Category Archives: Mars

In the past, the Indian Space Research Organization has astounded the globe by carrying out space missions at astonishingly low rates. Following in this tradition, the ISRO has now set its sights on an expedition to Venus, which will only cost between Rs 5 billion and Rs 10 billion.

The ISRO chooses budget-friendly projects compared to other international space agencies like NASA, which spend enormous sums on space missions. Costing about Rs 3.86 billion, ISRO's Chandrayan-1 was a low-cost spacecraft. While the launch of Chandrayaan-2 cost Rs 3.67 billion, the mission itself cost Rs 6.3 billion.

Following its Moon and Mars expeditions, the ISRO is currently considering a Venus trip.There are reports that the ISRO had been considering a December 2024 launch window for the Venus expedition.

It wouldn't be made public until the Union government gave it its final approval. The ISRO has been working to make sure it will be a distinctive mission.

According to sources, ISRO's "Shukrayaan-I," the expedition to Venus, has been conceptualised. The mission hopes to solve these questions in the coming years when it explores the sun's hottest planet. Several international space agencies have expressed interest in the mission and want to send payloads with "Shukrayaan."

Most likely, "Shukrayaan-I" will be launched on a GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) Mk II, though it may potentially travel on a more potent GSLV Mk III in order to carry additional equipment or fuel.

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Watch | ISRO`s yet another budget space trip: After moon and mars, India is going to Venus - WION

When Mars launched a vegan version of Galaxy in 2019 beating rivals Cadbury and Lindt to the punch it was met with a rapturous response. It was the first major supplier to create a vegan version of one of its biggest brands.

It followed with vegan Topic and Bounty bars, which sold well: the value of the whole range rose 11% to 3.7m in the past year alone [NielsenIQ 52 w/e 29 May 2022].

That is, until the entire lineup was delisted in Tesco, Sainsburys and Morrisons over recent months. Theyre still stocked in Asda, Co-op, Boots and on Amazon, but the delistings have had a catastrophic effect on sales. In the four weeks to 28 May, sales of the range fell 61% [NielsenIQ].

So, why did three of the UKs biggest retailers ditch such a successful proposition? And what can it tell us about the challenges for vegan chocolate?

When The Grocer broke the news of the delists, Morrisons said the range did not meet the criteria of either our health & wellbeing category or our free-from one. It is understood this was because Mars couldnt state its bars were 100% dairy-free.

The packs carry a label stating while the recipes are vegan, they are made in a factory that uses milk.

A milk allergy can be just as dangerous as a peanut allergy

Its understandable why retailers might want to crack down on any product with even the slightest risk of causing an allergic reaction.

Consumers are more aware and actively looking at the back of pack, says confectionery investor and former Thorntons marketing boss Hannah Legg.

Plus three years ago you had less brands that could properly segregate the supply chain and the manufacturing so there were less to choose from.

And its important to remember that some people are really sensitive, says Moo Free founder Andrea Jessop. A milk allergy can be just as dangerous as a peanut allergy.

Why then, did Mars refuse to allow its bars to be ranged in core confectionery? After all, thats where the other big vegan chocolate players like Cadbury Plant Bars (which carry a small may contain milk warning on back of pack) are ranged.

I would imagine [Mars] see the free-from space as totally incremental to them, says Legg. [The big chocolatiers] are fighting for margin and incremental distribution all the time. This wasnt an issue in Asda, which has a dedicated vegan chocolate fixture.

Mars maintains free-from is the right place for its vegan choc. A spokeswoman says it is committed to a long-term future in the free-from range and plans to continue to build our portfolio in this space.

But these delistings suggest it might have to go back to the drawing board and potentially relaunch true free-from chocolates if it wants to regain lost shelf space.

However, removing any potential allergens completely is difficult and expensive. It requires significant investment or a third party manufacturer, which adds cost and reduces margin.

That and theres very few factories that are completely free-from, says Jessop.

