News Briefs

Captain America killed off

The famous superhero Captain America, aka Steve Rogers, has been killed off after 60 years in the comic books. The writers for Marvel Comics recently killed off Rogers in its divisive “Civil War” story line, which pits the characters of the Marvel Comics against one another. In the series, Rogers is set to stand trial for ignoring an order for all superheroes to register with the government due to one hero accidentally causing a 9/11-like event. He eventually gives in to authorities and is later shot outside on the courthouse steps as he goes to trial. Captain America was killed off as a symbol of the current times with issues such as 9/11, the War on Terror, and the Patriot Act. It is currently not known whether he will be resurrected; if he was, some feel it would take away from the symbolism that his death represents.



New barf-blaster introduced

The US Navy is currently putting money towards research on a new weapon that will cause extreme nausea in its target. The weapon is intended for urban combat and has been given the name Electromagnetic Personal Interdiction Control (EPIC). The weapon can be used through walls and temporarily interferes with the coordination and balance of its victims’ inner ears. A side effect of the weapon is tremendous motion sickness. EPIC is seen as a much better alternative to the microwave-oven based weapons that are designed to make their targets feel like they’re on fire. The firm in charge of developing EPIC was awarded a $100,000 contract in 2004 and is now seeking more money to continue their research into the weapon.



Hole in Earth’s crust discovered

There is currently a giant hole in the Earth’s crust on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean seabed. This hole goes against everything currently thought of in traditional geophysical theory of plate tectonics and scientists want to find out why it exists. A team of scientists left the Canary Islands on a high-tech vessel with a robot named Toby that they plan to use to take pictures of the hole. It will also take rock samples and dig into the exposed mantle and bring back its findings. The hole is approximately 16,400 feet below the ocean surface and has a diameter of anywhere between 10,000 and 13,000 feet. The mission is expected to last 6 weeks and should provide insight into the chemistry of the oceans and how the Earth acts under so much pressure.