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Oscars 2021 Shortlist for Makeup, Visuals, Music, Doc, International

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the shortlists for nine categories for the upcoming Oscars. The categories and number of films include documentary feature (15), documentary short subject (10), international feature (15), makeup and hairstyling (10), original score (15), original song (15), animated short film (10), live action short film (10) and visual effects (10).

The shortlist voting concluded on Feb. 5, and the remaining will move on to the official phase one voting, which will take place on March 5-9. The Oscar nominations will be announced on March 15, with the show scheduled to take place on April 25.

The full lists are below with snubs and surprises:

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Fifteen films will advance in the documentary feature category out of 238 films eligible films. Members of the documentary branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

  • “76 Days” (MTV Documentary Films) – directed by Weixi Chen, Hao Wu, Anonymous
  • “All In: The Fight for Democracy” (Amazon Studios) – directed by Lisa Cortes, Liz Garbus
  • “Boys State” (Apple TV Plus) – directed by Amanda McBaine, Jesse Moss
  • “Collective” (Magnolia Pictures and Participant) – directed by Alexander Nanau
  • “Crip Camp” (Netflix) – directed by James Lebrecht, Nicole Newnham
  • “Dick Johnson Is Dead” (Netflix) – directed by Kirsten Johnson
  • “Gunda” (Neon) – directed by Viktor Kosakovskiy
  • “MLK/FBI” (IFC Films) – directed by Sam Pollard
  • “The Mole Agent” (Gravitas Ventures) – directed by Maite Alberdi
  • “My Octopus Teacher” (Netflix) – directed by Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed
  • “Notturno” (Neon) – directed by Gianfranco Rosi
  • “The Painter and the Thief” (Neon) – directed by Benjamin Ree
  • “Time” (Amazon Studios) – directed by Garrett Bradley
  • “The Truffle Hunters” (Sony Pictures Classics) – directed by Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw
  • “Welcome to Chechnya” (HBO) – directed by David France

PREDICTION TALLY: 11/15
With 238 documentaries submitted, the category presented itself as fairly standard, with no egregious entries or surprises. However, the amount of entries warrants the Academy to consider expanding this lineup from five to ten nominees if large submissions like this continue. Eight of the 15 are helmed by female filmmakers which is incredibly encouraging with Asian, Black, Latinx and the disability community also represented. Very proud of the branch with many of these choices. Dawn Porter delivered a one-two punch this year with “John Lewis: Good Trouble” and “The Way I See It,” both of which failed to make the respective shortlist. Alex Gibney, Ophelia Harutyunyan and Suzanne Hillinger’s teamwork on “Totally Under Control” was also shut out.

SNUB: “Totally Under Control” (Neon) and “The Way I See It” (Focus Features)

SURPRISE: None?

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

Fifteen films will advance to the next round of voting in the international feature film category. Films from 93 countries were eligible in the category, the most in Oscars history. Academy members from all branches were invited to participate in the preliminary round of voting and must have met a minimum viewing requirement to be eligible to vote in the category. In the nominations round, Academy members from all branches are invited to opt in to participate and must view all 15 shortlisted films to vote.

  • “Another Round” (Denmark) – directed Thomas Vinterberg
  • “Better Days” (Hong Kong) – directed by Derek Tsang
  • “Charlatan” (Czech Republic) – directed by Agnieszka Holland
  • “Collective” (Romania) – directed by Alexander Nanau
  • “Dear Comrades!” (Russia) – directed by
  • “I’m No Longer Here” (Mexico) – directed by Fernando Frias
  • “Hope” (Norway) – directed by Maria Sødahl
  • “La Llorona” (Guatemala) – directed by Jayro Bustamante
  • “The Mole Agent” (Chile) – directed by Maite Alberdi
  • “Night of the Kings” (Ivory Coast) – Philippe Lacôte
  • “Quo Vadis, Aida?” (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – directed by Jasmila Žbanić
  • “Sun Children” (Iran) – directed by Majid Majidi
  • “Two of Us” (France) – directed by Filippo Meneghetti
  • “A Sun” (Taiwan) – directed by Chung Mong-hong
  • “The Man Who Sold His Skin” (Tunisia) – directed by Kaouther Ben Hania

