Category Archives: Mars

MARS HILL - While Mars Hill's 26-19 loss to Wingate Nov. 13 eliminated the team from playoff contention, coach Tim Clifton said he feels the team's tough loss will only motivate his players to come back stronger.

Clifton, who is in his 29th season as head coach, said the feeling in the locker room after the game was one of heartbreak.

"It broke their hearts," he said. "It didn't feel good. It was disappointment. You're sitting there and you try to tell them they had a great year.We had a great year, but that disappointment was there. That hurt was there. Until you feel that hurt, you don't know what it's like."

The coach said he was proud of his team's season.

"You go 8-3, it's a good year," he said. "Our kids played extremely hard, and they worked hard. Our coaches worked hard. I thought we had a really great year. You want to be in it in November. We went to the last game, and that's all you can ask for. We just came up a little short. We played hard, and had a chance to win."

Despite a 2-2 start, the Lions won six straight before losing in its final game.

Though the season just finished, the coach and his staff are still working hard as ever, as he and his staff are currently conducting exit interviews, and the coaches are in the peak of recruiting season.

Clifton said the team's loss in its final game will motive the players heading into next year.

"We knocked on the door, we just didn't kick it down yet," said Clifton. "We're hungry. The closer you get, the hungrier you get."

"I told the guys (Nov. 15), 'We were eight points away.' Eight points. That's a few more days in the weight room. That's a few more days on the field. That's a few more days on working to get better. That's a few more days of getting extra reps. So, you're there. Now, it's (a question of) 'Are you hungry or are you complacent?'"

The Lions will lose star receiver C.J. Thompson, as well as receiver Marquis Williams.

Still,starting quarterback Jimmy Urzua will be returning next year, along with star tight end and 2015 Madison High graduate Ty Snelson, who tallied 10 TDs on the year.

On the defensive side, Clifton said he expectslinebacker Landon Honeycutt and defensive back Tristan Rankin - who led the country with 8 INTs - to be two of the team's leaders on defense.

On Nov. 18, the South Atlantic Conference announced six Lions were named First Teamall-SAC.

Leondras Thomas joined Thomas and Snelson as the offensive players awarded first team honors.

Thompson was second in the SAC with 69.8 yards receiving per game and 768 yards receiving, and third with seven touchdown receptions.

Snelson led the SAC in touchdown receptions with nine and was ninth in the conference in yards per game with 49.5, according to the announcement.

Linebacker Dexter Fitzpatrick was recognized with first team honors along with Rankin and Honeycutt on the defensive side.

Looking to next season, Clifton said he trusts his players know they have a job to do: win its first South Atlantic Conference title since 2011.

"We went into this season, we made the decision that we're going to be a really good football team," he said. "There was a slogan we used, and it was the same slogan we used when I first got here in 1993-94, and it was 'No rest until respect.' We weren't going to rest until we got respect. We got their attention. We got their respect. But we haven't finished it yet. We got some work that we have to take care of."

Joe Hillin has been the team's offensive line coach for five seasons, and played for the team from 2013-17. He said he feels like the team's bond is as close as he's seen it.

"We had kids that were freshmen and sophomores that were extremely upset about losing (to Wingate)," he said. "It kind of shows you they care. All our guys care and they bought in to what's going on. I think our team is closer than it's ever been in the past. We have guys that hang out that you wouldn't think hang out. That's all organic."

Like Clifton, Hillin said he anticipates the players will have a chip on their shoulder as they head into next season.

"Sometimes it's good to have a little bit of a sour taste," he said. "It's going to end one way or another, and there's only one team that's happy in this whole thing: the ones who win the national championship."

Hillin said he feels the program rounded a corner this season, which he expects that momentum to carry over into next year.

"For us it's good to see kids upset because it shows you our standards have changed, and what's expected has changed. The whole (mentality of) '6-5 - Yeah, we won six games and had a winning season' (mentality) has gone out the window.

"For the last couple years, getting kids in here for recruiting, I knew we were going to be good. I didn't think we were going to be to thatpoint of being 8-3 already. That's all strictly due to (the players). We've got some guys that can play."

