In the depths of the Indian Ocean lies a puzzling phenomenon that has intrigued scientists for years—a gravity hole. Covering a vast area of approximately three million square kilometers, this low-gravity zone has left researchers scratching their heads. However, two intrepid scientists from India’s Institute of Science, Debanjan Pal and Attreyee Ghosh, have put forward a compelling explanation.
Unraveling the Mystery: Scientists’ Quest for Answers
Their hypothesis centers around a cold and dense region located over 600 miles beneath the Earth’s crust. This area is believed to be the remnants of an ancient ocean that submerged into a “slab graveyard” beneath Africa some 30 million years ago, causing the seafloor to sink. The process also resulted in the upwelling of molten rock. To support their theory, Pal and Ghosh studied the movements of tectonic plates over 140 million years, conducting simulations that closely matched the observed underwater depression. The simulations revealed common features, including the presence of hot, low-density magma plumes beneath the gravity hole.
Exploring the Gravity Hole’s Extent
According to the researchers, these buoyant magma plumes, along with the mantle structure, contribute to the formation of the gravity hole. The first such plume emerged approximately 20 million years ago near the southern region of the Indian Ocean geoid low, coinciding with the sinking of the Tethys Sea into the Earth’s lower mantle. As these plumes gradually ascended beneath the lithosphere, the intensity of the geoid low intensified.
The Scientific Debate
While more research is needed to definitively confirm this hypothesis, it is a fascinating glimpse into the complex workings of our planet. Not all members of the scientific community are fully convinced by this explanation, but the pursuit of knowledge and understanding is an ongoing process in the realm of science. The exploration of the Indian Ocean’s gravity hole provides another testament to the boundless mysteries that continue to captivate scientists worldwide.
Drones Make a Great Delivery Agent, but Cause Noise Pollution
There are talks of a revolutionary future for metropolitan air transportation. The idea is to use piloted air taxis and drones to deliver supplies. The system will result in significant changes, especially in emergency situations like medicinal deliveries. However, Daniel Cuppoletti, an aerospace engineer at the University of Cincinnati, feels that the idea presents a problem. The constant flying of these vehicles will create too much noise pollution.
The New Method
Cuppoletti first came across the idea at a 2018 summit run by Uber. Even though excited about the prospect, he thought that the specific problem of noise would be very hard to ignore, literally. He has been researching this issue with his colleagues in the university and found that even when connected to electric engines, the whoosh and whir of the propellers produce a lot of sound. Even The European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency has reported safety, noise, and security as the top three concerns for drones.
The Solution
Cuppoletti and his students recently presented their research at the Science and Technology Forum and Exposition. The research focuses on finding ways to reduce the noise made by drones. He uses methods like changing the configuration rotors, amongst other changes. Cuppoletti has stated that if the sound issue isn’t fixed before the plan is underway, it will either take a lot of money to fix it later or will narrow the market scope considerably.
An Alternate Fix
Another way is to ensure that the route taken by these air vehicles is already noisy. Antonio Torijs Martinez from the University of Salford in Manchester conducted an experiment to gauge the responses of people when faced with loud sounds. The results showed that participants became much less annoyed by the drone noises when they were in high traffic areas as opposed to quiet residential ones.