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- Scientists identify hidden rock layer beneath Bermuda explaining its elevation
- Russia authorises troop deployment abroad to protect citizens’ rights
- South Korea investigates Antarctic researcher for threatening colleague with knife
- Queen Margrethe admitted to hospital for angina, says royal house
- Queen Margrethe of Denmark remains in hospital for observation after heart attack
- Warsaw registers first same-sex marriage after court rulings on EU laws
- Ex-wife conspired to have father-of-two assassinated in acid attack | News UK
- Spain confirms 11 hantavirus cases linked to MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak
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Scientists identify hidden rock layer beneath Bermuda explaining its elevation
3:00 am
Get you up to speed: Scientists identify hidden rock layer beneath Bermuda explaining its elevation
Scientists have discovered a hidden layer of lighter volcanic rock approximately 12 miles thick beneath Bermuda, which helps keep the island elevated above the Atlantic Ocean. Researchers William Frazer and Jeffrey Park analysed over two decades of earthquake recordings to map this layer, revealing that it is around 1.5% less dense than the surrounding mantle material.
Researchers William Frazer and Jeffrey Park have identified a hidden layer of lighter volcanic rock beneath Bermuda, which is approximately 12 miles thick, as the reason for the island’s unusual elevation above the Atlantic Ocean, according to their study published in Geophysical Research Letters. The lighter rock, believed to be about 1.5% less dense than surrounding mantle material, provides buoyancy that allows Bermuda to remain raised despite its volcanic activity ceasing over 30 million years ago.
Researchers William Frazer and Jeffrey Park have mapped rock layers extending more than 25 miles beneath Bermuda, identifying a hidden layer of lighter volcanic rock that has helped the island remain elevated for millions of years. Their findings, published in Geophysical Research Letters, reveal that this 12-mile-thick layer is approximately 1.5% less dense than the surrounding mantle, contributing to Bermuda’s unusual buoyancy above the Atlantic Ocean.
Scientists crack Bermuda mystery after discovering structure hidden beneath island | News World
Scientists believe that a hidden layer of rock beneath Bermuda has kept the island elevated for millions of years (Picture: Getty Images)
For decades, Bermuda has carried with it a certain sort of reputation. Mysterious disappearances. Weird compass stories. That kind of thing.
Put it this way — there are enough low-rent documentaries about the place and its strange history to keep cheap TV channels ticking over with content for at least another century or so.
Scientists studying the Atlantic island have now solved a much less dramatic mystery that has baffled geologists for years: why Bermuda is still sticking up out of the ocean at all.
Sorry it’s not the answer to the whole Bermuda Triangle mystery thing (or an explanation as to why people wear Bermuda shorts), but it’s still interesting. We promise.
Bermuda sits unusually high above the surrounding Atlantic sea floor despite its volcanoes becoming inactive long ago (Picture: Getty Images)
The small island chain sits around 650 miles east of North Carolina in the North Atlantic.
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Roughly 64,000 people live there today, perched on land that technically shouldn’t still be sitting quite so high above the surrounding sea floor as it does.
Normally, volcanic islands rely on heat from active geology deep below the surface to stay elevated. Bermuda’s volcanoes, however, stopped erupting more than 30 million years ago.
In geological terms, the island should’ve gradually sunk lower over time. Basically, logic would dictate that it should all be submerged, sitting at the bottom of the ocean, Atlantis-style. But it’s not.
Instead, Bermuda has remained unusually raised above the deep Atlantic basin for millions and millions of years.
Scientists have now – finally – found out why. They’ve linked that strange survival to a huge hidden layer of lighter rock that’s buried beneath the island’s ocean crust.
A newly identified layer of lighter volcanic rock beneath Bermuda may well explain why the island hasn’t sunk beneath the Atlantic Ocean (yet) (Picture: Geophysical Research Letters)
Researchers William Frazer and Jeffrey Park used more than two decades’ worth of earthquake recordings gathered from a single seismic monitoring station on Bermuda. Which is, you have to admit, an impressively comprehensive and patient way to solve any kind of mystery.
By analysing the vibrations produced by distant earthquakes, the team was able to map rock layers stretching more than 25 miles beneath the island.
Pressure waves travelling through Earth change behaviour when they hit different materials, apparently.
That then allowed the scientists to work out what lies underground without having to drill massive holes everywhere. Which might well have upset a few of the locals and visiting tourists.
Their study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, revealed an enormous slab of lighter volcanic rock sitting beneath Bermuda.