PREDICTION TALLY: 12/15
This was a close race. There was chatter about “The Man Who Sold His Skin” doing very well with Academy members, but also concerns that not enough would see it. Guess I was wrong there, but all the usual suspects are still in the running. Spain is usually one of the default choices and with the power of Netflix behind it, I thought it would have a fighting chance. Despite playing film festivals, Poland also missed out on making the shortlist this year.

SNUB: “The Endless Trench” (Spain) and “Never Gonna Snow Again” (Poland)

SURPRISE: “Better Days” (Hong Kong) and “The Man Who Sold His Skin” (Tunisia)

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

  • “Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn” (Warner Bros)
  • “Emma” (Focus Features)
  • “The Glorias” (Roadside Attractions and LD Entertainment)
  • “Hillbilly Elegy” (Netflix)
  • “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” (Netflix)
  • “The Little Things” (Warner Bros)
  • “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (Netflix)
  • “Mank” (Netflix)
  • “One Night in Miami” (Amazon Studios)
  • “Pinocchio” (Roadside Attractions)

PREDICTION TALLY: 5/10
Netflix dominated here with four films in the running, but their tentpole film “The Trial of the Chicago 7” missing out could be an early warning signal, though it’s nearly impossible to read into the shortlist. “The Glorias” is one of those entries that when you see it on the list, you feel stupid for not predicting it considering they have three different women playing Gloria Steinem at different points in her life. The inclusion of “Birds of Prey” is a pleasant surprise, considering that it seems Warner Bros. didn’t put much effort behind it (omitting it from its FYC site). The big misses here are Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman,” which looked like a potential winner, and Lee Daniels’ “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” both of which made the Critics Choice lineup earlier this week. “The Prom” was also left off.  The frontrunner here seems to be “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”

SNUB: “Promising Young Woman” and “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”

SURPRISE: “Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn” and “The Glorias”

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)

Fifteen scores will advance in the original score category for the 93rd Academy Awards, out of 136 eligible scores. Members of the music branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

  • “Ammonite” (Neon) – Dustin O’Halloran, Volker Bertelmann
  • “Blizzard of Souls” (Film Movement) – Lolita Ritmanis
  • “Da 5 Bloods” (Netflix) – Terence Blanchard
  • “The Invisible Man” (Universal Pictures) – Benjamin Wallfisch
  • “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” (Netflix) – John Debney
  • “The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)” (Netflix) – Gabriel Yared
  • “The Little Things” (Warner Bros) – Thomas Newman
  • “Mank” (Netflix) – Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
  • “The Midnight Sky” (Netflix) – Alexandre Desplat
  • “Minari” (A24) – Emile Mosseri
  • “Mulan” (Walt Disney Pictures) – Henry Gregson-Williams
  • “News of the World” (Universal Pictures) – James Newton Howard
  • “Soul” (Pixar) – Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
  • “Tenet” (Warner Bros) – Ludwig Göransson
  • “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (Netflix) – Daniel Pemberton

PREDICTION TALLY: 12/15
One woman made this shortlist, and it wasn’t the one we expected. Lolita Ritmanis makes the cut for the international feature “Blizzard of Souls,” which didn’t make its respective lineup. Tamar-kali, who delivered great work in “Shirley,” will be sitting this one out, as will “Emma” co-composers Isobel Waller-Bridge and David Schweitzer. Familiarity and legacy typically work well with the music branch, which helped surprise inclusions like John Debney and Thomas Newman. But that didn’t help Elliot Goldenthal for “The Glorias” unfortunately. Another ding for “Promising Young Woman” and “Wolfwalkers,” which I thought would make an appearance. Amen and hallelujah for Terence Blanchard, Emile Mosseri, Daniel Pemberton and especially Benjamin Wallfisch.

