When you're approaching Castleton Tower, a 400-foot-tall rock formation听near Moab, Utah, it seems completely quiet. And if you place your hands and feet on the sandstone, it鈥檒l feel perfectly still.听

But, like other large rock formations, Castleton Tower hums. It vibrates from energy produced by earthquakes, ocean waves, cities, trains, and road traffic, or even from wind or aviation noise in the air.听

And thanks to a group of geologists at the University of Utah鈥攁nd a couple of ambitious rock climbers鈥攏ow you can hear it.听

The researchers, led by geologist Jeffrey R. Moore, published on Tuesday in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America that shared a recording of the tower鈥檚 vibrations. To make the recording, Moore鈥檚 team used seismometers, devices that pick up slight movements in the earth in three dimensions. They then amplified and sped up the nearly three-hour recording to a frequency audible to humans.听

You can listen to the rock here:

鈥淚t has ebbs and flows to it, but it鈥檚 largely a sort of droning sound, emphasizing how the tower is always vibrating as energy comes up through the earth,鈥� says Paul R. Geimer, PhD,听an author on the study.听

Moore and his colleagues have been measuring the vibrations of rock formations since 2013, but had previously been limited to small structures such as arches, bridges, and hoodoos (pinnacle-like structures). In order to listen to a rock, one needs to ascend it, to place a seismometer on top of the structure. So formations like Castleton, which is one of the largest free-standing rock formations in the Southwest, pose a challenge for scientists.听

That鈥檚 where Kathryn Vollinger and Natan Richman came in. Both seasoned rock climbers, Vollinger and Richman were looking for ways to keep their skills sharp during the off-season. They found and reached out to Moore鈥檚 group in December 2017听with a standing offer to climb larger, more technical rock formations and set up seismometers. The researchers jumped at the chance. 鈥淭heir skills provided us an opportunity to measure something we couldn鈥檛 just walk up to,鈥� says Riley Finnegan, another author on the study.听

After a few weeks of training to get the climbers comfortable with the equipment, they were sent to climb Castleton Tower in March 2018, placing one seismometer at the base for reference and another at the top to measure the movements.

The recording confirmed what the researchers originally thought: that the Tower behaves as 鈥渙ne slab of intact rock, connected from top to bottom,鈥� says Geimer. It vibrates at a very low frequency, likely due to its enormity. Smaller rock formations vibrate at higher frequencies鈥擣innegan compares this to the strings on a guitar. This makes Castleton听less sensitive to accumulating damage over time听compared to structures that are more susceptible to transferred energy, according to Finnegan.

Major collapses in Arches National Park, like the one that , were motivating events for the group's research, says Geimer. 鈥淲e are trying to identify any precursors in these rock formations before either there is going to be a rockfall or these features are going to fail. It鈥檚 a way to non-invasively listen in and assess the health of these features.鈥澨�

Castleton Tower was first climbed in 1961 and was named in the 1979 book, , earning a place on many climbers鈥� to-do lists.听

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Last week, a video of people hydrofoiling off Capistrano Beach in Dana Point, California, made the internet rounds.

Even when the hydrofoilers zoom directly over the animals, the sharks don鈥檛 seem to care.听Since drones became a ubiquitous sight听off beaches and piers, amatuer filmmakers have been capturing videos like these and sending them to the media, who, in the words of Chris Lowe, professor of marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at California State University at听Long Beach, 鈥�.鈥� People tend to get a bit freaked out when they realize how close we can unwittingly come to some of nature鈥檚 most refined predators.听听

The听Shark Lab has started to use drone footage to study why sharks, often baby or pregnant ones, tend to hang out in shallow waters as well as how they behave when they encounter humans.听

鈥淲e have a lot of footage and anecdotal evidence of sharks swimming around where humans play, and as long as people aren鈥檛 harassing them, the sharks just don鈥檛 care,鈥� says Lowe.听

And often 鈥渢he surfers don鈥檛 even notice,鈥� he says. For example, pro surfer Kelly Slater听didn鈥檛 seem to be aware of a shark that听 his GoPro footage in 2014.听