Tricky, when Mars needs to be able to compete with the likes of Cadbury and Lindt.

Still, it has proved itself a pioneer in catering to health & wellness trends of late: take its recently unveiled non-HFSS Triple Treat bars, or CO2COA, the entirely vegan chocolate brand it this week launched in the US.

Who knows, Mars could be back in the UKs free-from aisles sooner rather than later.

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Why Mars vegan chocolate is disappearing from the major mults - The Grocer

From orbit, this landscape on Mars looks like a lacy honeycomb or a spider web. But the unusual polygon-shaped features aren't created by Martian bees or spiders; they are actually formed from an ongoing process of seasonal change from created from water ice and carbon dioxide.

The HiRISE camera (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has seen a lot of polygon shapes in the years since 2006 when it went into orbit of Mars.

(NASA/JPL/UArizona)

Above:Polygonal dunes on Mars, as seen by the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

The science team from HiRISE says that both water and carbon dioxide in the solid form of dry ice play a major role in sculpting Mars' surface at high latitudes.

Water ice frozen in the soil splits the ground into the polygon shapes. Then, dry ice sublimating from just under the surface when the ground warms in the spring creates even more erosion, creating channels around the boundaries of the polygons.

(NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona)

Above:Spring fans and polygons on Mars, as seen by the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

The polygons form over many years as the near-surface ice contracts and expands seasonally.

But this polygon-covered region shows even more springtime activity, evidenced by the blue fan-shaped features. Scientists say the layer of translucent dry ice coating the surface develops vents that allow gas to escape.

"The gas carries along fine particles of material from the surface further eroding the channels," the team wrote on the HiRISE website.

"The particles drop to the surface in dark fan-shaped deposits. Sometimes the dark particles sink into the dry ice, leaving bright marks where the fans were originally deposited. Often the vent closes, then opens again, so we see two or more fans originating from the same spot but oriented in different directions as the wind changes."

(NASA/JPL)

Above: Detailed image of large-scale crater floor polygons, caused by desiccation process, with smaller polygons caused by thermal contraction inside. The central polygon is 160 meters in diameter, smaller ones range 10 to 15 meters in width and the cracks are 5 -10 meters across.

Scientists study polygonally-patterned ground on Mars because these features help them understand the recent and past distribution of ices in the shallow subsurface, as well as provide clues about climate conditions.

And Mars isn't the only place with polygons. Polygons can be found in Earth's arctic and Antarctic regions, and the 2015 flyby by the New Horizons spacecraft revealed polygons on Pluto as well.

(NASA/JHUAPL/SWRI)

Above: Polygons seen on Pluto.

In the center left of Pluto's vast heart-shaped feature informally named "Tombaugh Regio" lies a vast, crater-less plain that appears to be no more than 100 million years old, and is possibly still being shaped by geologic processes.

This frozen region is north of Pluto's icy mountains and has been informally named Sputnik Planum (Sputnik Plain), after Earth's first artificial satellite. The surface appears to be divided into polygon-shaped segments that are ringed by narrow troughs.

Features that appear to be groups of mounds and fields of small pits are also visible. This image was acquired by the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) on July 14 from a distance of 48,000 miles (77,000 kilometers).

Features as small as one-half mile (1 kilometer) across are visible. The blocky appearance of some features is due to compression of the image.

This article was originally published by Universe Today. Read the original article.

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Strange Honeycomb Pattern on Mars Appears to Be Formed by Water Ice And CO2 - ScienceAlert

Keep your eye on the eastern sky before dawn on Wednesday (June 22) to see the crescent moon approach Mars as it continues its tour of the morning planets.

"The moon's pretty crescent will take up position a palm's width to the right of Mars' reddish dot." Writes Chris Vaughan, amateur astronomer with SkySafari Software who oversees Space.com's Night Sky calendar. "Bright Jupiter will shine off to their upper right (or celestial west)."

