Day: March 30, 2022

A batch of dome-shaped ice volcanoes that look unlike anything else known in our solar system and may still be active have been identified on Pluto using data from NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, showing that this remote frigid world is more dynamic than previously known.

Scientists said that these cryovolcanoes — numbering perhaps 10 or more — stand anywhere from 1 kilometer (six-tenths of a mile) to 7 kilometers (4-1/2 miles) tall. Unlike Earth volcanoes that spew gases and molten rock, this dwarf planet’s cryovolcanoes extrude large amounts of ice — apparently frozen water rather than some other frozen material — that may have the consistency of toothpaste, they said.

Features on the asteroid belt dwarf planet Ceres, Saturn’s moons Enceladus and Titan, Jupiter’s moon Europa and Neptune’s moon Triton also have been pegged as cryovolcanoes. But those all differ from Pluto’s, the researchers said, owing to different surface conditions such as temperature and atmospheric pressure, as well as different mixes of icy materials.

“Finding these features does indicate that Pluto is more active, or geologically alive, than we previously thought it would be,” said planetary scientist Kelsi Singer of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, lead author of the study published this week in the journal Nature Communications.

“The combination of these features being geologically recent, covering a vast area and most likely being made of water ice is surprising because it requires more internal heat than we thought Pluto would have at this stage of its history,” Singer added.

Pluto, which is smaller than Earth’s moon and has a diameter of about 2,380 kilometers (1,400 miles), orbits about 5.8 billion kilometers (3.6 billion miles) away from the sun, roughly 40 times farther than Earth’s orbit. Its surface features plains, mountains, craters and valleys.

Images and data analyzed in the new study, obtained in 2015 by New Horizons, validated previous hypotheses about cryovolcanism on Pluto.

The study found not only extensive evidence for cryovolcanism but also that it has been long-lived, not a single episode, said Southwest Research Institute planetary scientist Alan Stern, the New Horizons principal investigator and study co-author.

“What’s most fascinating about Pluto is that it’s so complex – as complex as the Earth or Mars despite its smaller size and high distance from the sun,” Stern said. “This was a real surprise from the New Horizons flyby, and the new result about cryovolcanism re-emphasizes this in a dramatic way.”

The researchers analyzed an area southwest of Sputnik Planitia, Pluto’s large heart-shaped basin filled with nitrogen ice. They found large domes 30-100 kilometers (18-60 miles) across, sometimes combining to form more complexly shaped structures.

An elevation called Wright Mons, one of the tallest, may have formed from several volcanic domes merging, yielding a shape unlike any Earth volcanoes. Although shaped differently, it is similar in size to Hawaii’s large volcano Mauna Loa.

Like Earth and our solar system’s other planets, Pluto formed about 4.5 billion years ago. Based on an absence of impact craters that normally would accumulate over time, it appears its cryovolcanoes are relatively recent — formed in the past few hundred million years.

“That is young on a geologic timescale. Because there are almost no impact craters, it is possible these processes are ongoing even in the present day,” Singer said.

Pluto has lots of active geology, including flowing nitrogen ice glaciers and a cycle in which nitrogen ice vaporizes during the day and condenses back to ice at night — a process constantly changing the planetary surface.

“Pluto is a geological wonderland,” Singer said. “Many areas of Pluto are completely different from each other. If you just had a few pieces of a puzzle of Pluto you would have no idea what the other areas looked like.”

Source: Voice of America

Receiving all recommended doses of Covid-19 vaccine and a booster shot remains necessary to increase immunity against Covid-19 especially Omicron variant, said Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health, Dr Sisavath Soutthanilaxay.

At a press conference in Vientiane this morning, Dr Sisavath urged members of the public to continue practicing new normal lifestyles and take part in reducing Covid-19 infections by complying with anti-Covid-19 measures including getting vaccinated, washing hands with gels or soaps, avoiding crowded places and mass gatherings or organising risky activities.

Some 2,697 new Covid-19 cases and one fatality attributed to Covid-19 have been reported nationwide over the previous 24 hours with the total caseload reaching 174,136 including 6,548 active cases and 664 deaths.