Lowe hopes to have data on sharks鈥� attitudes toward close-proximity humans in a couple of years. For now, 鈥渨hen there are a lot of people and sharks in shallow water together, most of the time听nothing happens,鈥� he says. However, swimming in groups and avoiding the water at dawn and dusk can reduce your risk of encountering sharks, friendly or not.听

In withdrawal after the end of ? Here鈥檚 even more drone footage:

Sharks Approach Surfers听

Sharks Circle Surfers in South Africa

Tiger Shark Passes by Swimmers in Miami

Sharks and Surfers Within Feet of Each Other

Surfer Falls onto a Shark

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In a thousand-year-old Himalayan folk tale, a king and queen, followed by their attendants, trek into the mountains of northern India听to the shrine of Nanda Devi, the mountain goddess. But on the way, the goddess strikes the pilgrims down for their celebratory and inappropriate behavior, and they fall into small, glacial Roopkund Lake.听

In 1942, a British forest ranger听assigned to patrol the Indian Himalayas during the Second World War听came across the lake and found the skeletal remains of hundreds of people. News spread, and Roopkund Lake, in the present-day Indian state Uttarakhand,听was听rechristened听Skeleton Lake.听

Thus began a now 77-year-old mystery about who these humans were, what brought them to the isolated, often frozen lake, and how they died.

The Nanda Devi tale could help explain the bodies. The pilgrimage they attempted, the Nanda Devi Raj Jat, is a three-week journey still undertaken听today to worship the goddess. Some hypothesize that the bodies could be evidence of a fatal 19th-century military expedition, but when many women鈥檚 bodies were found in the lake, this idea fell out of favor. Based on evidence of compression fractures on a few of the humans鈥� skulls, the most common belief is听that a hailstorm sometime between 830 and 850 A.D. 听published Tuesday in Nature Communications, however, contradicts this听theory.听

In the study, researchers听radiocarbon-dated and genetically analyzed the skeletal remains of 38 bodies found in the lake to find out how old the bones are and the individuals鈥� ancestry. They also analyzed the stable isotopes in the samples to learn more about what they ate. What the researchers听found surprised them.听

鈥淭he assumption was that all the skeletons dated to around the eighth century, but it became clear that this is not what happened,鈥� says 脡adaoin Harney, the lead author of听the paper and a doctoral candidate at听Harvard University鈥檚 department of organismic and evolutionary biology.听The bodies in the lake, instead of dying in a single catastrophic event, range from a few hundred to a thousand years old.听

The authors also assumed that the individuals were all from the Indian subcontinent, as this is what . But once they had the听ancient DNA samples, 鈥渋t was clear this was definitely not the case,鈥� says Harney.听

Genetically, the remains听fall into three distinct听groups, ranging from 1,000-year-old populations from听South Asia听to 200-year-old populations from Greece and Crete, along with one individual from East Asia. Twenty-three of the bodies analyzed were from South Asia, whereas 14 were of Mediterranean origins.听Even those individuals from South Asia 鈥渉ave ancestry that鈥檚 really diverse,鈥� says Harney. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a single population coming from somewhere within India.听Instead it鈥檚 people from all over the subcontinent.鈥� 听

The results of the isotope analysis also show diverse diets within and among each subgroup, adding to the mystery.听

As for听how they died there and why, Harney says:听鈥淭he only hint that we have is that Roopkund Lake is located along the pilgrimage route听that may have been used for the last 1,000 years.鈥� And yet, for Harney, it is difficult to imagine this as the sole reason for such a genetically and culturally diverse听set of people to die in听the same remote lake.听

鈥淲e鈥檙e still pretty puzzled,鈥� she says,听and more research is needed to determine the exact nature of these deaths. A massive hailstorm still can鈥檛 be ruled out, but the scientists wonder if the hailstorm was the fatal blow or if it occured听after the people died.