SNUB: “Shirley” and “Wolfwalkers”

SURPRISE: “Blizzard of Souls” and “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey”

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)

Fifteen songs will advance in the original song category out of 105 eligible songs. Members of the music branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

  • “Turntables” from “All In: The Fight for Democracy” (Amazon Studios)
  • “See What You’ve Done” from “Belly of the Beast” (Independent Lens)
  • “Wuhan Flu” from “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” (Amazon Studios)
  • “Husavik” from “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” (Netflix)
  • “Never Break” from “Giving Voice” (Netflix)
  • “Make It Work” from “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” (Netflix)
  • “Fight For You” from “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros)
  • “lo Sì (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)” (Netflix)
  • “Rain Song” from “Minari” (A24)
  • “Show Me Your Soul” from “Mr. Soul!” (Shoes in the Bed Productions)
  • “Loyal Brave True” from “Mulan” (Walt Disney Pictures)
  • “Free” from “The One and Only Ivan” (Disney Plus)
  • “Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami” (Amazon Studios)
  • “Green” from “Sound of Metal” (Amazon Studios)
  • “Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (Netflix)

PREDICTION TALLY: 9/15
This category offers several exclusions that are surprising to see. The magic for “Over the Moon” wasn’t able to crack the lineup, nor the sincerity of “Onward.” Andra Day’s possibility of a double Oscar nomination has now ended with both of her songs failing to make the list, despite a Golden Globe nomination — which by the way, she can still win. There are two songs from Diane Warren from “The Life Ahead” and “The One and Only Ivan,” and Abraham Marder can also be a double nominee as he wrote the song for “Sound of Metal” and was also a co-writer with his brother, Darius Marder, and director Derek Cianfrance on the screenplay. Good on the Academy for the shout out for the song from “Mr. Soul!” but shame for not shortlisting it for documentary feature.

SNUB: “Onward” (“Carried Me With You”), “Over the Moon” (“Rocket To the Moon”), “Tenet” (“The Plan”) and “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” (“Tigress & Tweed”)

SURPRISE: “Mr. Soul!” (“Show Me Your Soul”) and “Sound of Metal” (“Green”)

VISUAL EFFECTS

Ten films remain in the running in the visual effects category for the 93rd Academy Awards. The visual effects branch executive committee determined the shortlist. All members of the visual effects branch will be invited virtually to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on March 6. Following the screenings, members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscars consideration.

  • “Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn” (Warner Bros)
  • “Bloodshot” (Sony Pictures)
  • “Love and Monsters” (Paramount Pictures)
  • “Mank” (Netflix)
  • “The Midnight Sky” (Netflix)
  • “Mulan” (Walt Disney Pictures)
  • “The One and Only Ivan” (Disney Plus)
  • “Soul” (Pixar)
  • “Tenet” (Warner Bros)
  • “Welcome to Chechnya” (HBO)

PREDICTION TALLY: 5/10 with alternate
This was a slaughterhouse of top-tier contenders. Apple TV Plus seemed like a shoo-in with “Greyhound,” as did Universal Pictures’ “The Invisible Man” and Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog.” All failed to make the lineup in place of shock admissions like Lionsgate’s “Bloodshot” and Paramount’s “Love and Monsters.” “The One and Only Ivan” had a strong day, while “Soul” could be another one of the animated films that typically make the shortlist but fails to make it on nomination day. This year could present a different outcome for it as it may have the goods to go the way of “Kubo and the Two Strings.”

