PiggottJanuary 18, 2014 12:20 GMTNasa baffled as rock 'appears' on MarsNasaScientists at Nasa are scratching their heads after the Martian rover Opportunity sent back images of a rock that has apparently materialised from nowhere – just a few feet from the robotic probe. So far scientists have been unable to explain how the rock appeared and where it comes from.In one photograph, taken by the six-wheeled rover's panoramic camera or Pancam, all that can be seen is bare bedrock. Yet in a later photograph, taken by the same camera at the same location a bit later on,Nike Air Max 2015 Black Blue, a doughnut-shaped rock suddenly appears.The first image was taken on "sol 3528" of the mission and the second on "sol 3540". A sol is a Martian day, which is a few minutes longer than a day on Earth – on average 24 hours 39 minutes.Originally scheduled to spend just three months on the Red Planet, Opportunity has now rolled across the bleak Martian surface for over 10 years, covering a distance of 23 miles and sending back photographs and data, including the identification of claylike rock particles that may indicate the presence of water. Opportunity has been in its current position on the rim of Opportunity Crater for over a month, stranded by dust storms.&8220;Oh my god! It wasn't there before!&8221;Steve Squyres,Nike Air Max 2015 Black Red Blue UK, Nasa"It's about the size of a jelly doughnut," said NASA Mars Exploration Rover lead scientist Steve Squyres. "It was a total surprise,Nike Air Max 2013 UK, we were like 'wait a second, that wasn't there before, it can't be right. ' We were absolutely startled."So far scientists have two theories to explain the appearance of the mystery rock, which has been labelled "Pinnacle Island".Either the rock was knocked into view by meteor impact,Nike Air Max 2014 UK, or "impact ejecta", or the rover itself caused the rock to shift as it manoeuvred, perhaps by "tiddly-winking" the stone with a rubber tyre. A more exciting possibility – that the rock was thrown at the rover by Martians – has yet to be ruled out.However the rock came to be there, scientists are excited by the chance to study the underside of a rock that may have been hidden for billions of years. <div
Shia Madness as Actor LaBeouf 'Head-Butts' Man in London Pub [VIDEO]By Mark PiggottJanuary 18, 2014 13:14 GMTShia LaBeoufReutersStar of the Transformers franchise Shia LaBeouf made a startling transformation in a London pub when he attacked another customer – apparently for insulting his girlfriend's mother.LaBeouf, 27, who has also appeared in movies including Disturbia, was enjoying karaoke night at the Hobgoblin in New Cross, southeast London, when he appeared to take exception to remarks made by the man to the mum of his girlfriend, Mia Goth. Goth's mother is believed to live locally.Labeouf later apologised to a barman at the pub, where in a previous incident in 2012 he had a fight with a customer who stole his hat."I'm really just trying to make peace," the star claimed to the barman. "I'm a normal human being. I'm not trying to shit on nobody. When people want to get hostile and shit on my girl's mum or saying things that are out of turn... I'm sorry about that, I'm just trying to make peace, you know."&8220;I'm just trying to make peace, you know&8221;Shia LaBeoufThe actor has acquired something of a reputation in recent years for getting involved in trouble. In 2005 he was arrested by police in his home city of Los Angeles and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, though the charges were dropped. In 2007 he was again arrested and charged, this time for criminal trespassing, but again the charges were dropped.In 2008 a warrant was issued for the star's arrest when he failed to turn up in court over an unlawful smoking charge, and in 2011 he was punched at an LA bar during an altercation.LaBeouf, who has been filming the war film Fury with Brad Pitt, recently announced he was retiring as an actor and all public life following allegations he plagiarised a graphic novel by Daniel Clowes when making a short film HowardCantour.com. Passages of LaBeouf's project were allegedly lifted wholesale from a story by Clowes call |