The pair will make for an interesting stargazing target as they will appear close enough to share the same field of view in a pair of binoculars. They will rise above the eastern horizon around 1:56 a.m. EDT (0556 GMT). Observers in the Southern Ocean region will also be able to see the moon occult Mars around 18:00 GMT according to Vaughan.

Related: The brightest planets in June's night sky: How to see them (and when)

The exact time of the event varies depending on your specific location, so you'll want to check out a skywatching app like SkySafari or software like Starry Night to confirm the local time to look up. Our picks for the best stargazing apps may help you with your planning.

Mars is the fourth planet from the sun and perhaps one of the most distinctive planets in the night sky due to its famous red hue. It gets its color from the oxidization, or rust, of iron-rich minerals in its regolith the loose dust and rock covering its surface.

Hoping to capture a good photo of the moon as it approaches Mars? Our guide on how to photograph the moon has some helpful tips. If you're looking for a camera, here's our overview of the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography. As always, our guides for the best telescopes and best binoculars can help you prepare for the next great skywatching event.

The moon and mars getting cosy isn't the only skywatching event to look out for this month. Throughout June, a rare "planet parade" will be visible in the predawn sky as all five naked-eye planets line up in their orbital order from the sun. From left to right in the southeastern sky, you'll be able to spot Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn all in a row. (Mercury, usually hidden by the sun's glare, will become easier to spot as the month matures.)

The best opportunity to see this spectacle may come on June 24, as Mercury should rise about an hour before the sun, according to a press release from Sky&Telescope.

Throughout June, the moon will continue to journey past the morning planets, embarking on a planetary "meet and greet." After Mars, the next stop on the tour is Venus on June 26 then finally Mercury on June 27.

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The moon will swing by Mars early Wednesday morning as it continues its planetary tour - Space.com

To address the evolving needs of travelers with cats and dogs, global hospitality leader Hilton, and Mars Petcare, the worlds largest pet care company, are expanding their partnership across Hiltons pet-friendly brands.

The seven pet-friendly brands are Canopy by Hilton,Embassy Suites by Hilton,Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton,Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites by HiltonandHome2 Suites by Hilton.

Building on their strategic partnership established inSeptember 2021,Hilton and Mars Petcarewill now offer access to virtual support from the Mars Pet Expert Team (PET) during their stay via Mars PET On-Demand a convenient online service to answer questions related to traveling with your cat or dog at more than 4,600 hotels in Hiltons portfolio across the U.S. andCanada.

Perfect Pet-Friendly StaysHilton and Mars Petcareare delivering thoughtful programming that promotes a more seamless travel experience.

Were always looking to make a more welcoming world for pet parents and their pets, and the expansion of our partnership with Hilton to offer our services and expertise to guests at more than 4,600 hotels acrossNorth Americais doing just that, said Ikdeep Singh, Global President, Mars Pet Nutrition. We strive to make communities more pet-friendly so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of a life with pets, and through this breakthrough collaboration, were proud to continue to find ways to make those benefits conveniently accessible even while traveling.

With 23 million families adding pets to their homes over the last two years, this summer will be the first time many of these pets hit the road with their pet parents, saidJessa Paschke, Pet Behavior Consultant, Mars Pet Expert Team. Through Mars PET On-Demand, we hope to be able to provide pet parents peace of mind through on-demand articles and one-on-one advice to make the whole travel experience, from packing to settling in at the hotel, as seamless as possible so everyone can enjoy their time away together.

Phil Cordell, Global Category Head, Lifestyle Brands, and Global Brand Head, Canopy by Hilton, said, Leaving a pet behind or boarding them when traveling can be stressful for both pets and their owners. Most hotels in Hiltons pet-friendly brands welcome our guests and their furry friends, especially now when pet-friendly accommodations have become such a key factor in not only determining the destination, but where to stay.

