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Earth's Eighth Continent Unveiled "Zealandia"

"Zealandia, an almost entirely submerged continental mass located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, is often referred to as Earth's concealed continent because it satisfies numerous criteria used in defining continents, such as distinctive geology and a well-defined area. This region encompasses New Zealand and New Caledonia and serves as an ongoing focal point for scientific exploration. 1. **Size and Geography**: Zealandia spans approximately 4.9 million square kilometers (1.9 million square miles), with the majority submerged beneath the ocean surface. Only around 6-7% of its landmass, including New Zealand and New Caledonia, emerges above sea level. 2. **Geological Significance**: Comprising primarily continental crust, Zealandia distinguishes itself from the surrounding oceanic crust. It is believed to have once been part of the Gondwana supercontinent before separating from it approximately 85 million years ago. 3. **Formation**: Plate tectonics are responsible for Zeal...

NASA's Perseverance rover produces oxygen on Mars

The NASA Perseverance rover has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully producing oxygen for the first time on Mars. NASA announced that the MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment) device within the rover generated oxygen on the Martian surface. This achievement resulted in the production of 122 grams of oxygen, which is sufficient to sustain a small dog for approximately 10 hours. Mars has an atmosphere that consists primarily of 96% carbon dioxide, which is not suitable for human respiration. MOXIE, located within the Perseverance rover, possesses the capability to extract oxygen atoms from the thin Martian atmosphere and can produce 128 grams of oxygen per hour. NASA views this historic test as confirmation that producing oxygen for future settlements on Mars or the Moon is feasible in the near future. This technology opens the possibility of creating oxygen reserves on other celestial bodies and even using it for launching rockets from these planets....