As part of experiments carried out by NASA’s Mars 2020 rover, researchers will look at whether Martian air could be converted for astronauts to breathe.
International project collaboration, such as the pan-EU radio telescope LOFAR, would benefit Irish businesses and tourism, as well as our IT and science graduates.
Might the money spent on space exploration by governments and scientific institutes be better used for “real world” problems? Conor Farrell takes a look.
The EPA notes that although there are currently no hydraulic fracturing (fracking) projects under way in Ireland, the gas exploration method “is an emerging issue”.
Junior miniser Fergus O’Dowd has said that the state should provide an environment that encourages companies to take the risks involved in exploration.
While pornography can create dangerous misconceptions about sex, shutting down all such exploration only reinforces the notion that sex is something dirty and shameful, writes Genevieve Shanahan.
The Minister for Communication and Natural Resources has said a Norwegian-style 80 per cent tax on oil finds would not work, saying: “We’re comparing apples with oranges.”
THE CABINET SUB-COMMITTEE has signed off on mandatory quarantine for those travelling into the country without a negative PCR test, as well as passengers from “high risk areas” such as South Africa and Brazil.
Passengers will have to pay for their own stay in quarantine hotels which are to be policed by private security firms. The measures are expected to be signed off on by Cabinet today.
Speaking on RTÉ One’s Claire Byrne Live last night, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said, if introduced, mandatory quarantine could be in place for a year – affecting some people’s holiday and Christmas plans.
“I don’t think we would reverse (it) until everyone is vaccinated and then heading into winter you wouldn’t want to open flights before Christmas.
“People who may like to take a summer holiday in August, people who would like to see their relatives this Christmas that they didn’t see last Christmas, that would probably be off the agenda,” Varadkar said.
All non-essential travel is not recommended at present, but some people have gone on holiday in recent weeks, and others are planning to later this year.
Poll: Are you planning a holiday abroad this year?
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