Bill Duncan, Global Category Head, Focused Service & All Suites Brands, said, A trip is always more fun when you can travel with the whole family pets included. Now with 5,000 pet-friendly Hilton hotels to choose from worldwide, and with more than 4,600 in the U.S. andCanadaoffering exclusive perks available through our partnership with Mars Petcare, were excited to provide the hospitality guests expect from Hilton in more places to make their stay feel more like home.

Many of Hiltons pet-friendly hotels also offer amenities such as pet bowls and extra waste bags. Canopy by Hiltons Paws in the Neighborhood program provides guests with dog beds, food, water bowls and a bark bag filled with a toy, treats and guide to pet-friendly neighborhood activities. Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton team members provide local pet-friendly resources, such as where to find local dog parks, nearby 24-hour vets, pet stores and pet-friendly restaurants.

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Mars Petcare partners with pet friendly hotels across the U.S. & Canada - Reel Chicago News

Living on Mars and making humanity multiplanetary will help us tackle major problems on Earth.

So says Tim Ellis, chief executive and co-founder of Relativity Space, the worlds second-largest private space company.

In an interview with the World Economic Forum, which has included Relativity Space in its Global Innovator Community, Ellis shared his vision for the future.

Based in Los Angeles, California, Relativity Space 3D-prints entire rockets.

Elliss vision is to use these rockets to make humanity multiplanetary and put one million people on Mars.

We're building the world's largest 3D-printing factory, Ellis explains. Somebody has to build the company that's going to create infrastructure on Mars, and it's going to have to be based on 3D printing.

Ellis co-founded Relativity Space in 2015 with chief technology officer, Jordan Noone.

They previously worked together at the University of Southern Californias Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, where they helped launch into space the first rocket designed and built by students.

Ellis also worked on 3D-printed rocket components at Blue Origin, the space company founded by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2000.

Elon Musks space company, SpaceX, further informed his vision, Ellis says.

I was inspired by watching SpaceX land rockets and dock with the International Space Station six years ago, he says. After SpaceX, Relativity is only the second space company in two decades with the mission of making humanity multiplanetary and going to Mars, Ellis says.

It's really similar to [the question], why do arts or why have sports teams? We spend, in the US, five times more money on the NFL and football than on the space programme. And so it's not really an either or for me, says Ellis.

Going to Mars is all about expanding the possibilities of human experience and will fundamentally change what it means to be a human being, Ellis believes. Space exploration helps humanity dream and inspires everyone from engineers and scientists to activists and social policy-makers to go after ambitious, difficult problems he explains.

If we were sitting here today and had a million people living on another planet, just wrap your head around what that actually means for being a person, Ellis says.

There's going to be Martian governments, there's going to be art, creativity, new ways of thinking, new innovations, new challenges to overcome, Ellis believes.

I really do think it could be one of the greatest adventures in human experience and one of the biggest innovations.

Space technology is helping solve climate problems on a global scale, because we're able to collect data and use that data to solve those problems, Ellis says.

We're literally talking about putting a million people on another planet in an extremely hostile environment. Many of the challenges we're going to have are also going to help us solve the climate issue on Earth, because it's all about scarce resources, human ingenuity, doing more with less, he says.

Space technology is also helping to expand internet access across the globe.

We have billions of people globally that do not actually have access to the internet and access to information, says Ellis. So the company launched telecom satellites which are working to connect to the unconnected.

The space industry is really helping further that connectivity for the billions of unconnected, says Ellis.

Around 3.7 billion people have no internet access. The World Economic Forum and partners are helping to address this with an initiative called the EDISON Alliance, a collaboration between public and private sector leaders to improve digital access in health, education and finance.

Relativity Space has had probably hundreds of micro failures, Ellis says. And Ellis himself has been told no thousands of times by customers, investors, even people joining the company. But it hasnt stopped him.

I think my advice is just to be really relentless and don't scale back your ambition just because there are people that don't see it, he says.

When it looks like a non-obvious idea like 3D-printing rockets, which now people very much are believing in you have to always push through something to make greatness.

In an article for the World Economic Forum, Will Marshall, chief executive of Planet Labs, a San Francisco-based Earth imaging company, says the falling cost of space technology is fuelling a space renaissance.

