The 20 Billion Dollar Shipwreck Treasure

Daily Upsider on June 25, 2024

Among history’s many shipwrecks, the San José galleon stands out for its treasures, estimated at $20 billion in gold, silver, and emeralds lying at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea. Dubbed the “holy grail” of shipwrecks, its riches have led to prolonged ownership disputes.

Recent developments include a pledge by the Colombian government to retrieve parts of the ship and its goods. In 2022, new images from a remotely operated vehicle revealed valuable items like gold ingots, coins, and pottery. Earlier this year, Colombia announced a $4.5 million recovery effort using a robot to salvage artifacts from 2,000 feet below the ocean’s surface.

The San José was a Spanish galleon equipped with 64 guns and three masts, launched in 1698. On June 8, 1708, it encountered a British squadron near Isla de Barú, south of Cartagena. While its sister ship, the San Joaquín, escaped, the San José was attacked and sank after an explosion, taking its treasures with it. Only 11 of its 600 passengers survived.

Today, the San José is at the center of a new battle over its fortune. Claimants include the governments of Colombia, Spain, and Peru, the U.S. company Sea Search Armada (SSA), and the indigenous Qhara Qhara people of Bolivia. The most intense legal friction is between Colombia and SSA, which claims to have found the wreckage in 1981. The Supreme Court of Colombia ruled in 2007 that items of “national cultural patrimony” belong to Colombia, with other items split between the parties. In 2015, Colombia announced it had found the true location of the shipwreck, rejecting SSA’s earlier discovery. SSA maintains that the debris found in 1981 is linked to the 2015 site and is suing Colombia for $10 billion.

While the San José’s treasure garners much attention, protecting cultural items seems to be a priority for the Colombian government and its partners.

Shots Fired: 13th-Century Missiles Unearthed

Daily Upsider on June 20, 2024

During construction on the grounds of Kenilworth Castle in England, researchers have unearthed eight stone balls that were once hurled from catapults. These artifacts, dating back to the 13th century, are remnants of one of England’s longest sieges: when Henry III attacked Kenilworth Castle, which was held by rebels.

The catapult shots vary in size, with weights ranging from “that of a cabbage to that of a giant panda,” (1kg and 105kg) as described by the London Times’ Jack Blackburn. These projectiles were fired during the 172-day siege on the central England castle in 1266.

“It’s not every day we get lucky enough to stumble across historical remains like this by chance. … Imagine the surprise of the team when we unearthed these impressive stone projectiles that are nearly 800 years old.” says Will Wyeth, properties historian for English Heritage, per BBC News.

Henry III’s siege on Kenilworth was part of the Second Barons’ War, which erupted in 1264 when a group of noblemen seized power from the monarchy. Several years earlier, the lords had tried to limit Henry III’s authority by creating the Provisions of Oxford, which established the monarch’s accountability to a council of barons. When the king failed to honor the provisions, the lords—led by Simon de Montfort, the Earl of Leicester—took control.

During the conflict, royal forces used nine siege engines, including catapults, and fired some 60,000 crossbow bolts. However, behind the castle’s 14-foot-thick walls, the rebels had siege engines of their own. The recently found catapult shots came from both sides of the conflict.

English Heritage describes the battle:

“The king’s stone-throwing machines, erected all around the castle, bombarded it with a continuous stream of missiles. They were thwarted, however, by the superior range of the weaponry inside—one chronicler described the stone projectiles from the two sides ‘clashing in the air.’ The king had to send to London for larger machines”

The rebels held Kenilworth through six months of attacks before surrendering due to starvation and disease. The siege became one of Henry III’s most significant military campaigns, and the newly discovered remnants serve as reminders of the battle’s intensity.

Records indicate that a single well-aimed missile destroyed one of Henry III’s wooden siege towers, which contained approximately 200 crossbowmen.

Something you might be surprised to find out, what you are thinking of as a catapult, is most likely not what was actually used in the siege. If you are curious to find out what it most likely was, check out this great video by Shadiversity.