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Mars Hill coach Tim Clifton reflects on team's 8-3 season: 'We had a really good year' - Asheville Citizen-Times

By: Michael LoveTuesday, November 16, 2021 | 9:13 PM

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Mars Ainsley Ray heads the ball over Plum goalkeeper Megan Marston (right) to score the only goal in their PIAA Class 3A semifinal Tuesday.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Mars Ainsley Ray (32) heads the ball over Plum goalkeeper Megan Marston to score the only goal in their PIAA Class 3A semifinal on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at Shaler Stadium.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Mars Ainsley Ray (32) celebrates with Aly Cooper after scoring the winning goal against Plum during their PIAA Class 3A semifinal on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at Shaler Stadium.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Mars Ainsley Ray (32) celebrates with Brooke Hamlett after scoring the winning goal against Plum during their PIAA Class 3A semifinal on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at Shaler Stadium.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Mars Piper Coffield celebrates with yteammates after defeating Plum, 1-0, in their PIAA Class3A semifinal on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at Shaler Stadium.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Mars Ainsley Ray celebrates with a Hersheys chocolatebar after defeating Plum, 1-0, in a PIAA Class 3A state semifinal on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at Shaler Stadium.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Plum goalkeeper Megan Maston makes a save against Mars during a PIAA Class 3A semifinal on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at Shaler Stadium.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Mars Ainsley Ray (32) celebrates with Brooke Hamlett after scoring the winning goal against Plum during their PIAA Class 3A semifinal on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at Shaler Stadium.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Plums Kaley Simgu battles Mars Lily Wolf for possession during their PIAA Class 3A semifinal on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at Shaler Stadium.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Mars Piper Coffield moves the ball upfield during a PIAA Class 3A state semifinal against Plum on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at Shaler Stadium.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Mars Leana Cuzzocrea battles Plums Cameron Collins for possession during their PIAA Class3A semifinal on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at Shaler Stadium.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Plums Kaitlyn Killinger battles Mars Katherine McEnroe for possession during their PIAA Class3A semifinal on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at Shaler Stadium.

The Mars girls soccer team is headed back to Hershey for a shot at its third straight PIAA championship.

Sophomore Ainsley Ray headed home a corner kick from fellow sophomore Addi Girdwood with 10 minutes, 36 seconds left in the second half to lift the Planets past Plum, 1-0, in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal Tuesday at Lou Martig Field at Shaler Titans Stadium.

I knew we had to get it done, and I was able to step up, said Ray, who also scored the winner for the Fightin Planets in their 2-1 WPIAL title game victory over Plum on Nov. 6 at Highmark Stadium.

The goalie was on my back, and I was able to flick it around her. This feels amazing to be going back to the state championship game. This is a great group of girls. I really love this team.

Mars, which improved to 19-0-1, will take on District 1 champion Radnor for PIAA gold at 4 p.m. Saturday. The Planets defeated District 1s Villa Joseph Marie for the state crown in 2019 and 20.

I just feel so blessed, Mars coach Blair Gerlach said. Most people dont get to even attend a state final, let alone play in a state final, let alone do it back-to-back years, let alone do it three (straight) times.

Were just going to get involved in the moment. Weve got a lot of players on this team who will be playing a much different role this year than last year when we were there. Were just excited for the opportunity to go for that bus ride and spend some time together.

Plum hoped the fourth time was going to be the charm after losing to Mars in the last three WPIAL title games, but the Mustangs were not able to crack the Planets defense and finished their record-breaking run they played in the PIAA semifinals for the first time in program history at 21-3-1 overall.

From where we came two weeks ago (in the WPIAL final) to now, it was a night-and-day comparison, Plum coach Jamie Stewart said.I was really proud of the effort from the girls. Mars plays very well defensively, and we knew it was going to be tough. We did some things to adjust to them and adjust to the game. We played a way better game tonight but just not good enough.

Mars held a 5-0 shot advantage over the first 40 minutes. Senior Aly Cooper had her teams first shot within the first minute of the first half.

The Planets fired off 11 shots in the game overall, and five of them found their way to Plum sophomore keeper Megan Marston before the sixth one found the back of the net.

Plums first and only shot of the game came with seven minutes left in regulation.

Mars controlled much of the pace of play in both halves and garnered nine corner kicks, six in the second half.

The Planets scored on the ninth.

I thought as far as chances through the run of play, we created a ton of corners and a ton of scoring opportunities, Gerlach said. (Plum) had a defensive plan. We were putting the ball in the right areas, but they had more people there than we did.

