Category: Science
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Is Sodalite a rock or mineral? Unveiling its true nature
Sodalite is a mineral famous for its rich royal blue color. It is classified as a tectosilicate and belongs to the cubic crystal system, commonly occurring in massive granular form. While it is sometimes mistaken for a rock due to its common presence in rock-forming environments, it is indeed a mineral with a well-defined chemical…
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How Australia’s Hillier Lake gets its pink color
Lake Hillier, on Middle Island off the south coast of Western Australia, is an iconic lake celebrated for its vivid pink color. Nestled in the pristine wilderness of the Recherche Archipelago, algae and bacteria interact with the saline water to cause the lake’s distinctive pink shade. More specifically, scientists postulate that the lake’s solid bubblegum…
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Sunset from Mars: Why the Mars sunset is blue
NASA’s Curiosity Rover photographed this view of the sun setting from its 956th Martian day on Mars. Notice that the sunset from Mars appears blue. The above image actually consists of a sequence of four images captured over a span of 6 minutes, 51 seconds. Check out the full GIF below. Said Mark Lemmon of…
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There are different types of tears
Did you know that we shed different types of tears based on our emotions? Far from simple expressions of sadness or joy, tears are a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Each tear type is composed of unique chemicals — mainly salt, water, and lysozyme — that give them their variable structure. Three Types of Tears There…
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Is Mammoth Cave in Kentucky the biggest cave in the world?
Nestled within the heart of Kentucky, USA, lies Mammoth Cave, an underground sensation that has captured the interest of explorers, geologists, and tourists alike. The question often arises: Is Mammoth Cave the largest cave in the world? Let’s delve into the facts to uncover the truth. Mammoth Cave Overview Mammoth Cave boasts a staggering length…
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Lechuguilla Caves Reveal Astonishing Virgin Cave Pool
An awe-inspiring discovery at New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns National Park revealed a network of “virgin” cave passages and an untouched pool 700 feet below the surface. This finding adds to the mystique of Lechuguilla Cave, one of the ten longest caves in the world. Lechuguilla Caves’ Special Discovery In May 2000, geoscientist Max Wisshak led an expedition…
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The Wave in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
The Wave is a sandstone rock formation located in North Coyote Buttes of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument on the Arizona and Utah borders. The swirling stone waves combine water and wind-eroded sandstone dunes, calcified vertically and horizontally, and fossilized over 190 million years. The rich red-vermilion rocks get their colors from iron oxide pigments. Only 20…
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Diver finds 900-year-old crusader sword off Israel’s Carmel coast
A scuba diver discovered an ancient sword off Israel’s Carmel coast near the port city of Haifa. The iron sword is thought to have belonged to a crusader knight 900 years ago when the Crusaders were fighting Muslim forces for control over the Holy Land. Eagle-eyed diver Shlomi Katzin stumbled upon the three-foot blade on…
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Mount Bromo Crater, East Java Indonesia
Mount Bromo is an active volcano located in the Tengger mountain range of East Java, Indonesia. It is also one of the most visited tourist attractions in the rugged Indonesian province. The views from atop the mountain are extraordinary, as one can see well into the crater and the beautiful countryside surrounding it. There’s also…