The hidden layer measures around 12 miles thick, roughly the same length as Manhattan Island from tip to tip. Or half a marathon, depending on how familiar you are with New York City geography.
Researchers used decades of earthquake data to map rock layers deep beneath the paradise island (Picture: Getty Images)
This rock beneath Bermuda is believed to be around 1.5% less dense than the surrounding mantle material, making it more buoyant and effectively helping the island float higher above the ocean floor.
That doesn’t sound much, but it’s significant according to the experts.
Scientists say that the lighter rock formed between 30 and 35 million years ago when hot molten material rose from deep inside Earth, spread beneath the crust and then cooled into a solid layer.
Those ancient volcanic leftovers are apparently still doing their job today.
According to the researchers, the buoyancy created by the buried slab perfectly matches the height of the Bermuda Rise, a giant underwater plateau surrounding the island.
The sea floor there sits around 1,300 to 3,300 feet higher than nearby sections of Atlantic crust of a similar age.
The Bermuda Rise has long confused geologists because there are no active volcanic hotspots underneath it today.
5 weird theories about The Bermuda Triangle
Atlantis tech – Some people believe that the lost city of Atlantis lies beneath the Bermuda Triangle, creating strange energy fields that interfere with ships and aircraft.
Alien activity – Other folk think that UFOs hidden beneath the Atlantic are responsible for disappearances in the region.
Magnetic weirdness – One theory claims unusual magnetic fields around Bermuda can confuse compasses and navigation equipment.
Methane gas eruptions – Don’t laugh. This theory suggests giant bursts of methane rising from the sea floor could suddenly sink ships by changing the density of the surrounding water. What a way to die, eh?
Time warps and dimensional portals – A few staunch believers claim that The Bermuda Triangle contains distortions in space and time that pull ships or aircraft into other dimensions. As yet, no one’s managed to come back and confirm it.
What’s even stranger is that the region also contains a slight gravitational anomaly caused by the lighter material hidden below the surface.
Because the buried rock is less dense, gravity in the area is fractionally weaker than it otherwise should be.
The ocean surface above the rise even forms a subtle bulge known as a ‘geoid anomaly’. Which sounds a little like the sort of thing a Bond villain would threaten the world with, but is actually completely natural, apparently. We’ll have to take the geologists’ word for that.
The area’s also been long linked to unusually strong magnetic signals caused by iron and titanium-rich volcanic rocks left behind from Bermuda’s ancient geological past.
The Bermuda Rise has puzzled geologists for years due to its unusual height and magnetic properties (Picture: Getty Images)
Scientists say these magnetic oddities can affect compass readings slightly when ships or aircraft pass overhead. Although they’re believed to be harmless.
Researcher William Frazer said this in a statement about it: ‘Bermuda is an exciting place to study because a variety of its geologic features do not fit the model of a mantle plume, the classic way for deep material to be brought to the surface.
‘This suggests that there are other convective processes within Earth’s mantle that have yet to be well understood.’
Sadly for conspiracy theorists, this still doesn’t explain the Bermuda Triangle stuff. Or the appeal of Bermuda shorts.
Our advice? Don’t hold your breath on either.
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Russia authorises troop deployment abroad to protect citizens’ rights
2:00 am
Russia authorises troop deployment abroad to protect citizens’ rights
Troop Deployment Law
Russia’s lawmakers have passed a law allowing the Kremlin to deploy troops abroad to “protect Russian citizens,” effectively giving President Vladimir Putin the authority to invade other countries.
Russia’s lawmakers have passed a law allowing the Kremlin to deploy troops abroad to “protect Russian citizens,” effectively giving President Vladimir Putin the authority to invade other countries.
Legislative Authority
Russia’s new law permits military deployment to protect citizens abroad, reinforcing the Kremlin’s capacity to justify invasions, thus escalating geopolitical tensions in Europe.
Russia’s new law permits military deployment to protect citizens abroad, reinforcing the Kremlin’s capacity to justify invasions, thus escalating geopolitical tensions in Europe.
Official Reaction
“In these circumstances, it is important to do everything to ensure that our citizens abroad are protected,” stated Vyacheslav Volodin, chair of the Russian State Duma.
“In these circumstances, it is important to do everything to ensure that our citizens abroad are protected,” stated Vyacheslav Volodin, chair of the Russian State Duma.
Key developments
Russia’s State Duma has passed a law granting President Vladimir Putin authority to deploy troops abroad, justifying military intervention to “protect Russian citizens,” heightening concerns among European officials.