And compared to other archeological sites, Roopkund is challenging to study. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been subject to so much disturbance, both from the natural environment, like rockslides,鈥� says Harney, and from hikers on the nearby trail going down to retrieve bones or look at the site.听

The study does highlight听the ways in which humans have traveled听to far-off places听for hundreds, if not thousands,听of years.听鈥淲e knew that there were long-distance connections,鈥澨齭ays Harney,听but the new knowledge demonstrates 鈥渉ow important migration and connections between different parts of the world have been throughout history.鈥�

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Should the Matterhorn close? That question arose again last week after at least one anonymous guide told the Swiss newspaper听听that the mountain was too unstable and therefore too dangerous to climb.听

The comment came after a South Korean climber and his guide died last month after a rock fell and damaged a fixed rope on the east flank of the mountain. A total of six听people have died on the Matterhorn so far this year, and 11 died attempting to reach its听summit last season. The 14,642-foot peak has always been one of the world鈥檚 most dangerous; it鈥檚 estimated that more than 500 people have died since it was first summited in 1865.听

鈥淭he Matterhorn is not a piece of solid granite.听It鈥檚 a piece of shales [soft, stratified sedimentary rock]. It鈥檚 not very stable,鈥� says Raphael Mayoraz, a geologist, mountain guide, and head of the natural-hazards department of听the Swiss canton听of Valais, where the mountain is located.听 by the PermaSense听project released in 2019 found that melting permafrost and receding glaciers have made rockfalls听an even greater danger on hot summer days.

Mayoraz says he鈥檚听noticed changes in the Alps since his early days as a mountain guide. The north faces of the range used to be perpetually covered in snow, meaning climbs were on hard, packed snow and ice. But much of that 鈥渉as been melting, which means now most north faces are pure rock, and they are less stable,鈥� he says.听

In winter, snow fills the gaps between loose, unstable rock on the upper layers of the Alps. That snow turns to ice at freezing altitudes, which acts as a glue, keeping the rocks in place. A colder, snowier听winter will create more ice, while extremely hot summers melt it, causing an increased risk of rockfall.听Because of this phenomenon, the north face of the Matterhorn has become almost too dangerous to climb in the summer, according to Mayoraz. This includes H枚rnligrat Ridge, on the northeast face, the most popular听route to the summit.

Rockfall happens, says Jonathon Spitzer, director of field operations at , who monitors the conditions on the Matterhorn daily. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more prevalent in the Alps than anywhere else in the world that we guide, just because the permafrost there is melting drastically with climate change,鈥� Spitzer explains.听

The mountain closed for several days 听after a major heat wave resulted in听35,000 cubic feet of rock sliding听off听the H枚rnligrat Ridge, forcing听the evacuation of 90 climbers. This led听scientists from to install wireless sensors where the rockfall occurred.

But the notion that the Matterhorn should close now doesn鈥檛 make sense, according to听Mayoraz. It听would be impossible to keep climbers off it anyway.听鈥淚t鈥檚 a big mountain. There are probably 20 routes that go to the top of Matterhorn, or even more, so what are you going to do?鈥澨�

鈥淕laciers are receding very quickly,鈥� says Mayoraz. Two-thirds of the glaciers in the Alps will be lost by 2100, according to published in the geosciences journal听鈥嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�嬧�婽he Cryosphere听in April. 鈥淭here are new crevasses. You need to find new routes to go on the glacier. It鈥檚 a continued adaptation, but that鈥檚 part of alpinism: finding the best way, the safest way.鈥�

There are no plans to close the Matterhorn this year. 鈥淣o one, and even less the mountain guides, are in favor of a closure,鈥� says Pierre Mathey. managing director of the Swiss Mountain Guide Association.听And Alpine Ascents has no plans to halt its听guided trips, says Spitzer. It has听four more groups attempting the summit this year. 鈥淲e tell them up front that we need to be aware that rockfall is prevalent,鈥� says Spitzer.听

Mayoraz says that people climb the mountain at their own risk. Whether to ascend a mountain is a decision, he believes, that local authorities should have no role in making for individual climbers. 鈥淲here is the limit? When do you open and听when do you close听a, by the way, pretty shaky mountain?鈥�

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Going outside inevitably impacts the environment, whether all that remains are your footsteps鈥攁s听听(LNT) would encourage鈥攐r you鈥檙e treating nature as your personal trash can and听compost pile. And having your period while backpacking or camping only makes it harder to reduce听that impact.听

So we talked to Erin Collier, a 听who鈥檚听been working in environmental stewardship for more than four years for听the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, and听Kristina Tocce, the medical director at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. They helped us put together a list of gear hacks and principles for heading outdoors while听menstruating.听

Know the Basics

In accordance with听, don鈥檛 leave anything not created by your body鈥攊ncluding tampons and toilet paper鈥攊n nature. Keep this in mind if you鈥檙e going on a trip where you won鈥檛 see a garbage can for a while, as you鈥檒l have to carve out space and weight in your pack for used pads and tampons.

As for what you can leave听behind, it听shouldn鈥檛 remain above ground for another person or animal to find. Always dig a six-to-eight-inch-deep hole () at least 200 feet, or 70 big steps away, from a water source, dump all bodily fluids and the water used to clean your period supplies inside it, and fill it back in.

And don鈥檛 just throw听period supplies into pit toilets.听In comparing rates of decomposition, 鈥渢he closest thing to a tampon is a disposable diaper, which takes about 450 years,鈥� Collier says, citing a . Even the organic or biodegradable kind still take a long time to break down. So if you leave a tampon or pad in a pit toilet, it could be found by animals. Or rangers would have to remove it, which is extremely difficult.

Pick Disposable or Reusable Supplies

There are benefits and downsides to both options. Disposable pads and tampons may actually be better for following LNT practices, since they absorb everything and you can pack it all out rather than needing a cathole. Reusable menstrual cups and period panties are more affordable, comfortable, and (in the long run) friendlier to the environment than disposables. Plus, while pads and tampons can fall out, get sweaty, or chafe, you won鈥檛 notice a cup except for when you鈥檙e emptying or reinserting it. Both reusable options听will add less weight and take up less space in your pack, though period underwear can get uncomfortable if not washed properly. Here are several important things to consider before choosing.

Disposables

Tampons

If you opt for disposables, Collier recommends removing tampon applicators before you leave for your trip, or purchasing applicator-free tampons. Out of anything obviously period related she sees left in the backcountry, tampon applicators are the most common.听

But if you鈥檙e set on using an applicator, Thinx recently released an ultralight, ultra-packable, reusable one called ($60). To operate it, twist off the cap, place a tampon into the silicon holder, and use the pusher to insert the tampon and holder into your vagina. Keep a finger or thumb on the holder and pusher so that once the tampon is in, you can pull both out.

Pads

Pads can cause some serious chafing if you鈥檙e walking with them for more than a mile or two. Add some ($5)听to your pack if pads are your gear of choice, and apply it to your inner thighs before you start hiking.

Reusables

Menstrual Cups

Menstrual cups like the 听($17),听听($40), or听听($28) are silicon period-blood receptacles. Make sure to order the right size, which depends on your flow and the size of your vagina. (Some companies make specific models for women under the age of 18, over 30, .) Talk to your ob-gyn if you鈥檙e unsure about which size you should get.

You鈥檒l have to time emptying the cup based on how heavy your period is on a certain day. But usually, you鈥檒l be able to feel if it gets full or when it starts to leak鈥攖he Diva Cup has tiny holes at the top in case of overflow. And all three brands recommend leaving the cup in no longer than 12 straight hours. Don鈥檛 worry about losing it up there, though; a cup can鈥檛 fit through a cervix, and most have听a small tab听on the bottom for easy gripping and removal.