When you play a team who can counterattack the way they can, it makes you hold people back a little bit. Instead of sending six or seven like we are used to, you are sending four or five. I think they played four different formations tonight, and we were able to make the adjustments accordingly. Playing the percentages, with that many corners, youre going to get one (to go in). That might have been the first one we won cleanly.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review Staff Writer. You can contact Michael by email at mlove@triblive.com or via Twitter .

Tags: Mars, Plum

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Mars girls soccer headed back to Hershey after another win over Plum | Trib HSSN - TribLIVE

In a new video, U.S. space agency NASA detailed how its experts are able to predict the weather on Mars, allowing the Curiosity Rover and Ingenuity Helicopter to carry out their exploration missions.

Seasons change on Mars, and this has a profound effect on how missions on the Red Planets surface are carried out, NASA said.

The Perseverance and Curiosity rovers provide scientists at NASA daily weather reports that provide data on humidity, wind speed and direction and temperature on the Martian surface. Their sensors can also identify the number and size of dust particles in the atmosphere, which allows scientists to track the planets dust cycle and evaluate its effects on the weather.

The size and power of storms are monitored by the Odyssey orbiter, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) orbiter.

The Mars Odyssey Orbiter was launched in 2001 and has since been monitoring radiation on Mars while looking for signs of water and shallow buried ice. It is the oldest spacecraft still in use at the Red Planet. Over the years, it has revealed that a significant amount of Mars water is under ice, measured the amount of permanent ground ice on the planet and evaluated how this ice changes with the seasons.

MRO produces a daily global weather map and provides impressively detailed images of the planets surface.

MAVEN was launched in November 2013 and went into orbit around Mars in September 2014. It has since been monitoring Mars upper atmosphere and ionosphere.

Using the InSight lander, NASA is also able to measure seismic activity, and in September, the lander recorded one of the biggest and longest-lasting marsquakes the mission has ever detected. The quake, measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale, shook the lander for almost an hour and a half.

The constantly changing weather can be very challenging for some of the spacecraft currently operating on Mars.

The Ingenuity Mars helicopter is especially sensitive to weather, so the preflight weather reports provided by Perseverance are critical to its operation. For instance, as the Martian summer begins in the northern hemisphere, the atmosphere becomes thinner, causing the chopper to increase its rotor speed from 2,537 rpm to 2,700 rpm to give it sufficient lift to fly.

On April 19, Ingenuity carried out its maiden flight, becoming the first motorized craft to fly on another planet.

The spindly 4-pound, 19-inch-tall mini-chopper has carried out 15 missions during its search for signs of prior life on the Red Planet.

The chopper often supports the Mars rovers mission, which is focused on collecting samples from the planet that may help scientists find clues about ancient life on Mars. Moreover, NASA expects Odysseys findings of Mars geologic landforms and minerals especially those formed in the presence of water to help experts understand the role of water in the evolution of the Martian climate since the planet first formed some 4.5 billion years ago.

Edited by Sin Speakman and Kristen Butler

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VIDEO: Is There Strife On Mars? NASA's Red Planet Rovers Monitor Weather, 'Marsquakes' - Birmingham Times

When we think of NASA, we tend to think big, like enormous rockets, sprawling space stations, and massive telescopes that allow us to peer billions of light-years into the vastness of space. Currently, however, NASA is experimenting with a technology that starts out microscopically small, but that may have a huge impact on humanitys future forays into the final frontier: fungus.

Taking its inspiration from the emerging field of mycotecture (a portmanteau that fuses architecture with mycology, the study of fungi), a research team at NASA Ames Research Center in California is looking at how fungi like mushrooms can be used to grow habitats and other structures in extraterrestrial environments.

Its not magicits science. Evolutionary biologist and astrobiologist Lynn Rothschild leads this unusual shroom-inspired mission. Her best way of describing the work is through the word cool, and its hard to disagree.

Some of my students used mycotecture to help build the body of a biodegradable drone in 2013, which I thought was unbelievably cool, Rothschild told The Daily Beast. So then you start thinking, well, what else could you do with itoff-planet? And one of the immediate ideas was, why not build whole habitats?

