They Discovered A Huge Amount Of Water On Mars

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

August 14, 2024

Scientists have found evidence that there are huge amounts of water on Mars. Researchers theorize that this is a sign that there may be extraterrestrial life on the Red Planet.

KEY FACTS

Scientists from the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, San Diego have found evidence of large amounts of water deep below the surface of Mars, according to a peer-reviewed study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The researchers used seismic data from Martian earthquakes, volcanic tremors and meteorite impacts collected by NASA’s InSight lander. Also used are the mathematical models of rock physics that are used to map underground aquifers and oil deposits on Earth.
The water is believed to be between 11.5 and 20 km below the Red Planet’s surface and probably cannot be accessed using currently existing technologies.
However, the researchers say the discovery reveals important details about the history of Mars.

IMPORTANT QUOTE

“Large amounts of water existed on the surface of Mars more than 3 billion years ago. Much of this water is thought to have been trapped in subsurface layers or lost to space. Our results have implications for understanding the Martian water cycle, determining the fate of surface water in the past, searching for past or existing life, and assessing resource utilization for future missions,” the study states.

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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WATER ON MARS

Although Mars is a desert planet today, there is plenty of evidence that there was once plenty of water on the Red Planet’s surface. Most of these claims are supported by studies of the structure of the planet’s surface, where traces of rivers, oceans, and lakes are visible. The composition of the minerals found there also suggests the former presence of water.

Some water is still found on the surface of Mars – largely locked in minerals in the planet’s crust or frozen in the polar ice caps – but this is only a small fraction of the water that scientists believe flowed to the surface billions of years ago.

Although many scientists believe that Mars’ oceans evaporated into space when the planet lost its atmosphere more than 3 billion years ago, the researchers say their findings show that much of the water was filtered into the crust.

THE BIG NUMBER

12,262 meters. That’s how deep the Kola ultra-deep borehole is, which is located in Northwestern Russia. It is the deepest man-made hole on Earth. According to the study, this may be the lower limit for the depth of water on Mars. Drilling was halted in the early 1990s and the record has yet to be broken, highlighting the technical challenges.

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EU To Apply Temporary €3 Duty On Low-Value Imports From Non-EU Countries

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 3, 2026

The European Union has begun applying a temporary customs duty of €3 per item on small parcels valued at up to €150 imported from third countries, in a move designed to curb unfair competition and tighten safety checks on e-commerce products.

A Temporary Measure Ahead Of A Wider Customs Overhaul

The levy, which took effect on 1 July, will remain in place until 2028, when the EU expects to complete a broader reform of its customs system. The policy primarily affects purchases from major Asian marketplaces such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress, although it may also apply to orders from other non-EU markets, including the United States and the United Kingdom, depending on the supplier.

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How The Duty Is Calculated

The €3 charge is applied per product type within each parcel. In practical terms, that means a single order containing different categories of goods is taxed separately for each category.

For example, a parcel containing a shirt and a pair of shoes would face a total duty of €6. If the package contains multiple units of the same item, however, the charge remains €3 for that product type.

In another case, a parcel with four different products could incur €12 in duties alone. Larger baskets with multiple item categories could therefore see the final bill rise significantly before value-added tax is added.

Why Brussels Is Acting Now

The measure is aimed at the rapid growth in small cross-border e-commerce shipments arriving from outside the EU. In recent years, these flows have surged into the billions of parcels annually, with the majority originating in China.

According to the European Union, the previous regime of zero customs duties on parcels worth up to €150 created unfair conditions for European businesses, while also limiting the ability of authorities to carry out effective safety and compliance checks.

Officials also warn that many parcels entered the market with inaccurate value declarations or without sufficient scrutiny, increasing the risk of non-compliant or potentially dangerous products reaching consumers.

What It Means For Consumers And Platforms

Consumers should expect higher total costs on online purchases, particularly for low-value orders. A €20 basket, for instance, could easily climb above €25 or €30 depending on how many different products it includes.

In some cases, additional handling fees may be introduced later as part of the EU’s wider customs reform. For now, the main question is how platforms will respond: they may either absorb the cost or pass it on to shoppers.

Many large e-commerce providers already operate through the IOSS system, which streamlines the collection of VAT and duties at checkout.

The Next Phase Of Reform

The temporary duty is only one piece of a larger overhaul. The EU is also working to abolish the €150 threshold and replace it with a unified digital customs framework by 2028.

Under the new model, e-commerce platforms would be treated as “deemed importers,” taking on greater legal responsibility for the safety and compliance of the products they sell into the European market.

Aims: Fairer Competition And Stronger Protection

European authorities say the reform is intended both to protect consumers and to create a more level playing field for European companies.

Just as important, it is expected to make customs controls more efficient by reducing the volume of individual low-value parcels and improving the authorities’ ability to identify non-compliant goods at the border.

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