The near-Earth asteroid Bennu is an active asteroid that periodically ejects rocky material into space, according to early results from NASA's OSIRIS-REx Mission.
Why it matters: This is surprising, as the vast majority of known asteroids are inactive. In addition, NASA scientists hoping to land a spacecraft on Bennu to take samples back to Earth in 2023 have found the asteroid contains larger rocks than earlier thought, which could complicate the sampling mission.
What they're saying: "The extensive flooding we've seen in the past two weeks will continue through May and become more dire and may be exacerbated in the coming weeks as the water flows downstream. This is shaping up to be a potentially unprecedented flood season, with more than 200 million people at risk for flooding in their communities," writes Ed Clark, the director of NOAA's National Water Center.
The mounting misery and destruction in the wake of Cyclone Idai, which roared into Mozambique on March 14 and 15, is becoming clearer — and more dire — as aid agencies struggle to assess the damage and deliver badly needed supplies to areas that are still submerged.
Why it matters: With the official death toll in three countries — Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi — climbing past 300 and potentially headed for 1,000 or more, Cyclone Idai could become one of the worst weather disasters ever to strike the Southern Hemisphere, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Torrential rains are continuing in parts of the three-country region on Thursday, as floodwaters slowly drain into the Indian Ocean.
Inmarsat, a British satellite company, said it received a non-binding $3.3 billion takeover offer from a private equity consortium that includes Apax Partners, Warburg Pincus and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
Why it matters: This is yet another big-money example of buyout firms returning to a familiar well, as Apax had helped buy Inmarsat in 2003 before later taking it public. It also comes about a year after Inmarsat turned down a $3.2 billion takeover bid from Echostar.
Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday that federal aid would soon arrive for communities impacted by historic flooding in the Midwest.
The latest: Pence visited a relief shelter in Omaha, Nebraska, and surveyed flood damage in the region during a tour of the region. The Nebraska Farm Bureau said farm and ranch losses from the flooding could total $1 billion and there would be up to $500 million in livestock losses, according to the Associated Press.