The legislation aims to safeguard the rights of Russians facing legal actions in foreign jurisdictions, a move seen as a means to counter growing “russophobia” abroad, according to Andrey Kartapolov.
In response to ongoing threats, various European nations, including Sweden, are reevaluating their defence strategies, sparking concerns over potential escalations in military tensions with Russia.
Russian parliament approves law allowing Putin to invade other countries
Published on
Russia’s lawmakers have passed a law formally authorising the Kremlin to deploy troops abroad to “protect Russian citizens,” giving Russian President Vladimir Putin the authority in practice to invade foreign countries.
According to the State Duma documents, the “bill was drafted to protect the rights of Russian citizens in the event of their arrest, detention, criminal or other prosecution pursuant to decisions of foreign courts vested with criminal jurisdiction by other foreign states without Russia’s participation.”
Vyacheslav Volodin, chair of the Russian State Duma, said that “Western ‘justice’ has turned into a repressive machine for dealing with those who disagree with the decisions imposed by European officials.”
“In these circumstances, it is important to do everything to ensure that our citizens abroad are protected.”
Putin used a false argument of “protecting Russian-speaking population and Russian citizens” for both his invasion of eastern Ukraine and the unilateral annexation of Crimea in 2014, and Moscow’s all-out war against Ukraine in early 2022.
Andrey Kartapolov, head of the State Duma Defence Committee, claimed that the proposed legislation would “counter the campaign of rampant russophobia that continues abroad.”
The new bill adds fuel to European officials’ warnings that Russia poses a direct military threat to its neighbours.
Moscow’s continued missile and drone assaults on Ukraine have already seen Russian weapons breach NATO territory, driving European states to ramp up their defence capabilities in response.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested in April that Russia’s online crackdown and all the restrictive measures banning popular messengers may be a prelude to a mobilisation of conscripts and a new offensive, either against Ukraine or the Baltic countries.
Moscow itself issued numerous threats to the Baltics since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier this week, the Swedish government said it would push forward with a plan to form a new spy agency targeting overseas threats, part of a wider rethink prompted by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
South Korea investigates Antarctic researcher for threatening colleague with knife
10:00 pm
Get you up to speed: South Korea investigates Antarctic researcher for threatening colleague with knife
An Antarctic researcher at the Jang Bogo Station is accused of pulling a makeshift knife on a colleague during an incident last month. The Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) confirmed that the blade was fabricated from a steel sheet in the station workshop.
A researcher at the Jang Bogo Station was accused of threatening a colleague with a makeshift knife, which had been constructed from a steel sheet, according to the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI). Following the incident, the suspect, a man in his 50s with a prior record of misconduct, was separated from the group and later returned to South Korea, where police have launched an investigation.
The suspect from the Jang Bogo station was taken away and separated from the group before departing for South Korea, where he arrived on Monday. Police in South Korea have launched an investigation into the incident.
Scientist holed up in Antarctic lab ‘pulls 11inch knife on colleague’ | News World
An Antarctic scientist at the Jang Bogo station allegedly pulled a makeshift knife on a colleague (Picture: Getty Images)
An Antarctic researcher wintering with other scientists on a remote station is accused of pulling a makeshift knife on a colleague.
Researchers wintering at the Korean Antarctic Jang Bogo station were caught in something out of a horror movie after one of their colleagues’ threatening behaviour on the world’s remotest continent.
The incident happened last month, when the icy continent becomes extremely inhospitable ahead of winter with temperatures averaging -45°C.
A winter-over station staff member pulled a blade on another personnel, the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) said.
The South Korean Jang Bogo permanent Antarctic station consists of 16 facilities and it can house up to 60 people (Picture: Yonhap/EPA/Shutterstock)
The 30cm (11-inch) shank had been pieced together from a steel sheet in the station workshop, according to Korean media.
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No one was injured in the standoff, which resulted in the suspect being taken away.
The suspect, who has not been named, was identified as a man in his 50s, with an alleged prior record of misconduct and issues with colleagues, according to the Korea Times.
He was reportedly separated from the rest of the group before departing for South Korea, where he arrived on Monday.
Police in South Korea have now launched an investigation.
His departure was possible only thanks to international cooperation between countries that run Antarctic missions, as the continent is largely out of bounds this time of the year.
Jang Bogo Station, South Korea’s second Antarctic base, was founded in 2014 in Terra Nova Bay.
It sits in Victoria Land in the southeastern Antarctic. The nearest country is New Zealand, which is thousands of miles across the inhospitable Southern Ocean.
