The North Pole Drifting Towards Siberia
Earth's magnetic field is weakening, and may be getting set to flip--in just a few thousand years north will become south and south will become north, LiveScience reports. But before it can do that, the magnetic field may wander around a bit. Right now, say scientists with the European Space Agency, the Earth's magnetic north pole seems to be wandering over to Siberia.
The strength of the Earth's magnetic field is always changing, with patches of stronger or weaker shielding found across the planet. Right now, the weakest spots hover above the Western Hemisphere, whereas places around the Indian Ocean have been growing stronger. The wobbles in magnetic field strength, says LiveScience, could mean that the planet's magnetic field is entering a period of flux that will last up to a few thousand years and may ultimately end in a flipping of Earth's magnetic poles.
Researchers with the European Space Agency noticed the abnormalities in the Earth's magnetic field strength while analyzing data collected by magnetometers attached to a new three-satellite system called Swarm. Here's LiveScience:
Previously, researchers estimated the field was weakening about 5 percent per century, but the new data revealed the field is actually weakening at 5 percent per decade, or 10 times faster than thought. As such, rather than the full flip occurring in about 2,000 years, as was predicted, the new data suggest it could happen sooner.
The data, LiveScience continues, suggest that in the shorter term the magnetic North Pole might eventually relocate closer to Siberia. The magnetic north pole is currently drifting south at around 25 miles per year, says Al Jazeera, "and scientists predict it could travel from its current position in North America to Asia within a few decades."
Researchers aren't sure why things seem to be expedited, although the process--known as a geomagnetic reversal--is a natural one that has occurred many times before. The shift in the magnetic field is caused by the flux of molten metal contained beneath the Earth's surface, LiveScience explains.
Regardless of how fast the flip is happening - or if it's happening at all - humans likely have nothing to fear. No evidence exists that previous changes have resulted in any harm to species or to the planet through increased radiation damage (the magnetic field prevents cosmic radiation from bombarding the Earth). - Smithsonian Mag
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Reptilian?
I've been reading into paranormal stories and decided I'd make a throw away for my previous experiences. I have quite a few and want to share them in hopes of figuring them out. Not quite sure if this is the right sub though.
This instance was when I was walking through a crowded mall in broad daylight when I happened to look at a man walking past me who seemed to be covered in murky green, fading to pale yellow reptile scales. His nose and ears were not human, but had only a slight protrusion with slits for nostrils and small slits for ears. His eyes looked human, but dull and tired like someone with cataracts. He was dressed as a normal, middle aged man would (golf shirt, old windbreaker, and khakis) but his face and hands stood out to me. When I turned around to have another look he was gone.
Has anyone ever experienced anything like this? I did a quick Google search only to find simply flaky skinned people, nothing like actual reptile scales. - Reddit
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Scientists baffled by gigantic 262ft hole in Siberia
- Enormous crater appears suddenly in part of Russia whose name translates as 'the end of the world'
- Teams of scientists are rushing east to fathom the cause of this unusual - and rare - geographical occurrence
- One especially outlandish theory talks about a UFO landing as a possible cause of this colossal chasm in the earth
An urgent expedition will leave tomorrow to probe a giant crater that has appeared in gas-rich northern Siberia.
Extraordinary aerial images show a mysterious hole which experts say may be up to 262 feet wide, in the Yamal Peninsula of northern Russia.
'A scientific team has been sent to investigate the hole and is due to arrive at the scene on Wednesday,' The Siberian Times has reported. Read more at Daily Mail
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Freak summer snow & hail hit Siberia, Urals
Swimmers and sunbathers ran for cover as huge chunks of ice the size of golf balls rained down on them.
The eastern Siberian city of Novosibirsk played host to a freak hailstorm on Saturday, turning an otherwise ideallic day at the beach in to a scene from an apocalyptic disaster movie within the space of just a few minutes.
Beachgoers were left flabbergasted when a torrent of huge hailstones suddenly started to rain down from the heavens despite the hot summer temperatures. Many people ran for cover while shielding themselves from the onslaught while others attempted to cram together underneath a beach umbrella in the hope that it would protect them from the ice.
The hailstones weren't the only freak weather to hit Siberia's summertime this weekend either - in parts of Russia's Ural region there were reports of sudden blizzards and snowdrifts while temperatures plummeted from 20 degrees to near freezing within the space of a few hours. - RT
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