Using mushrooms to build structures capable of withstanding the rigors of space exploration might seem far-fetched, but it turns out that they are well suited for the task. Blocks made of reishi mushrooms, for example, are strong enough to bear thousands of PSI. Thanks to their high concentration of carbon fibers, they have the potential to function as storage batteries. And according to Rothschild, fungi are also well-suited for creating structures in space because transporting their spores is so efficient in terms of cost, mass, and effort.

Ideally wed like something that can construct itself, said Rothschild. It could be as easy as filling a bag with fungal material and some spores of other organisms, and double-sealing it so there isnt a fear of contaminating the rest of the planet. The bag could be inflated and kept at an optimal pressure, and the fungus could simply grow up and fill the bag and have a structure that can literally build itself onsite. There would be no need for bulldozers to clear out land or tractors and other heavy equipment to move dirt and soil around. You want to do as little as possible to be able to construct something off-planet because its going to take resources, she said.

Rothschild is all-too-aware of that when it comes to space, being frugal about resources is paramount. NASA estimates that every pound launched just into the lowest orbital altitudes costs $10,000and that doesnt even get us to the moon, let alone Mars.

Anytime you have to launch something from Earth, its extremely expensive, she said. Anytime that you can reduce the cost of what youre sending up in the volume and the mass of what youre sending up, it also means that you can use that cost and space for other things. Maybe you can take more pharmaceuticals or more food or more astronauts or whatever. So I feel this pressure constantly to be able to come up with solutions that would decrease the mass, use materials that are onsite, and be flexible in your ability to adapt to the local environment. Mycotecture should be good for all of those things.

A stool created out of mycella, which are unseen fungal threads that hold mushroom structures together.

2018 Stanford-Brown-RISD iGEM Team

Mycotecture can also be deployed to meet a diverse range of structural needs, beyond just making walls and ceilings. A house made of mushrooms is perhaps the most radical approach, but Rothschild emphasized you could grow fungi to make insulation for a bioreactor, or small structures like sheds for rovers to protect them from the elements. And of course, there are always opportunities to construct smaller furniture like tables and chairs using fungal materials.

Fungi probably wouldnt be the only biological tool leveraged by future space construction workers. The NASA Ames group has a keen interest in looking into uses around a common soil bacterium called Bacillus subtilis, which has proven capable of surviving in the most extreme of environments. A recent German satellite mission carried samples of this bacteria into orbit. Those samples survived four years of exposure to the vacuum of space, and the Ames group thinks it could be used to repair cracks in extraterrestrial structures by growing into patches.

Its just adding one more material to an architects palette.

Lynn Rothschild

These organic patches could also have biosensors embedded in them that could communicate important information about the condition of the structure, turning different colors if the oxygen pressure were to drop, or the temperature shifts to concerning levels. Imagine how cool it would be if the walls turned color if it got too cold in your house, said Rothschild.

Cool indeed. But can we really make the jump from spores to space structures? Civil engineering hasnt even embraced fungus as a building material on this planet.

But living in space means thinking outside the box. I like to tell people that its not that were in competition with other methods for building habitats or structures off-planet, said Rothschild. Its just adding one more material to an architects palette. When you buy a house, you dont say I want 100 percent wood house or I want 100 percent brick house or I want 100 percent stoneyou have a mixture of materials. And we are just really pointing out that this is the material thats going to have a lot of very cool properties and a lot of cool potential to help building structures off-planet.

Artist's concept of a habitat on Mars built using fungal material.

redhouse studios

There's a growing community of people working in mycology right here on Earth who share Rothschilds optimism. It is 100 percent possible to deploy fungal composite structures that function in space, Eben Bayer, CEO and co-founder of the mycotecture design firm Ecovative, told The Daily Beast. He reiterates the advantages Rothschild has outlined, adding that because mushroom-grown buildings would be infused with water, they could be highly effective at protecting space denizens from radiation exposure. Whats more, they could be grown using the same greenhouses used to farm food.

In fact, growing these space-mushrooms is maybe one of the easiest problems to solve. On Earth, wood chips and lawn scraps are easy sources for shroom food. No ones mowing a lawn on Mars or the moon for the foreseeable future, if ever, said Rothschild. So were looking at using lunar [soil] and adding some nutrients to that, or actually having the fungi grow around very fine mesh scaffolds or drop stitching and so on.