Neighbouring stations include the American McMurdo Station on the southern tip of Ross Island, New Zealand’s Antarctic research station Scott Base, Italy’s seasonal station Zucchelli and Germany’s Gondwana Station.
Only specialist aircraft can make the journey to the Antarctic research spots, with flights usually taking around four to five hours, while a sea crossing from Australia can take up to two weeks, and both are weather-dependent.
The UK operates several bases on the continent through the British Antarctic Survey. It has three all-year bases in Rothera, Halley and Signy, and two summer-only stations.
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Queen Margrethe admitted to hospital for angina, says royal house
9:00 pm
Queen Margrethe admitted to hospital for angina, says royal house
Queen Hospitalised
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe has been admitted to Rigshospitalet due to angina and will remain for observation and further examinations over the weekend.
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe has been admitted to Rigshospitalet due to angina and will remain for observation and further examinations over the weekend.
Health Concerns
Queen Margrethe’s hospital admission for angina marks a significant moment in Denmark’s royal history, as she remains a beloved figure after decades of leadership and cultural contributions.
Queen Margrethe’s hospital admission for angina marks a significant moment in Denmark’s royal history, as she remains a beloved figure after decades of leadership and cultural contributions.
Official statement
“Her Majesty is tired, but in good spirits,” said the Royal House of Denmark regarding Queen Margrethe’s health following her hospital admission.
“Her Majesty is tired, but in good spirits,” said the Royal House of Denmark regarding Queen Margrethe’s health following her hospital admission.
Key developments
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe, who abdicated in 2024, was admitted to Rigshospitalet due to chest pain linked to angina, according to the Royal House of Denmark.
At 86 years old, the Queen will remain in hospital over the weekend for observation and further examinations, with the court noting she is “tired, but in good spirits.”
The former monarch enjoyed a 52-year reign and has dealt with various health issues in recent years, including a significant back surgery in 2023 that led to her abdication.
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe hospitalised in Copenhagen with chest pain, royal court says
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Denmark’s Queen Margrethe, who abdicated in 2024 has been admitted to hospital due to chest pain, the Royal House of Denmark said on Thursday.
The 86-year-old Queen was admitted to Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen’s main hospital, “this afternoon due to angina,” the court said in a statement.
She will remain in hospital over the weekend for observation and further examinations, the court added.
“Her Majesty is tired, but in good spirits,” it said.
The former sovereign reigned in the Scandinavian country for 52 years before passing the throne to her eldest son Frederik in January 2024.
Hugely popular among Danes for subtly modernising the monarchy, Margrethe has faced multiple health problems in recent years.
She had long vowed that she would never abdicate, but major back surgery in 2023 led to a change of heart.
Margrethe also has a significant interest in the arts.
As a designer she won a Danish film award for best costume in 2024 and translated Simone de Beauvoir’s “All Men Are Mortal” under a pseudonym with her late husband, Prince Consort Henrik.
She has also illustrated several books, including J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.”
Additional sources • AFP
Queen Margrethe of Denmark remains in hospital for observation after heart attack
6:00 pm
Get you up to speed: Queen Margrethe of Denmark remains in hospital for observation after heart attack
Queen Margrethe of Denmark was taken to Rigshospitalet following a heart attack and will remain for observation and further tests over the weekend. She abdicated in 2024 after 52 years as monarch, becoming Denmark’s longest-reigning ruler.
Queen Margrethe of Denmark was admitted to Rigshospitalet following a heart attack and is expected to remain there for observation and further tests over the weekend, according to a statement from the royal household. The 86-year-old former monarch, who abdicated in 2024 after 52 years on the throne, is currently reported to be “tired but in good spirits.”
Queen Margrethe of Denmark will remain at Rigshospitalet for observation and further tests over the weekend following her heart attack. The Royal House will announce updates regarding her condition when available.
Queen rushed to hospital after suffering heart attack | News World
Queen Margrethe of Denmark will be kept in for observation over the weekend (Picture: Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images)
The former Queen of Denmark is ‘tired but in good spirits’ after she was taken to hospital following a heart attack.
Queen Margrethe was rushed to Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen’s largest public and teaching hospital, on Thursday afternoon.
The 86-year-old will remain in the hospital over the weekend for observation and further tests, the royal household said in a statement.
It read: ‘Her Majesty Queen Margrethe has been admitted to Rigshospitalet this afternoon due to a heart attack.
‘Queen Margrethe will be admitted over the weekend for observation and further examinations.
Unusually, Margrethe abdicated in 2024 after 52 years as monarch (Picture: via REUTERS)
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‘Her Majesty is tired, but in good spirits.