Of the new infections, detected among 5,454 people tested for Covid-19 yesterday, 2,681 were classified as domestic infections and 16 as imported cases.

Most of the new infections were reported in Vientiane with 1,204 cases, followed by Khammuan 250, Savannakhet 228, Xayaboury 167, Oudomxay 148, Vientiane (province) 124, Phongsaly 81 and Borikhamxay 73.

As of Mar 30, over 5.6 million people, accounting for 76.40% of population in the country, have been vaccinated with at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, according to the Centre of Information and Education for Health, Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, the number of people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 has reached over 4.47 million, representing 60.99% of the population.

Source: Lao News Agency

Federal health officials are dropping the warning they have attached to cruising since the beginning of the pandemic, leaving it up to vacationers to decide whether they feel safe getting on a ship.

Cruise-ship operators welcomed Wednesday’s announcement, which came as many people thought about summer vacation plans.

An industry trade group said the move by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention validated measures that ship owners have taken, including requiring crew members and most passengers to be vaccinated against the virus.

The CDC removed the COVID-19 “cruise ship travel health notice” that was first imposed in March 2020, after virus outbreaks on several ships around the world.

However, the agency expressed reservations about cruising.

“While cruising will always pose some risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers will make their own risk assessment when choosing to travel on a cruise ship, much like they do in all other travel settings,” CDC spokesperson Dave Daigle said in an email.

Daigle said the CDC’s decision was based on “the current state of the pandemic and decreases in COVID-19 cases onboard cruise ships over the past several weeks.”

COVID-19 cases in the United States have been falling since mid-January, although the decline has slowed in recent weeks, and the current seven-day rolling average for daily new cases in the U.S. is roughly unchanged from two weeks ago, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. States have rolled back mask mandates, putting pressure on federal officials to ease virus-related restrictions.

Outbreaks continue to be reported on cruise ships, which conduct random testing before the end of voyages.

On Sunday, a Princess Cruises ship returning from the Panama Canal had “multiple” passengers who had tested positive for the virus. Princess Cruises said all the affected passengers showed mild symptoms or none at all, and that all crew members and passengers had been vaccinated. About a dozen passengers tested positive before the same boat docked in San Francisco in January.

Operators are required to tell the CDC about virus cases on board ships. The agency has a colored-coded system to classify ships based on the percentage of passengers who test positive. The CDC said that system remains in place.

Cruise-ship operators have complained since the start of the pandemic that their industry has been singled out for a shutdown and then tighter COVID-19 restrictions than others, including airlines.

The Cruise Lines International Association said in a statement that the CDC’s decision to remove its health warning “recognizes the effective public health measures in place on cruise ships and begins to level the playing field between cruise and similarly situated venues on land.”

Colleen McDaniel, editor in chief of Cruise Critic, a site that publishes review of trips, called the CDC decision big news.

“Symbolically it’s a notice of winds of change when it comes to cruising,” she said. “I do think it can convince some of the doubters. What the CDC says does matter to cruisers.”

Source: Voice of America

Vice Minister of Education and Sports (MoES) Khanthaly Siriphongphan, WHO Representative to the Lao PDR Ying-Ru Jacqueline Lo, UNICEF Representative to the Lao PDR Pia Rebello Britto, and Director General, Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion, Ministry of Health (MoH) Dr.Phonepaseuth Ounaphom paid a joint visit to Sokpaluang Primary School last Friday, observing the COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures the school implements as the Omicron COVID-19 variant looms in the country, especially in Vientiane.

MoES, MoH, UNICEF and WHO teams have been briefed by the school principal on the COVID-19 safety measures in place at the school based on national COVID-19 safety measures for schools approved by the National COVID-19 Task Force.

Vice Minister of MoES, Representatives from MoH, UNICEF and WHO representatives also met with teachers and students to learn about their school experiences during the pandemic, as well as what children require to continue their education and reach their full potential amidst the pandemic.

“As the Lao PDR experiences more Omicron cases of COVID-19, making sure that children are learning is a top priority for the Government. We are closely working with schools, the Ministry of Health, and UNICEF and WHO to ensure mitigation measures are followed in schools and learning is not interrupted during this challenging time. It is well established that investing in the school attendance of children don’t only improve children’s learning and wellbeing – it also promises better economic and social situation for the country,” said Mrs Khanthaly Siriphongphan.