Data from space in particular, he says, is having a major impact in three main areas on Earth: the economy, sustainability, as well as peace and security.

The World Economic Forum has brought together governments, businesses, startups and civil society into its Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) Network.

It promotes public-private collaboration in the development of policy frameworks and pilots new approaches to technology regulation and adoption to ensure it benefits people and the planet.

Headquartered in San Francisco, the network has centres in Azerbaijan, Brazil, Colombia, India, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. It has also launched a thematic centre on the ocean, based in Norway.

The network is playing a vital role in shaping the governance of emerging technologies at a local, national and regional level.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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How 3D-printing rockets and living on Mars could help us back on Earth - World Economic Forum

Early birds will have a rare opportunity in June as Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be aligned across the sky. The confluence of the five planets hasnt happened since December 2004 and will be easiest to see on 24 June.

Youll need to get up early though. The spectacle will be visible about 45 minutes before the sun comes up in the southeastern sky, which will be at 5:26 am in New York and 5:43 am in Los Angeles. Those that miss this reunion of the five brightest planets visible to the naked eye will have to wait until 2040 for another chance.

Youll be busy or the weather forecast calls for cloudy skies? Fear not, you dont need to wait until 24 June, the conjunction of Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, in that order, began a few months ago and will continue through September as they gradually spread apart. As an added bonus between 17 and 27 June, star gazers will be able to see the crescent Moon join the line-up as well.

But youll want to find a place with an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon for a chance to see Mercury. With its proximity to the Sun, the dawn glare will quickly blot out the planet named after the cleverest of the ancient gods.

If you have a pair of binoculars or a telescope, you will also be able to see Neptune and Uranus in the confluence. The two icy giants are too faint to be seen with the naked eye but given a little added visual power green-tinged Uranus can be located between Venus and Mars, while blue Neptune will be between Jupiter and Saturn.

Not a morning person but still want something to see? In June, one of the oldest celestial objects, M13 globular cluster, will be at its optimal visibility. M13 is a collection of several hundred thousand stars thought to be around 12 billion years old, nearly as old as the universe itself. Its one of about 150 that orbit outside the Milky Ways disk.

Youll will need at least a pair of binoculars, it will look like a hazy spot, but a telescope would do you better to see the stars in the ancient cluster. M13 can be found in the Hercules Cluster, which will be high in the eastern sky for the first couple hours after dark in June.

First you need to locate the bright stars Vega, the second brightest in the Northern Hemisphere sky and located just 25 light-years from Earth part of the constellation Lyra, and Arcturus, a red giant star that is the brightest star in the constellation Botes.

Find the central part of Hercules known as the Keystone comprised of four stars. M13 will be about a third of the way between the two stars on the western side of the formation.

If you are bad with directions or just need a little help, you can use the Google Sky Map app on your mobile to give you a hand. Beware though that for orptimal star gazing you need to acclimate your eyes to the dark. Whats known as dark adaptation can take anywhere between 15 and 30 minutes and the bright screen on you phone will mean youll need to start the process all over again.

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When can I see Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn aligned across the sky? - AS USA

Kyle Busch will run a special Pedigree scheme at Nashville Superpseedway. Image from Joe Gibbs Racing.

The PEDIGREE brand and PEDIGREE Foundation are once again joining forces with two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Kyle Busch, to spotlight pet adoption and support Mars Petcares global ambition to end pet homelessness. On Sunday, June 26, when the NASCAR Cup Series returns to Nashville, Busch will hit the track with the PEDIGREE paint scheme adorning his No.18 Toyota Camry, featuring adoptable dogs and an Adopt Me call to action.

As part of this collaboration, Mars Petcare, the PEDIGREE brand and PEDIGREE Foundation will host adoption events in Nashville during race weekend, covering all adoption fees at participating shelters for pets that find loving homes from June 24-26.