‘The Royal House will announce when there is news.’
Despite stepping back from the throne in 2024 – making her the first Danish sovereign to willingly do so in almost 900 years – Margrethe remains Denmark’s longest-reigning monarch, having worn the crown for 52 years.
Citing health as one of the reasons for her abdication, she said in an address on New Year’s Eve 2023 that she had undergone ‘extensive back surgery’ before she stepped down.
She said: ‘Everything went well, thanks to the competent health personnel, who took care of me.
Margrethe has been hospitalised multiple times in the past few years (Picture: via REUTERS)
‘Inevitably, the operation gave cause to thoughts about the future – whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation.
‘I have decided that now is the right time.’
She passed the baton to King Frederik X and his wife, Australian-born Queen Mary.
Even after abdicating, Margrethe has held onto her Queen title and continues to carry out royal engagements.
But she has been hospitalised on multiple occasions since her surgery. She previously had to cancel an official appearance after she suffered a fall at her home of Fredensborg Palace in Zealand.
She was again forced to pull out of a royal engagement when she contracted a cold last year.
“As a result of the cold HM Queen Margrethe has contracted, it has been decided that the Queen will be admitted to Rigshospitalet for observation as a precaution,” the Danish Royal House said in a statement.
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Warsaw registers first same-sex marriage after court rulings on EU laws
5:00 pm
Warsaw registers first same-sex marriage after court rulings on EU laws
First Marriage
Warsaw registered its first same-sex marriage on Thursday, following court rulings that mandate the recognition of same-sex marriages registered abroad.
Warsaw registered its first same-sex marriage on Thursday, following court rulings that mandate the recognition of same-sex marriages registered abroad.
Legal Framework
Poland’s recognition of its first same-sex marriage underscores compliance with EU court rulings, reflecting a significant shift in institutional responsiveness to LGBTQ+ rights within the country.
Poland’s recognition of its first same-sex marriage underscores compliance with EU court rulings, reflecting a significant shift in institutional responsiveness to LGBTQ+ rights within the country.
Official Apology
“I apologise to all those who, for many years, felt rejected and humiliated,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk, addressing same-sex couples in Poland.
“I apologise to all those who, for many years, felt rejected and humiliated,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk, addressing same-sex couples in Poland.
Key developments
Warsaw’s implementation of the first same-sex marriage registration marks a significant step following a European Union ruling, allowing recognition of marriages made abroad despite Polish law prohibiting them.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk affirmed his government’s commitment to implementing court rulings and issued an apology to those feeling rejected within the LGBTQ+ community. He urged all officials to respect individual dignity.
Opposition from conservative members of Tusk’s coalition continues to hinder the legalisation of civil unions for same-sex couples, despite significant public support, with 67% of Poles backing such rights.
Poland makes history with first same-sex marriage registration following EU court ruling
Poland’s capital, Warsaw, registered its first same-sex marriage on Thursday, implementing court rulings that require the country to recognise same-sex marriages registered abroad.
In November, the European Union’s highest court ordered Poland to register same-sex marriages that were entered into in other EU countries even if Polish law does not currently permit them.
In March, Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court cited that ruling in ordering authorities to recognise the marriage in Germany of two Polish men.
“This morning we issued the first transcription of a marriage certificate for a same-sex couple, in accordance with the court rulings,” Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski said.
The mayor also promised his city would proactively recognise other Polish same-sex marriages registered elsewhere in the EU even without a specific court ruling.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that his government would find ways to implement the rulings as soon as possible, and, addressing same-sex couples, apologised “to all those who, for many years, felt rejected and humiliated.”
Tusk appealed to Polish officials, regardless of their personal opinions, “to respect the dignity of each individual and to remember that these people live around us, among us, near us, and that they deserve the same feelings of respect, dignity and love as any other person.”
LGBTQ+ individuals for decades have been fighting for equal rights in Poland, where same-sex marriage and civil partnerships are illegal.
None of the rulings mean that Poland is obliged to legalise same-sex marriage.
Tusk’s government came to power with a promise to legalise civil unions for same-sex couples. However, resistance from conservatives within his own governing coalition as well as opposition from President Karol Nawrocki, a staunch Catholic, have stalled the efforts.
According to an Ipsos+ poll last year, 67% of Poles support same-sex marriage or legal recognition of unions for LGBTQ+ couples.
Although there have been two motions in place for the government to introduce bills on civil partnerships into parliament, both failed due to a lack of support by more conservative members.
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