundstage Audio: Dolby Atmos speakers designed by Rokus AudioInnovation team for a wide‚ cinematic sound.Headphone Mode: Connect Bluetooth headphones to enjoy entertainment at any volume.Game on: Automatic game mode drops you right into the action. Enjoy tear-free gaming with120Hz refresh‚ AMD Freesync Premium Pro‚ ALLM‚ and VRR.Slim-profile Wall Mount Kit: Optional accessory designed by Roku with hinge and kickstand for easy access to TV ports and cables.With the 2nd generation Roku Voice Remote Pro‚ users get backlit buttons‚ a USB-C rechargeable battery‚ a Live TV Guide button‚ a Quick Launch Button‚ hands-free voice commands‚ and a Remote finder.Your Roku Pro Series TV will get better with a future software updateImage source: RokuIn addition to the Roku Pro Series TV release‚ Roku is also promoting a big software update coming in the following months. Some of the key features include:Backdrops: This feature instantly transforms your TV into a work of art‚ making it the house';s centerpiece. Simply browse a wide catalog of free‚ delightful artwork‚ including famous classics.Roku Smart Picture: This feature helps you get the best picture quality for your TV without changing the settings. It adjusts the backlighting‚ uniformity‚ and colors based on the type of TV and content you';re watching.Browse and Discovery updates: IMDb ratings will appear across entertainment detail pages alongside trailers. The smarter Save List now lets you know once a TV show or movie you saved dropped the price or when a new season/episode is available.Roku Mobile App: Finally‚ Roku is preparing a new navigation bar‚ new Top Searched TV and Movies‚ and improvements to search. Price and availabilityImage source: RokuRoku Pro Series TVs are available in 55‚ 65 and 75 models‚ with pricing ranging from $899.99 to$1699.99 with the Roku Slim-profile Wall Mount Kit available for $99.99 beginning this month at BestBuy stores nationwide‚ such as BestBuy.com‚ Amazon.com‚ and Walmart.com.Roku Voice Remote Pro (2nd Edition) is available today on Roku.com for $29.99 and will beavailable in major retailers in the coming months. Roku Voice Remote Pro 2nd edition is included with allRoku Pro Series TV.Don';t Miss: Roku wants to show you ads whenever you press pauseThe post Roku Pro Series TV now available in the US with more software features to come appeared first on BGR.Today';s Top DealsBest deals: Tech‚ laptops‚ TVs‚ and more salesTodays deals: $189 AirPods Pro‚ $6 Kasa smart bulbs‚ Samsung foldables from $899‚ Hersheys candy‚ moreBest Apple Watch deals for April 2024Dreo ChefMaker was a game-changer in my kitchen find out why Im obsessed