Environment

Researchers from the University of Washington believe that a new study may help with the search for alien life on far away planets. In the past, research found that some planets create oxygen without the presence of biological organism, causing experts to believe that other worlds can sustain life. But it is believed that new findings will help determine the difference between life and the illusion of life, by identifying ‘biosignatures’ in the atmosphere of exoplanets.

A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck off Indonesia’s island of Sumatra on Wednesday prompting a tsunami alert, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).  Some people have died but it was not yet clear how many, an official of the country’s search and rescue agency told Reuters. The quake struck at around 6.50pm local time (12.50GMT) and the USGS had originally categorized the quake as a magnitude 8.2. The shallow quake had a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles).

A massive 8.2 magnitude earthquake has just shaken Indonesia. 

The country has issued an early tsunami warning.

Here's the data from the USGS:

1. 2016-03-02 12:49:46 (UTC)

Nearby Cities

1. 662km (411mi) SW of Muara Siberut, Indonesia
2. 807km (501mi) SW of Pariaman, Indonesia
3. 808km (502mi) WSW of Padang, Indonesia
4. 846km (526mi) WSW of Solok, Indonesia
5. 851km (529mi) NNW of West Island, Cocos Islands

Developing story

For the last 25 years scientists have been left baffled as to the cause of mysterious ocean noises that originate from the depths of the Pacific Ocean. The strange sounds, known as the ‘Upsweep’, were first discovered in 1991. Scientists initially believed the sounds to be whale songs or ship vibrations, but these theories were quickly ruled out after further investigation. Express.co.uk reports: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has described Upsweep as “a long train of narrow-band upsweeping sounds of several seconds duration each”.

Twelve students will be paid to eat genetically modified (GMO) bananas as researchers at Iowa State University start moving forward with a long-delayed project. The project which is funded by the  Bill and Melinda Gates foundation would pay each student $900. Thes tests are to be carried out on the students without any previous animal testing, so it is not known what the impact would be to the students’ health. According to The Des Moines Register, the bananas were created by a Australian scientist and contain a gene that is supposed to help people living in Africa make vitamin A.