According to scientists, Iceland (and the rest of Europe) should brace themselves for another bout of volcano problems in the near future. Scientists have noticed volcanic activity in the vicinity of another volcano, Katla. The said volcano is east of Eyjafjallajökull and is larger and more powerful.
The University College of London Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction released an initial research paper, indicating that Katla’s seismic activity over the last ten years is indicative of an impending eruption. The paper said that Katla’s activity is not linked to the recent Eyjafjallajökull ash cloud incident. It said further, “We conclude that given the high frequency of Katla activity, an eruption in the short term is a strong possibility. It is likely to be preceded by new earthquake activity. Presently there is no unusual seismicity under Katla.”
Iceland President Ólafur Grímsson has issued a warning to the other European governments to prepare for the possible eruption.
If you’re one of those people who are a little scared to visit Madam Tussauds because the wax figures look so lifelike, then this news bit should give you some comfort that you have every right to be scared. Ozzy Osbourne took a trip to Madam Tussauds in New York and did what Al Roker did back in 2009. He posed as his own wax replica and scared those who having their pictures taken. He also played around President Obama’s figure in the Oval Office while Sharon Osbourne posed beside Ozzy’s wax figure (the real one).
The prank was done to promote Ozzy’s upcoming album, Scream, slated for release this month. After the prank, Ozzy laughed it the prank off with his wife Sharon.
X51A Waverider, the Air Force’s experimental aircraft was recently tested and broke the record for hypersonic flight, going at Mach 6 for more than three minutes. You read that right: Mach 6, or 6 times the speed of sound.
The US Air Force, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), NASA, Boeing, and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne collaborated for the X51A Waverider program.
The X51A Waverider was attached to a B-53 Stratofortress then released just off the coast of southern California. It was equipped with a solid rocket booster that accelerated the Waverider to 4.5 Mach then the scramjet engine kicked in to get the craft to Mach 6. Charlie Brink, X51A program manager of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio said, “We equate this leap in engine technology as equivalent to the post-World War II jump from propeller-driven aircraft to jet engines.”
According to Joe Vogel, director of hypersonics at Boeing, the technology will serve as a “foundation for several hypersonic applications, including access to space, reconnaissance, strike, global reach and commercial transportation.”
The Air Force will test the three other X51A cruisers it has in the fall.
