Stories for October 2020

Tuesday, October 27th 2020 - 08:49 UTC
The Atlantic ocean first 200 meters water layer holds 12 to 21 million tons of micro plastic waste

Researchers have made micro plastic measurements in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. In the first 200 meters of the water layer, they estimate that there are approximately 12 to 21 million tons of waste.
Tuesday, October 27th 2020 - 08:44 UTC
Polar associations agree on standards for field staff on expedition cruise vessels

Two polar associations have developed standards for field staff working on expedition cruise vessels in polar regions. The Association of Arctic Expeditions Operators, AECO, and the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, IAATO, agreed on guidelines that have been adopted as industry standards.
Tuesday, October 27th 2020 - 08:41 UTC
Falklands awards extension of oil licenses until 2022 to Borders & Southern

Oil company Borders & Southern Petroleum said it has been granted an extension to its Falkland Islands licenses.
Tuesday, October 27th 2020 - 08:35 UTC
NASA confirms for the first time water on the sunlit surface of the Moon

NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has confirmed, for the first time, water on the sunlit surface of the Moon. This discovery indicates that water may be distributed across the lunar surface, and not limited to cold, shadowed places.
Tuesday, October 27th 2020 - 08:25 UTC
Falklands and privateer/pirate captain David Jewett 1820 adventure

In response to Argentina’s planned commemorations of the 200th anniversary of the visit to the Falklands by the privateer captain David Jewett in 1820 and his purported “taking of possession” of the Islands for Argentina, historian Graham Pascoe has released the paper ‘David Jewett’s visit to the Falklands, 1820-21: no valid “possession-taking.” Dr. Pascoe notes in his abstract that before David Jewett arrived he had captured a neutral Portuguese ship, and he captured another neutral US ship in the Islands.
Tuesday, October 27th 2020 - 08:20 UTC
Catholic and “originalist” Judge Barrett ensures a conservative majority in the US Supreme Court

Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the US Supreme Court came as little surprise. The long-term academic, appeals court judge and mother of seven was the hot favorite for the Supreme Court seat.
Monday, October 26th 2020 - 09:56 UTC
Chile overwhelmingly approved a constitutional reform with a specially elected assembly

The referendum in Chile was held on Sunday with a resounding result in favor of reforming the constitution. After last year's social protests, it was decided to consult citizens if they wanted to begin the process of promulgating a new Chilean constitution, leaving the one approved during the time of Augusto Pinochet in 1980 without effect.
Monday, October 26th 2020 - 09:50 UTC
Drought and wildfires devastating South America's wetlands and forests

Experts say the wildfires in a region that spans Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay – especially the region between the Paraguay, Parana, and Uruguay rivers – have become critical in 2020.
Monday, October 26th 2020 - 09:40 UTC
Uruguay will not host tourists this summer season; borders will remain “technically closed”

“Dear brothers from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, the rest of the region and the world, this summer we will not be able to host you as we do every summer. I want you to know that it is a very painful decision, because as Uruguayans and hosts we love to receive you and there is nothing we would love most than to share the summer season with you”, is the video message from Uruguay's Tourist minister German Cardoso to the potential visitors.
Monday, October 26th 2020 - 09:18 UTC
US Coast Guard will increase presence in the Pacific to contain the threat of China's IUU fishing

US national security adviser said the US Coast Guard (USCG) was basing Enhanced Response Cutters in the western Pacific for maritime security missions, citing illegal fishing and harassment of vessels by China.