The COVID-19 pandemic is approaching to its third year and the threat of the Omicron variant and new COVID variants is increasing around the world, including in the Lao PDR. Children’s learning has been disrupted during the past three years with on-and-off school closures also impacting their access to protection, hygiene, nutrition and socialization that schools provide. Uninterrupted access to in-person schooling remains an urgent priority to avoid a learning catastrophe that would have long-term consequences for children and the country.

“I am aware that some parents are still worried about sending their children back to school during this time. As a mother myself, I understand this concern very well. However, the time spent in school is an absolutely integral part of children’s development and to take that away from them is to deprive them of their ability to realise their potential in life. As in all things we must find a balance and, in this regard, it is between ensuring our children’s safety but also safeguarding their future,” UNICEF Representative Dr Britto said.

“The evidence to date shows that schools are not major spreaders of COVID-19 and throughout these two years, we have learned many lessons about the protective measures that work. UNICEF and the Ministry of Education are working very closely together to ensure schools are safe and all these measures are followed so that children can continue their learning journey,” Dr Britto added.

To support schools in the Lao PDR open safely, UNICEF actively conducted a Safely Back to School campaign since the start of the pandemic and provided personal protective equipment such as masks, hand gels, thermometers, and soaps to schools across the country.

Information, education and communication materials such as banners and posters on COVID-19 prevention measures, including vaccination of teachers and students have been produced and disseminated widely in collaboration with WHO, along with digital advocacy materials.

With thanks to the generous support of partners like the European Union and the Global Partnership for Education, UNICEF has supported MoES set-up the digital teaching and learning platform KhangPanya Lao to support children’s learning during school closures and as a supplementary learning resource inthe classroom.

Two seasons of the early childhood TV series My House with episodes focusing on COVID-19 prevention measures were released so that children can keep learning and be informed about how to protect themselves from the virus.

“If schools with the support of parents and the wider community strictly follow measures like proper mask use, physical distancing, adequate ventilation, personal hygiene practices, regular cleaning and disinfection and observing a ‘stay home when sick’ policy, schools can continue to operate safely and children can continue learning in the classroom,” WHO representative Dr. Lo said.

Prolonged school closures and ongoing interruptions to in-class learning have severe adverse consequences, with significant impact on children’s learning and skills attainment and earning prospects, as well as on their physical and mental health, and that of their families. The global evidence shows increases in anxiety, depression, and self-harm among school-aged children since the start of the pandemic. School closures have also led to reduced physical activity, poor eating habits, and disrupted sleep patterns.

“Maintaining vigilance, promoting vaccination for eligible groups and adherence to all of the other measures, is critical – not only for schools, but also for our broader efforts to suppress COVID-19 transmission in the community,” Dr Lo added.

After meeting with students and teachers, UNICEF and WHO representatives also walked through the school and checked the classrooms to observe teaching-learning and COVID-19 protocols.

As part of the visit, UNICEF and WHO shared with school officials about relevant evidence and guidance from the two UN organizations on safe operation of schools amidst the pandemic and emerging new COVID-19 variants, and good practices on ensuring continuity of learning.

UNICEF and WHO officials shared their observations from the visit with the school principal and MoES and MoH officials.

Source: Lao News Agency

The committee on procurement of position vehicles for high ranking officials organized a bid opening for procurement of 23 electric vehicles (EV) with electric motors of 121 to 163kw and 160 EVs with electric motors of 100-160kw.

The bid opening took place in the presence of Deputy Minister of Finance and chairman of the committee Bounpone Vannachit, representatives of car dealers and relevant authorities.

Car dealers are required to provide electric vehicles that are powered by lithium-ion batteries, pass internationally recognized tests UNECE R100, R136 and are guaranteed with test certificates from manufacturers, along with after-sales service and fast charging facilities.

The car must be at least 4,885 mm long and 1,840 mm wide, and equipped with GPS technology, automatic transmission, ABS brakes, and fast charging technology.

Source: Lao News Agency