Im happy to have PEDIGREE and PEDIGREE Foundation back on our No. 18 Camry this weekend in Nashville, said Kyle Busch. Just like last year, we are looking forward to bringing some much needed attention to shelter dogs that are in need of homes. It means so much to support a cause I care about, especially after helping more than one hundred pets during the event last year. With Mars Petcare covering adoption fees this weekend, were looking forward to another successful year helping find adoptable dogs and cats their forever, loving homes.

Participating shelters include Williamson County Animal Center and Nashville Humane Association. Courtesy of Mars Petcare, the PEDIGREE brand, and PEDIGREE Foundation, each adopter will receive a starter kit for their new furry family member that includes food, treats and pet supplies such as portable bowls and waste bags.

Were thrilled to be returning to the Nashville Superspeedway alongside our partners at NASCAR, Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch as we work together to advance our ambition to end pet homelessness, said Kimberly Wise, President of PEDIGREE Foundation. With the NASCAR Cup Series back in Nashville for the second year, were excited to be able to support our local shelter partners with adoption events in our hometown. We hope our work will give more pets the chance at loving homes in our community, especially after seeing such success in our adoption events last year.

For additional information on PEDIGREE Foundation, its mission to end pet homelessness and how you can donate, please visit http://www.pedigreefoundation.org.

Pedigree

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Mars Petcare Teams Up with Kyle Busch to Raise Awareness for Pet Adoption Ahead of NASCAR Cup Series Race in Nashville - Jayski.com

US-headquartered Mars Wrigley has broken ground on its major new global research and development hub adjacent to the companys existing Global Innovation Centre based at Goose Island, Chicago, writes Neill Barston.

As the business explained, the move has been designed to offer a significant boost to its new product creation capabilities, as it continues to expand its interests across the sector.

Confectionery Production reported from last months Sweets & Snacks Expo which saw the company claim honours for its latest innovations, which it aims to continue building upon.

Leaders from Mars as well as key Chicago stakeholders, including Michael Fassnacht, CEO, World Business Chicago, and Alderman Walter Burnett Jr., gathered together to commemorate the milestone for the company.

This multimillion-dollar investment will makeChicagohome to the companys largest innovation hub in the world, creating a best-in-class workplace that will positionMars Wrigley to drive category-leading innovations for the companys iconic global snacks and treats brands such as M&MS, SNICKERS, TWIX, and more. The new facility will incorporate a test kitchen for developing new products, state-of-the-art pilot lines, and an area for breakthrough technology development.

At the event,Chris Rowe, Global Vice President of Research and Development,Mars Wrigley, spoke to a crowd of more than 100 attendees about how the new hub reinforces Mars continued commitment toChicago. Mars has a long history here inChicago, and were proud to continue our legacy of innovation in the Chicagoland area by breaking ground on our best-in-class global research and development hub forMars Wrigley, Rowe said. As a leader in snacking and treating, we look forward toChicago being the centre of exciting, consumer-driven innovations that span the globe.

On behalf of Mayor Lightfoot andChicagos business community, we congratulate Mars on todays groundbreaking of its innovation centre, said Michael Fassnacht, President and CEO of World Business Chicago, and Chief Marketing Officer,City of Chicago. Chicagosfood innovation ecosystem is one of the fastest growing in the U.S. with record investments and innovation. We are grateful to Mars for its longstanding commitment to theChicagocommunity, and excited to see Mars help driveChicagosresonance for food innovation throughout the world.

Mars has been a respected part of the Goose Island community for the past 17 years, saidChicagoAldermanWalter Burnett, Jr.I am thrilled to see Mars deepen its commitment to Goose Island with the groundbreaking of this new facility.

The investment will bring about thirty (30) additional jobs to the Mars Wrigley Global Innovation Center, with jobs on the Mars Goose Island campus nearing 1,000. The project is slated to be complete by summer 2023.

Chicago significance

As the company explained, Chicago has, and will continue to play, an important role for Mars and its iconic history of playing a prominent role within the confectionery sector.