SNUB: “Greyhound,” “The Invisible Man” and “Sonic the Hedgehog”

SURPRISE: “Bloodshot,” “Love and Monsters” and “The One and Only Ivan”

ANIMATED SHORT FILM

Ten films will advance in the Animated Short Film category, with 96 films qualifying in the category. Members of the short films and feature animation branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:

  • “Burrow”
  • “Genius Loci”
  • “If Anything Happens I Love You”
  • “Kapaemahu”
  • “Opera”
  • “Out”
  • “The Snail and the Whale”
  • “To Gerard”
  • “Traces”
  • “Yes-People”

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT

Ten films will advance in the documentary short subject category for the 93rd Academy Awards out of 114 films that qualified. Members of the documentary branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:

  • “Abortion Helpline, This Is Lisa”
  • “Call Center Blues”
  • “Colette”
  • “A Concerto Is a Conversation”
  • “Do Not Split”
  • “Hunger Ward”
  • “Hysterical Girl”
  • “A Love Song for Latasha”
  • “The Speed Cubers”
  • “What Would Sophia Loren Do?”

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

Ten films will advance in the live action short film category for the 93rd Academy Awards out of 174 qualifying films. Members of the short films and feature animation branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The films, listed in alphabetical order by title, are:

  • “Bittu”
  • “Da Yie”
  • “Feeling Through”
  • “The Human Voice”
  • “The Kicksled Choir”
  • “The Letter Room”
  • “The Present”
  • “Two Distant Strangers”
  • “The Van”
  • “White Eye”

Academy Awards Predictions (All Categories)

 



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World

Ugandan ex-child soldier guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity | International criminal court

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A former militia leader and child soldier from Uganda has been found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the international criminal court in a landmark judgment.

Dominic Ongwen was convicted on Thursday of 61 individual charges of murder, rape, sexual slavery, abduction and torture committed as a commander in the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a violent cult which waged a bloody campaign of violence in Uganda and neighbouring countries from the mid-1980s until a few years ago.

The court rejected defence arguments that because Ongwen, 41, was abducted by the LRA at the age of 10 he had committed any crimes under duress.

In his first appearance in December 2016, Ongwen said he would plead not guilty, telling the court he was “one of the people against whom the LRA committed atrocities” and should not be on trial.

Lawyers for Ongwen also argued that he had been profoundly traumatised during his time with the group and so was not responsible for his actions.

The presiding judge, Bertram Schmitt, said a huge number of witnesses had provided overwhelming evidence that painted a picture of a person in full possession of his abilities.

Dominic Ongwen, a former commander in the Ugandan rebel group Lord’s Resistance Army, during an appearance at the ICC in 2016. Photograph: Peter de Jong/AP

Ongwen was described as an extremely capable fighter and commander who planned attacks carefully and assessed risks, was repeatedly praised by other commanders, who did not face threat of death or serious harm if he disobeyed orders, and who did not take many opportunities to leave LRA but rather rose in rank and position, Schmitt said.

“It is impossible to think he committed his acts under threats … [There are] no grounds excluding Dominic Ongwen’s criminal responsibility,” Schmitt said.

Ongwen sat impassively through the lengthy verdict, and did not react as the names of many of his victims were read out.

He is likely to be sentenced to many decades in prison.

The trial has been one of the most momentous in the ICC’s 18-year history, and the tribunal’s decision will have a significant impact on future prosecutions for crimes against humanity, experts say.

Led by Joseph Kony, who claimed to be religiously inspired, the LRA waged war across five countries in east and central Africa. The group relied on the abduction of largely defenceless villagers and refugees, including children, to provide labour and combatants.

Girls were forced into sexual and domestic slavery while boys were forced to take up arms.

Most of the charges against Ongwen focus on attacks on refugee camps between 2002 and 2005. One of the worst involved a four-day raid by the LRA on camps in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in December 2009, in which about 350 civilians were killed and another 250, including at least 80 children, were abducted.

The court found that Ongwen was not “in subordination to Kony, and acted independently and even contested orders”.

“He was not a puppet on a string,” Schmitt said.

The verdict also described how Ongwen, the first child soldier to appear before the ICC, had himself “abducted innumerable children under 15 years of age and forced them to serve as fighters”.

