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France
French Unrest Spills Into Belgium
Riots and social unrest have swept across France after a young teen was killed on June 27th by a French police officer. After failing to stop when his car was spotted in a bus lane, police opened fire at close range through the the driver’s window. The victim, known only as “Nahel M,” died from a single shot through his left arm and chest. The event occurred in the town of Nanterre, on the outskirts of Paris, and has sparked a series of violent protests that have swept across France. According to French police, over 700 people have been arrested since rioting began, with protests now spilling into neighboring Belgium. French President Emmanuel Macron announced he will be cutting his visit short to the European Union leaders summit in Brussels to host crisis talks regarding the unrest this afternoon.
This map depicts locations across France and neighboring Belgium where riots following the death of a teenager have occurred. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Express
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Belarus
Camp on Suspected Wagner Site
Satellite imagery has revealed hundreds of tent-like structures at the site of a suspected camp for Wagner Group personnel in Belarus. Located at an abandoned garrison in the town of Tsel in central Belarus, the camp is around 64 miles (103 km) from the country’s capital of Minsk. Based on the satellite imagery, over 300 tent-like structures have been constructed between June 15th and June 30th. The site has not been confirmed to be occupied by the Russian private military company, and it is uncertain how many Wagner fighters will travel to Belarus following the exile of Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Kremlin stated Wagner fighters have until July 1 to decide whether to sign contracts joining the Russian army, return home, or go to Belarus.
This map depicts satellite imagery of an abandoned garrison in Tsel, Belarus where a camp appears to have been constructed in recent days. Click on the map to learn more.
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Space
Universe Gravitational Hum Found
Scientists have detected low-frequency gravitational waves for the first time, which are caused by the movement of black holes stretching the fabric of the universe. The researchers, from the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav), used pulsars – spinning dead stars that emit radio waves – to detect the gravitational waves. By analyzing the timing of the pulses, they were able to identify slight perturbations. The discovery suggests the universe is in constant motion, challenging the perception of a static universe. The waves may come from pairs of supermassive black holes spiraling around each other during the collisions of galaxies. Further research could provide insights into the history of black holes and galactic mergers.
This illustration depicts the gravitational waves resulting from the merger of supermassive black holes, which produced the universal “hum.” Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: Found in the Saudi Arabian desert, what is the name of this bizarre rock formation with a seemingly perfect crack?
A: Al Naslaa
The Al Naslaa rock formation is located 31 miles (50 km) south of the Tayma Oasis in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Naturally split down the middle into two parts, the large sedimentary rocks both balance on small pedestals that have been eroded more quickly than the rest of the rock. The entire formation is about 20 ft (6 m) high and 30 ft (9 m) wide, and covered with petroglyphs dating back thousands of years to the Bronze Age. The almost perfect crack down the middle has been the cause of geological debate, however similarly-balanced rock formations have been found in other parts of the world, such as Balanced Rock in the US, Egypt’s White Desert, and New Zealand’s Split Apple Rock, among others. Common theories for the smooth split include the ground shifting slightly below one of the supports, a volcanic dike that cut the older rock and filled the fracture before it was exhumed, or an old pressure crack (a parallel crack runs just to the right of it). Whatever the cause may be, Al Naslaa is a geologic wonder.
Source
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Q: At nearly 1,000 ft (300 m) wide, what waterfall straddles the border between Vietnam and China?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in Monday’s DailyGeo.
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