Its operations in the Chicagoland area also include an ice cream facility in Burr Ridge, where Mars makes Dovebar, M&MS Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich, and Snickers Ice Cream Bar and Yorkvilles treats production of LIFE SAVERS and Gen-Zs favourite candy brand, Skittles. The company also produces a variety of filled bar chocolate, including Snickers at its Chicago manufacturing site. At its Goose Island campus, Mars employs about 950 Associates from Mars Wrigley, Mars Food, and Mars Global Services.

Earlier this year, Mars announced the future community donation of itsChicagomanufacturing site. As part of the donation process, Mars is partnering with Local Initiatives Support Corporation(LISC)Chicagoto engage the community, and local leaders, to identify opportunities for future use. Community engagement and conversations are underway and will continue over the next two years before the land is ready for donation sometime in 2024.

LISC is honoured to partner with Mars and support community engagement efforts for this notable land donation, said Meghan Harte, LISC Chicago Executive Director. Well leverage our expertise to support Chicago residents, local leaders, and Mars in defining and moving forward a community vision for the site that will deliver clear benefits to residents of Galewood and the citys West Side.

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Mars Wrigley breaks ground on game-changing Chicago research and development site - Confectionery Production

The Miss America competition is on the horizon, with local competitions taking place all over the country including here in Southeast Georgia. The historic Mars Theatre in Springfield is gearing up to host two local competitions for the Miss Springfield and Miss Atlantic Coast crowns.

The Miss Springfield competition is a closed competition open to young women between the ages of 18 and 26 in Effingham county. By contrast, the Miss Atlantic Coast competition is an open competition for local women in the same age range from Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Liberty, Effingham and Screven counties. The competitions will run simultaneously, taking place at the Mars Theatre on the evening of Sat., August 6.

Unlike traditional beauty pageants, the Miss America brand is a competition that prioritizes social impact, volunteerism and community service over physical appearance. The competition denotes the fact that the young women are not competing based on beauty or looks. That is the main distinction between a pageant and a competition, said Brenda Edwards, the executive director of Miss America local competitions.

The pageant industry has always been branded as [prioritizing] beauty and looks. . . Whereas in the Miss America organization, our highest-scored categories are talent and social impact . . . [Participants] have to show that they have a strong community service volunteer platform in order to win this competition, she continued.

In the Miss Springfield and Miss Atlantic Coast competitions, young women will compete in three categories: social impact, talent, and runway. Theyll also do an opening routine and give a self-introduction. Its noteworthy that the Miss America brand removed the swimsuit segment from all associated competitions, further cementing the importance of leadership and social responsibility over looks.

There are certain qualities judges look for in a winner. [She] has to be well spoken and available and committed to a year of service. . . [Title holders] spend the rest of the year promoting their volunteerism platform, so we like for them to be available, Edwards explained.

She believes that the competition is a great opportunity to help young women gain poise, confidence, and respect for their communities. The competition allows participants to develop and refine interview and public speaking skills. Competitors will also learn about their communities and what the needs are through the volunteerism mandate, helping them to become active pillars of their community.

The ladies who take the titles and win the crowns will receive scholarship funds that are paid directly to the school of their choice. Thats another important distinction of the Miss America competition. In 1945, we became the first organization to award scholarships to women in the country, said Edwards. Once title holders are awarded, they move up to compete in the Miss Georgia competition, where they can win around $20,000 in scholarships. Miss Georgia then advances to the Miss America competition where she can win about $50,000 in scholarships if crowned.

Young women interested in participating in the competition can register at missspringfieldga.org. There will also be an Outstanding Teen division for girls between 13 and 17. And theres a noncompetitive princess program for young girls between the ages of 5 and 12. The competition event on Aug. 6 is open to the public. Tickets will go on sale July 5 at marstheatre.com.

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Prioritizing Poise and Philanthropy: Pageants are Coming to Mars Theatre - Connect Savannah.com