As we move into an era of the climate change emergency where terrifying news comes out daily, another fine (read: horrifying) example of this has been laid bare. New stories come out all the time that show us just where the problems of the planet are starting from, and it’s often in the most important, foundational areas.

Scientists have recently revealed that a tectonic planet that is ‘peeling apart’ could lead to a significant shrinking of the Atlantic. As you might imagine, this is not a good thing.

With new stories breaking all the time, it’s hard to keep up with what new ways this environmental apocalypse is going to play out. Indeed, according to the Instituto Dom Luiz at the University of Lisbon, and their scientist Joao Duarte, we could be about to see something horrifying take place.

Indeed, he has found a location around 155-miles from Cape St. Vincent, Portugal, that is “peeling” apart.

Previously Unknown Process

This process was previously unknown and was previously only something that was found to have taken place underneath continents. This is quite a big thing, despite the peeling area being somewhat flat. This location, the Horseshoe Abyssal Plain, is peeling, and it’s not a good thing.

Duarte, a lead researcher on a study that was given to the European Geosciences Union in Vienna, Australia, has been involved in this research for some time. They found that an earthquake that had taken place off Portugal sometime in 1755, which played a role in the destruction of the city of Lisbon at the time, could be involved in this happening. It’s also linked to a 1969 earthquake that took place near Lisbon, too.

According to Duarte, speaking to Fox News: “The 20 upper kilometers [12.4 miles] of the plate is made of soft rocks that are light and the bottom is dense and heavy (because the plate is very old, more than 100 million years),

“This causes this lower part to detach from the upper part and sink in the mantle by the pull of gravity,” he added, noting that the process is aided by the infiltration of water that softens the upper part of the plate.

This could be caused by a subduction zone – when a tectonic plate falls beneath another. Duarte explained, saying: “We know that there are some margins of continents that do not have subduction zones, such as the margins of the Atlantic, and some margins of continents that have subduction zones, such as the margins of the Pacific (the ring of fire),

“But we do not understand yet very well how they form.

“This situation here may correspond to a rare example in which one subduction zone is just starting. And for that one of the plates has to slowly start peeling down, which is what we see (both in our observations/imaging and with some computational models with which we managed to reproduce the process).”

In terms of a potential shrinking of the ocean, Duarte said that: “It makes sense that a new supercontinent will form in the future as the result of the closing of the Atlantic,”

So, I think it would be safe to say that, for the near future, we should probably watch this new environmental change take place with crossed fingers. In generations to come, this could have a pretty significant role to play in how the world is shaped.

Train speeds are improving all the time. Did you know, for example, that Japan has just unveiled a bullet train that can move as fast as 249mph?

The Japanese have a unique habit when it comes to innovation, and tend to be pretty good at taking inventions higher than ever before. Well, with the new ALFA-X, you will be able to see a train that can hit speeds you would barely be able to believe.

When you get on a train, the aim is to get you somewhere without wasting any time. It’s the obvious and main reason to get a train; to help you get to somewhere faster than you would if you had just gone on-foot or alone.

For many people, trains are getting faster and faster than we can imagine. Often, if you were to find out the pace that a train was moving at, you would likely be surprised at just how fast it is.

The power of this train is already making experts blush; though it won’t be actually in service until, it’s estimated, 2030. So, someone has 11 or so years to board a train that can go close to 250mph!

This new treat will be used at around 224mph on average, which would mean that it would travel on average 10kph faster than the Chinese equivalent, the Fuxing Hao. This has the same top speed capacity, but it’s likely that the ALFA-X will win on consistency.

Historical Speed

At around 72ft in the nose area alone, the ALFA-X is an imposing piece of modern locomotive history. It’s going to help change the entire industry, it is hoped, bringing to light an even higher than expected standard for the future.

The futuristic, modern design will obviously make it stand out, while the imperious design style – with 10 cars in total – ensures it will be efficient as well as stylish.

The train will be part of the new Shinkansen high-speed railway lines which are appearing all across Japan. Testing will begin between Aomori and Sendai, during the evening, and will be a 3-year testing plan. This will provide ample time to perfect the overall style of the train, and make sure that it is capable of meeting expectations performance-wise.

Interestingly, the Shinkansen N700S only was agreed to be put into operation in 2020, which can hit speeds of around 186mph. This, though, will simply blow it away, adding a new level of power and pace onto the railway tracks of Japan. While it may not be as fast as trains using magnetic levitation, this will ensure that this particular kind of bullet train can still keep up with the very best.

The bullet train has become a major part of Japanese travel culture, and for that reason many would be sad to see it go. Make no mistake, though, this new kind of train shows that – even with the growth of the maglev trains – there is still much love for bullet trains in Japan and beyond.

Talk about a drama queen! Bagira the Great Dane is super jealous of the new puppy in the family, that he just can’t stand to see his owner holding and petting the puppy, instead of him!

Sure, we all get jealous sometimes, it is only a natural instinct. We were jealous of our siblings, of the toys our friends had – basically, of anything that we thought we were lacking and thought we had to have!

Adjustment can be difficult for people, can you imagine how difficult it must be for a dog, one that can’t really understand what you are saying to it?

Drama Queen

When the owner, Lindsey Heinz, picks up the new puppy and turns the camera on, we can immediately hear Bagira growling below. “I can pet him too…It’s not all about you” says Lindsey, but Bagira is not having it.

As huge as he is, Bagira gets up on his hind legs and puts his front paws on Lindsey, begging to be petted too! “You are so dramatic!” continues Lindsey.

She keeps on criticizing him, but the bog old pup is determined to stand his ground. We can only imagine what he must feel like, already having one brother and now another? It seems like only just yesterday that he was Mommy’s favorite lap puppy!