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Seals help Japanese researchers collect data under Antarctic ice

Seals help Japanese researchers collect data under Antarctic ice

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Seals help Japanese researchers collect data under Antarctic ice
  • Project leader said such research helps scientists trace the animals’ behavioural patterns and ecology.
  • Each seals had travelled as far as 633km (393 miles) from the coast of Japan’s Showa Station in Antarctica.
  • These seals were equipped with the head-mounted conductivity, temperature and depth sensor.

A seal wearing a helmet with an antenna might look unusual, but eight Weddell seals, each with a 580g monitoring device on their heads, have been helping Japanese researchers survey the waters under the thick ice sheet in Antarctica.

Tapped for a research project between March and November 2017 – winter in Antarctica – these seals were equipped with the head-mounted conductivity, temperature and depth sensor, which allows scientists to collect observation data, such as water temperatures and salt levels, in areas with extremely harsh environmental conditions.

Project leader Nobuo Kokubun said such research helps scientists trace the animals’ behavioural patterns and ecology.

“During the summer, we can go to Antarctica on icebreakers to conduct actual research activities, so that we can collect data there. But during the winter, such things cannot be done in so many places,” Kokubun said during an interview with Reuters on Friday.

“However, even in such a situation, many animals such as seals are living in the area of Antarctica, so I thought we should have them collect the data,” Kokubun added.

The data successfully gathered from seven seals showed one of them had travelled as far as 633km (393 miles) from the coast of Japan’s Showa Station in Antarctica, while another had descended to a depth of 700m (2,297 ft).

Kokubun said the scientists also learned from the data that warm seawater from the upper layer in the open sea reached Antarctica from March through winter that year. The water flowed below the ice, bringing in sea creatures like Antarctic krill, a major food source for seals.

Aiming to examine further the impact of global warming on Antarctic coastal areas, Kokubun next hopes to make the device small enough to fit on other animals at the South Pole such as penguins.

“The advantage with penguins is that they come back to the same place and we can collect the data from them immediately. Also, we can use the devices on a large number of penguins so they can cover a wide area,” he said.

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CAA “gets ready” to abolish the travel prohibition to the UK.

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The UK Department for Transport (DfT) is scheduled to travel to Pakistan in mid-January to evaluate the situation, according to sources.

In February, PIA is anticipated to begin direct flight operations to the UK as part of the endeavor. For a safety audit, a team from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will be traveling to Karachi from January 15 to 17.

In order to obtain an exemption from the security audit, the CAA has gotten in touch with the UK aviation authorities.

In addition to expressing trust in the manual report that the Pakistani authorities gave, the DfT has indicated that it is willing to approve the exception.

Following earlier audits, the British aviation team will formally do a safety audit of the CAA and PIA. Nadir Shafi, the CAA’s Director-General, is personally in charge of the teams working on the process of starting flights to the UK again.

In the first phase, PIA intends to run direct flights to Manchester, and the CAA is also anticipated to inform the DfT delegation. In the second phase, flights to London and other places will be introduced. PIA will fly to the UK and Europe using its Boeing 777 aircraft.

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The ATC suspends the non-bailable arrest warrant for Gandapur.

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The non-bailable arrest warrant for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was suspended by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday.

On an application submitted by Faisal Malik, the attorney for Gandapur, the warrants were suspended. Gandapur’s arrest warrant was issued by the court in a case that the Hassan Abdal police had filed in relation to the protest on November 26.

In every case, the Peshawar High Court has granted bail to his client, according to advocate Faisal. When he brought the high court’s order to the ATC, the warrant was suspended by the court.

Additionally, the ATC halted the process of designating Gandapur as a declared offender.

He had not appeared before the ATC, therefore on December 27, the ATC started the process of declaring him a proclaimed offender. By January 21, the police were to ensure compliance and submit a report, as instructed by the court.

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Amid expectations of economic stability, the PSX soars to its highest level ever, reaching 118k.

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The KSE-100 index soared to yet another record high during intraday trading on Thursday, demonstrating that bulls were still in control of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).

The benchmark 100 index increased by 1,359.73 points from its previous closing of 117,008.08 to hit an intraday high of 118,367.81 points.

Given the federal government’s ambitious ambition to overhaul the national economy, traders’ large buying binge coincides with predictions of economic stability in the nation.

The five-year national economic plan “Uraan Pakistan,” which aims to achieve sustainable development and economic stability, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on December 31.

Speaking to the audience, the prime minister emphasized that the program would offer a path forward for economic development, emphasizing work creation, infrastructure, energy, the digital economy, and the environment.

Meanwhile, investors’ confidence has also increased due to the falling rate of inflation. This is the lowest level of 4.1 percent in 81 months as a result of government actions.

The consumer price index was measured at 4.1 percent last month, down from 49 percent in June of last year, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Comparing this to the 29.7 percent inflation rate in December 2023, there has been a notable decrease.

Compared to 2.3 percent in June 2024 and 27.3 percent in December 2023, the wholesale price index was just 1.9 percent last month.

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