Scientists find explanation for huge gravity hole in the Indian ocean
Scientists have found an explanation for a 'gravity hole' in the Indian Ocean. A gravity hole is an area where gravitational pull is low, causing the seafloor to sink. Deep beneath the ocean, there is one that is three million square kilometers in size and previously it has confused scientists. Now two researchers from the Indian Institute of Science, Debanjan Pal and Attreyee Ghosh, think they have solved the mystery. More than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) beneath Earth's crust, they found cold, dense remnants of an ancient ocean plunged into a 'slab graveyard' beneath Africa some 30 million years ago, stirring up hot molten rock. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Pal and Ghosh retraced the formation of the massive geoid by modeling how tectonic plates skimmed over Earth's mantle for the past 140 million years. They ran simulations and compared the shape of the oceanic low those models predicted with observations of the dent itself. The models that reproduced the Indian Ocean geoid low in its current form all had one thing in common: plumes of hot, low-density magma wafting up beneath the low. These plumes, as well as a distinctive mantle structure, are what created the geoid low; if they rise high enough, Pal and Ghosh reckon. "In short, our results suggest that to match the [shape and amplitude of the] observed geoid low, plumes need to be buoyant enough to come up to mid-mantle depths," the pair wrote. The first of these plumes appeared about 20 million years ago, to the south of the Indian Ocean geoid low, and around 10 million years after the old Tethys Sea sank into the lower mantle. As the plumes spread beneath the lithosphere and inched towards the Indian peninsula, the low intensified. But more research needs to be done to work out what is really going on as not all scientists are convinced. Science is crazy. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
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Novak Djokovic awarding women's Ballon d'Or branded a 'disgrace' by fans
Novak Djokovic made a surprise appearance at the Ballon d’Or awards on 30 October to present one of the trophies – but not everybody was happy with the tennis player’s inclusion. The Serb was selected to present the 2023 Ballon d'Or Feminin award to Aitana Bonmati, the Spain and Barcelona star. Bonmati won the top women’s trophy ahead of England’s Mary Earps and others, while Lionel Messi took his record eighth men’s award at the ceremony in Paris. The midfielder enjoyed a landmark year as an instrumental part of both a Champions League winning side in Barcelona, and her World Cup-winning country of Spain. Djokovic was invited on-stage, where he spoke about his own connections to football, and the fact that his decision to choose tennis instead was “a good choice”. Then, he gave the award to Bonmati. However, fans were furious that she had to receive the award from Djokovic, who has in the past criticised campaigns for equal pay between men and women’s sports. Football journalist Tim Stillman said: “Nothing says ‘celebrate the achievement of female athletes’ like inviting a male athlete who advocated against equal pay to talk about himself and the completely different sport he plays.” Another person said: “Wow they got a male athlete from a completely different sport to present the trophy to the winner? Who’s going to present the men’s trophy? Coco Gauff? Tahlia McGrath? No, didn’t think so.” One other added: “Way to disrespect women’s football btw. Get somebody who’s won it before, a legend of the game, an ally, at the very least a male FOOTBALLER. Who is Djokovic and what’s he done to football in general let alone women’s football.” Elsewhere, people were frustrated at the lack of gender parity between the categories of the various awards. There is no women’s trophy for best goalkeeper, best striker, or best young player as there are for the men’s game. One user wrote: “Ballon d'Or 2023 - No awards for: Women's U21 player, Women's Gerd Muller, Women's Lev Yashin. “The Women's award was presented by Novak Djokovic, a player who made it all about him rather than Aitana Bonmati. “Utter disgrace”. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings
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