China’s Moon Probe

Daily Upsider on June 12, 2024

The Chinese space program recently achieved another milestone as its Chang’e-6 probe landed on the Moon’s far side, specifically in the South Pole-Aitken Basin. This mission aims to drill into the lunar soil, known as regolith, to collect samples.

This mission follows five successful lunar missions, including Chang’e-4, which established a weather station on the Moon’s far side, and Chang’e-5, which brought back lunar samples from the polar region—the first since the Apollo missions.

The Apollo Crater, where Chang’e-6 landed, contains some of the Moon’s oldest regolith, estimated to be around 4 billion years old.

Chang’e-6 includes an orbiter, lander, ascent vehicle, and re-entry module. The lander’s mechanical drill arm will collect samples, which will be sent back to Earth via the ascent vehicle, orbiter, and re-entry module. Communication with the probe will be managed through the Queqiao-2 satellite, as direct communication with the Moon’s far side is not possible. If successful, China will be the first nation to land and sample on the far side of the Moon.

Chang’e-6 is the final sample-return mission in the Chang’e series. Future missions, Chang’e-7 and 8, will focus on in-situ experiments to support a permanent Chinese robotic base on the Moon.

The Chinese space program has made significant progress in the last six years. Chang’e-4 and 5 were complete successes, and the CNSA also successfully sent its first orbiter, lander, and rover to Mars on the first attempt. It is hoped that the study of these samples could help scientists solve mysteries about the hemisphere of the moon that permanently faces out into space.

Astounding Lightening Strikes Active Volcano

Daily Upsider on June 11, 2024

Observers watching the eruption of Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala last month witnessed a spectacular event when lightning appeared to strike the active volcano. Videos of the scene have been circulating online this week, with one captioned: “What are the odds?”

Surprisingly, the odds are quite favorable. Any erupting volcano can produce its own lightning. When volcanoes erupt, they eject gases, lava, rocks, and ash into the air. The ash particles collide with each other, generating static electricity that can lead to lightning.

As the ash particles rub against one another, their atoms either shed or gain electrons, creating positively and negatively charged areas within the ash plume, according to the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. To maintain a neutral charge, the excess electrons in the negatively charged part of the plume jump across to the positively charged area, temporarily restoring balance and producing lightning.

The most severe lightening storm ever recorded was caused by the eruption of the Tonga volcano. At its peak, the storm produced 2,600 flashes per minute.

Volcanoes that produce lightning are sometimes referred to as “dirty thunderstorms.” Lightning can also be produced by intense wildfires, hurricanes, snowstorms, and surface nuclear detonations, according to the National Severe Storms Laboratory.

Check this Instagram post on this one!

Here are some videos of the breathtaking sight:


Canada’s 1st Free Grocery Store

Daily Upsider on June 10, 2024

Saskatchewan is opening Canada’s first free grocery store, thanks to the Regina Food Bank’s ongoing efforts to support the community.

Located at 1881 Broad St. in Regina, the Food Hub will resemble a regular grocery store with a produce section, display fridges, and extended hours, unlike other food aid projects that often operate out of churches or community centers.

The Regina Food Bank aims to restore agency to those who rely on their services by allowing them to shop like at a regular store, which can also help reduce waste and feed more people.

“When you give choices, you give dignity and can feed about 25% more people,” said Regina Food Bank vice-president David Froh.

People sometimes run into difficulty with standard food banks that use pre-packaged crates of canned or boxed goods because they can’t cater to dietary restrictions, allergies, proper nutrition, or taste preferences.

“Normally, I barter with neighbors, but many people can’t do that, so a lot of food goes to waste,” said customer Jon White.

The Regina Food Bank serves not just the homeless or those in severe need but also working individuals and students. About 18% of its customers are full-time workers, and 2,000 students receive snacks and meals through their programs. One goal of the Food Hub is to reduce the stigma associated with using a food bank.

Without government subsidies, the Food Bank raised the CAD$3.7 million needed for the Food Hub through private donations, including CAD$1 million from The Mosaic Company. Much of the food is locally produced, supporting the Food Bank’s mission to improve the sustainability and nutritional quality of its offerings.