The NASA Ames team is realistic that we wont be seeing fungal homes on the moon any time soon. Rothschild expects a proof-of-concept demonstration within the next two to five years. Then scientists will actually need to test the whole idea out on an actual mission.

Artist's concept of the interior a mycotecture extraterrestrial home.

redhouse studios

The great thing about being at NASA is being able to be paid to really have the far-out, revolutionary ideas, said Rothschild. One of the really cool things about doing this space exploration is that I dont need to worry about the quarterly report of an investment company, [or] an existing infrastructure. Theres nothing there. Youre starting with a blank slate, so you can do something really revolutionary.

Rothschild paused for a moment and laughed. Oh, just another day at work at NASA.

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NASA Astronauts Could Live In Future Homes Made of Mushrooms on Mars and the Moon - The Daily Beast

Jared Leto is currently in promotion mode for House of Gucci, but hes considering his next steps for his band, Thirty Seconds to Mars, once the movies press tour is over. During his Tuesday night (Nov. 16) appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Leto revealed that he had a surge of inspiration and wrote hundreds of songs for the band during lockdown all he needs is a title, and Kanye West might be a contender.

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We spent a lot of time on the road touring. As you guys know, our life is really about being on the road. In COVID, I wrote over 264 songs now, Leto told Fallon. You havent heard them yet, so hold the applause. Its amazing. A little banana bread really stokes the creativity. I shut down a little banana bread, a little Tiger Kingit goes a long way. Im actually having a hard time coming up with an album title.

After joking with Fallon about several possible album titles some of which included Egg Life, Tomago and The Incredible True Adventures of a Labradoodle Named Tortney Leto then tells the talk show host, We can name it after someone who has done something remarkable. Wed name it after a real person, like Elon Musk or maybe Kanye. Hes not using his name anymore.

Kanye is the name of the next Thirty Seconds to Mars album! Fallon happily announces to the audience.

Thirty Seconds to Mars released their fifth studio album, America, in 2018 the album was the highest charting release for the band, securing a No. 2 spot on the Billboard 200 upon its release.

Watch Leto onFallon below.

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Jared Leto Jokes He Might Name Next Thirty Seconds to Mars Album After This Rapper - Billboard

Playing without Luka Doni or Kristaps Porzingis on the floor is something coach Jason Kidd did by choice in the fourth quarter Monday night with terrific results.

But hes hoping its not something he has to go to out of necessity, at least with Doni.

The superstar point guard went down clutching his left ankle with 44 seconds left in the Mavericks 111-101 victory over Denver, stopping the Nuggets five-game winning streak and avenging their blowout loss in Denver last month.

Doni was able to put his weight on the leg as he left the court, which was good news. But that doesnt mean the Mavericks arent holding their breath to some degree.

Luka walked off on his own power, Kidd said in his postgame news conference. I think he got rolled up on his lower left leg. So well see how he feels tomorrow.

The Mavericks (9-4) leave Tuesday for a four-game, seven-day trip that starts in Phoenix on Wednesday. Their Tuesday practice was canceled and Doni did not have a postgame media availability.

He did, however, talk with Porzingis, who led the Mavericks with 29 points and 11 rebounds against the Nuggets.

I talked to him for a little bit, Porzingis said. Hes always: Hey, Ill be good, Ill be good. Hopefully, he is good.

We dont know what it is. But were all hoping hes healthy and just needs a little bit of time and hell be back soon.

Doni has been durable early in his career. He missed only six games last season, although he did miss seven in a row in February, 2020, before the pandemic interrupted his second season.

Interestingly, Doni and Porzingis were rolling for the first three quarters against Denver, yet the Mavericks were trailing virtually the whole way.

When the other Mavericks joined the party, things did a U-turn.

With Doni and Porzingis on the bench to start the fourth quarter, the Mavericks went on a 13-2 blitz that was the catalyst for the win. Frank Ntilikina, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jalen Brunson, Tim Hardaway and Reggie Bullock helped jump-start the Mavericks as they avenged a blowout loss last month in Denver.

It was Finney-Smith and Reggie Bullock who made back-to-back 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter to put the Mavericks up 85-83. Moments later, it was 92-85 and while the game was far from over, the Mavericks supporting cast had set up Doni and Porzingis, who returned to the court and guided them to the finish line.

