A comet gets destroyed by the sun, data centers endanger the Potomac River, and more science news
Engadget • • science
Key Points:
- NASA released stunning images of comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) disintegrating after a close approach to the sun on April 4, marking its first and last observed flyby; multiple spacecraft including SOHO, STEREO, and PUNCH captured the event from various angles.
- American Rivers named the Potomac River the most endangered in the US due to sewage pollution from aging infrastructure and the rapid expansion of data centers in the region, which threaten water quality and quantity.
- The Potomac Interceptor wastewater pipe failure in Maryland released hundreds of millions of gallons of untreated sewage, causing bacteria levels to spike dramatically, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades.
- ESA shared comparative images of Mars’ Utopia Planitia basin from 1976 and recent Mars Express data, revealing significant spread of dark volcanic ash likely caused by wind activity or dust removal over the past 50 years.
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