Collier recommends taking extra water with you for cleaning your cup after you empty it into a cathole.听Use a designated pot or bowl, and clean the cup with soapy water. Then dump the dirty water into the same hole before covering it up.听

Period Underwear听and Shorts

Period panties are highly absorbent, leakproof, often sweat wicking and odor reducing, and more comfortable for a long day of hiking than pads and tampons.

carries multiple styles, like hip-hugger, sport, and thong. It also makes听听($65), with built-in underwear and pockets, perfect for running or yoga.听Companies like听,听, and听听also make solid period underwear, if you鈥檙e looking for less expensive and more varied options. (Knix offers a variety three-pack for $56, while one pair of Thinx hip-huggers will run you $34.)听

Though period underwear can be more difficult to clean than cups, it鈥檚 useful as backup to other methods听on heavy days.听To clean, wring out the blood into a cathole, wash the panties thoroughly in your designated bowl or pot, and empty the used water into the hole.

If you choose to go with period panties, get at least two pairs, so you can use one while the other is drying out, says Tocce. One pair can usually absorb up to a day鈥檚 worth of heavy bleeding, but this depends on the type of underwear you buy鈥攕ome are intended to be more absorbent than others.

Other Options

Many women turn to birth-control pills and hormonal IUDs to either stop periods completely, lighten flow, or regulate side effects during extended trips. These are听probably the most sustainable, hassle-free, and space-saving methods. However, they are not an option for all women. If you use birth-control pills, talk to your doctor far听in advance of your trip, so they鈥檒l听know you鈥檒l need extra prescriptions. On the trail, keep them in a secure, designated spot in your pack, and set yourself a reminder on your watch or phone to take them every day, just as you might when you鈥檙e at home.

Stay Organized

If you鈥檙e using disposable items, make your own kit with two sealable Ziplocs: one with fresh toilet paper, pads, tampons, and hand sanitizer, and the other for used products. For extra privacy, wrap the second bag in duct tape and add tea bags or crushed aspirin to cut down on听the smell.

But there are also premade packs, like those by Animosa, that do all this work for you with reusable or refillable supplies.听The company鈥檚 ($54 for the largest size) comes with a waterproof carrying case, hypoallergenic wipes, sealable and biodegradable disposal bags, and a reusable pouch to keep them in. It鈥檚 available in three sizes鈥攐ne for single-day trips, another for multi-day adventures, and a third for a multi-week stays in the wild.

Say you prefer reusable gear. Then your kit should also include extra soap, water, and a designated bowl for cleaning the menstrual cup or period panties, as well as another storage bag for when you鈥檙e not using them.

Be Flexible

Both Collier and听Tocce said they got most of their knowledge by word of mouth. But they also mentioned that they wish they鈥檇 known these things sooner.听Every body and every period is different. For a while, one method might work for you, until your cycle changes and you adapt. As Collier says, 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing wrong with getting outside on your period.鈥�

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The hope behind Yosemite鈥檚 Half Dome permit system was that it would lead to fewer hiker accidents and deaths. But since the park began issuing permits in 2010, the number of incidents per person has effectively doubled, according to by the journal听Wilderness and Environmental Medicine.

rewards hikers with expansive views of Yosemite Valley. It also has a reputation for severe overcrowding and a high level of risk due to bottlenecking at the start of the cable handrails, rain, and hiker inexperience. These risks are known to be even higher on the weekends. From 2005 to 2009, eight people died on the trail, several by slipping and falling. The crowds were听often cited as the main cause of the accident. Before the park required permits, there could be on Half Dome on peak days.听

These incidents prompted听Yosemite to institute the random lottery permitting system for hikers interested in scaling the cable handrail-supported portion of the trail. The current permitting system limits the number of hikers by as much as 66听percent.

But when researchers analyzed search and rescue data on and around Half Dome five years before and five years after the park began issuing permits, they found no significant decrease in the number of deaths and injuries, suggesting overcrowding may not be the main factor for hiker safety on Half Dome. The most recent death on the trail occurred in May 2018, with wet conditions implicated as the cause.

The report speculates that the Park鈥檚 promotion of could attract too broad of an audience, including those with less awareness of the fitness and experience levels required to complete Half Dome safely.听In 2014, for example,听more than 30,000 people applied for trail permits,听and the Sierra Club estimates that only 20 percent of total applicants reached the summit.听The researchers recommend close observation of fatal and nonfatal accident trends on Half Dome over the next decade.

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