I think it was funky, said Hardaway of the lineup that started the fourth quarter. I looked down the line and we dont have a guy over 6-7, 6-8 on the floor, so we knew going into the fourth we wanted to get the pace going. We understood that they were coming off the back end of a back-to-back. So we wanted to get that pace going higher.

The Mavericks did that in the second half, when they scored 62 points, including 32 in the fourth quarter. Hardaway had 13 of his 19 points in the fourth.

So how comfortable was Kidd going to a lineup with the 6-7 Finney-Smith as their center?

We trust everyone in that locker room and everyone has been able to answer when theyre number is called, Kidd said. When you look at the league, the league has played small for a while now. When you put those guys on the floor, they compete at a high level.

We went with Dorian at the five with their second unit we felt they were small. We felt that could be a lineup that we could get going, give us some energy and some physicality and thats what they brought. They gave us a lift in that fourth quarter. That group was great and they havent played together.

With the NBA moving toward smaller, quicker lineups, it showed that the Mavericks are capable of doing that, too, even though they have Porzingis, who is 7-3, as one of their heavy-minute players.

Often in the past few games, Porzingis has been the only true big man on the floor for the Mavericks.

To start the fourth quarter, Kidd took it a step further and went with no big men.

That was also the moment that Ntilikina got shoved to the floor by Denvers JaMychal Green. As soon as that happened, several Mavericks popped up to Ntilikinas defense.

Said Hardaway: J-Kidd came at halftime and asked us how the officials were officiating. And he let us know Denver was the aggressor in the first half. They were grabbing, scratching, clawing and setting the tone. How we were going to respond in the second half was up to us.

We just took it upon ourselves like grown men. Whatever happens, it happens, but were going to do it as hard as we can and be as physical as possible so we could impose our will.

The small lineup took care of that just fine.

Twitter: @ESefko

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Doni's ankle injury mars Mavericks' impressive win over Nuggets, 111-101 - The Official Home of the Dallas Mavericks - Mavs.com

Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paaks Silk Sonic single Smokin Out The Window continues to win support at pop radio.

Picked up by another 61 Mediabase-monitored pop stations, the song ranks as this weeks most added song.

Taylor Swifts Message In A Bottle (Taylors Version) (From The Vault), an opening week playlist selection for 56 stations, takes second on the add board.

Post Malone & The Weeknds One Right Now follows in third with 23 new pickups, while an add count of 16 slots ACRAZEs Do It To It (featuring Cherish) in fourth. With 14 adds each, Swedish House Mafia & The Weeknds Moth To A Flame and Oliver Trees Life Goes On tie for fifth.

This weeks other notable pop radio options: LISAs MONEY (13 adds, 7th-most), Benson Boones Ghost Town (12 adds, 8th-most), Blxsts Chosen (featuring Ty Dolla $ign & Tyga) (11 adds, 9th-most), Chloes Have Mercy (10 adds, 10th-most, tie), and GIVEONs For Tonight (10 adds, 10th-most, tie).

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Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paaks Smokin Out The Window Ranks As Pop Radios Mos... - HeadlinePlanet.com

First published in The Age on November 19, 1996

Russia plays down threat to Australia

MOSCOWS MARS DEBACLE

The Mars 96 probe.Credit:NASA

Russia has denied that Australia faced a serious threat from the stricken Mars 96 probe, which was the focus of a national emergency alert yesterday before the satellite crashed thousands of kilometres away in the South Pacific Ocean.

Russias ambassador in Canberra, Mr Alexander Losyukov, said he told the Foreign Minister, Mr Alexander Downer, in a meeting yesterday morning that the potential for a major problem was very, very remote.

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Mr Losyukov also disputed American advice to Australia that the probe carried canisters containing 200 grams of highly dangerous plutonium.

There were four batteries, each containing six grams of plutonium, designed to withstand temperatures of 3000 degrees, Mr Losyukov said.

The space probe eventually crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Easter Island about 12.30pm, more than 1000 kilometres west of Chile. It is considered highly unlikely that the spacecraft, including the deadly plutonium, will be recovered.

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From the Archives, 1996: Red alert as Mars probe falls to Earth - The Age

The chances of an alien attack on Earth have increased, according to new research, and it's all thanks to planned manned missions to Mars.

