Russians raise piece of meteor from lake
MOSCOW — Russian scientists have recovered a giant chunk of the Chelyabinsk meteor from the bottom of the lake it crashed into.
A meteor that blazed across southern Urals in February was the largest recorded meteor strike in more than a century. More than 1,600 people were injured by the shock wave from the explosion, estimated to be as strong as 20 Hiroshima atomic bombs, as it landed near the city of Chelyabinsk.
Scientists on Wednesday recovered what could be the largest part of this meteor from Chebarkul Lake outside the city. They weighed it using a giant steelyard balance, which displayed 1,256 pounds before it broke.
Big earthquake hits Papua New Guinea
SYDNEY — A powerful earthquake rocked the South Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, officials said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake measured magnitude 7.1 and was 40 miles west-southwest of Panguna in Papua New Guinea. It struck at 8:31 p.m. at a depth of 36 miles, it said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami was unlikely.
Papua New Guinea lies on the “Ring of Fire” — an arc of earthquake and volcanic activity that stretches around the Pacific Rim.
Associated Press