A new report from Professor Anthony Ricciardi, an expert in the ecology of invasive species, has said that extra-terrestrial organisms could devastate ecosystems.

Bacteria, fungi, and other invisible stowaways could attach themselves to spacecraft, and survive the mission back to Earth.

Professor Ricciardi said: Owing to their massive costs to resource sectors and human health, biological invasions are a global biosecurity issue requiring rigorous trans-boundary solutions."

The era of space exploration brings with it a new risk - invasion.

The peril comes not from little green men arriving on flying saucers but, rather, from microbiological contamination of Earth from extra-terrestrial environments and vice versa.

Bacterial strains exhibiting extreme resistance to ionising radiation, desiccation and disinfectants have been isolated in NASA 'clean rooms' used for spacecraft assembly.

It is also feared that similar organisms from earth could survive a journey to another planet and have a similar effect there, too.

What do you think? Is it possible other life forms can travel back to Earth via manned missions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Prof Ricciardi, writing in the BioScience journal, also warned that parasite-host interactions could be a threat.

He said: Research in invasion science has produced novel insights for epidemiology, rapid evolution, the relationship between biodiversity and community stability and the dynamics of predator-prey and parasite-host interactions - among many other concepts.

Protocols for early detection, hazard assessment, rapid response and containment procedures currently employed for invasive species on Earth could be adapted for dealing with potential extra-terrestrial contaminants.

The race to Mars is very real, as China has already announced that it plans to send its first crew in 2033 - with regular follow-up flights, although it is though that the US wants to get there first and Russia has also been rumoured to be musing flights to Mars, too.

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Manned missions to Mars 'will increase risk of aliens invading Earth', warns expert - Daily Star

An instant boost of energy is really what we need to knockout Tuesday blues today and in the quest for the same, we landed with a recipe of Mars Energy Bar. Looking for snack bars that are great to binge and have got the right balance of protein, carbs and fiber? Search no further as we got you sorted with this easy homemade recipe of Mars Energy Bar.

Ingredients for base:

1/2 cup almonds

1/2 cup cashews

3 tbsp ground flaxseed in place

1 tbsp maple syrup or honey

2 tbsp filtered water

1/4 tsp cinnamon

Pinch sea salt

Ingredients for filling:

3/4 cup almond butter

1/2 cup melted coconut oil

2 1/2 tbsp maple syrup

1/4 cup filtered water

Ingredients for chocolate covering:

3/4 dark chocolate bar (or sub 1/3-1/2 cup chocolate chips)

1 tsp melted coconut oil

Pinch sea salt

3 tbsp raspberry powder (optional )

Method:

In a food processor, pulse together base ingredients until it reaches a dough-like consistency.

Press into base of parchment paper covered loaf tin and freeze for 10 minutes while you make filling.

In same food processor, pulse together filling ingredients. Pour over the top of the chilled base and freeze once more for about 1-2 hours, or until firm.

Using a knife, cut into rectangles. Melt chocolate bar + coconut oil in a medium bowl, then dip frozen bars until fully covered. Place on parchment paper, sprinkle with sea salt & raspberry powder and pop back in the freezer to harden! Enjoy!

(Recipe: Maya Pereira Sawant, owner of Lean Kitchen by Maya)

Benefits:

Almonds are packed with healthy fats, fiber, protein, magnesium and vitamin E and not only reduce hunger while promoting weight loss but also lower blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels along with reducing blood pressure. According to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating almonds in place of typical snacks may reduce the drop in heart rate variability (HRV) that occurs during mental stress, thereby improving cardiac function.

Consumption of dry fruits enhances energy and stamina. As they are rich in fibre, it provides better digestion.

Milled flaxseeds improve digestive health, lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol. They may benefit people with diabetes and also reduce the risk of cancer.

Maple syrup extract may dramatically increase the potency of antibiotics according to researchers at McGill University in Canada. Another study claims that consuming pure maple syrup extract may help protect against Alzheimers disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor neurons and maintain neuronal integrity during aging.

This super easy and healthy recipe is packed with health benefits and serves as an energy-rich snack that can be consumed daily.

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Original post:

Recipe: This Mars Energy Bar is all you need to knockout Tuesday blues - Hindustan Times