The children were regularly severely beaten and forced to witness killings before being trained in fighting skills. Recruits were not taught to distinguish between civilians or combatants, and many were killed during operations commanded by Ongwen who told one witness: “You call those kids children, I call them my soldiers.”

The court also heard harrowing testimony of how young women who had been abducted by the LRA were threatened with execution if they refused to become “the wife” of a commander.

“Sexual intercourse was regularly forced on women and girls at a very young age. The women and girls were unable to resist … the physical force and threat of punishment and their dependence on the leaders in the bush,” Schmitt said.

Witnesses described “old men” assaulting them when they were “just a child”, and how Ongwen used his authority to distribute “wives” to other fighters.

“I did not want to be with him … I was too young,” one told the court.

“He was the commander … If I refused I would be killed,” another witness said. “I all the time saw girls who made mistakes being killed. I was very scared.”

Abducted woman and girls were used as domestic servants, enforced by physical punishments, suffering “barely imaginable physical and mental pain”, Schmitt said.

Of the five senior LRA leaders indicted by the ICC more than a decade ago, only Ongwen and Kony are still alive. Despite a $5m (£3.5m) reward for information leading to his capture, Kony remains elusive.

Joseph Akweyu Manoba, a Ugandan lawyer appointed by the ICC to represent 1,500 of Ongwen’s victims, told the Guardian at the start of the trial that not one of them believed Ongwen was himself a victim.

A total of 4,065 victims were granted the right to participate in the proceedings and hundreds gathered at screenings of the trial proceedings in northern Uganda to watch the verdict.

But the reaction of some victims of the LRA underlined the complexity of the case, raising difficult issues of blame and responsibility.

In Gulu, hundreds crowded into St Monica’s church hall to follow proceedings in The Hague. After watching in silence, many appeared upset by the verdict.

Joyce Alimoncan, who was abducted by the LRA from her home in Pade when she was 10, spent years in the bush with Ongwen and a commander she was forced to marry at the age of 13.

“Ongwen is not a bad person. He was just kidnapped as a child like all of us and the circumstances made him this way. Today I feel broken,” Alimoncan, 29, said.

Evelyn, 38, returned to her home in Gulu in 2005 after being held by the LRA for 11 years. She became a “wife” at 14 and gave birth to three children while with the group.

“Ongwen was just a child when he was brought to the bush and growing up during circumstances when you see nothing but death – you also have no chance to be a good person. Whatever he did was under strict orders from above and he had no choice but to follow those orders. If you refuse anything you get killed,” she told the Guardian.

Grace Adong, who spent 12 years in the bush and was in the same brigade as Ongwen, said he was a scapegoat.

“He was … the kind of person Kony would select to grow since he was easy to train. I listened carefully to the judgment but many of the crimes were not committed by him. Ongwen was just a commander of a battalion but [the crimes committed] were ordered by the brigade commander so why is he not convicted?” Adong said.

The case is important for the embattled ICC, which was founded in 2002 to bring to justice perpetrators of crimes that local criminal systems cannot deal with. The court has a staff of nearly 1,000 and an annual budget of more than $180m (£130m) but has struggled to secure convictions in a series of high-profile cases.

In June, Chile Eboe-Osuji, the president of the ICC, accused the US of acting unlawfully by threatening an economic and legal offensive against the institution following a decision by judges to open an investigation into war crimes in Afghanistan. A state department spokesperson said on Tuesday that President Biden would review sanctions imposed on ICC staff by the US.

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Science

Three Private Citizens Paying $55 Million Each For Trip To International Space Station

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Three private citizens, all from three different countries, will pay $55 million each to travel to the International Space Station for eight days as soon as next January in what has been proposed as the first entirely private spaceflight mission in human history.

The trip, which will be conducted by Axiom Space, plans to send the three private citizens to the ISS along with Michael López-Alegría, a former NASA astronaut and the vice president of Axiom Space. The other men who will be on the mission include: Larry Connor, 71, an American entrepreneur and real estate investor, Mark Pathy, 51, a Canadian investor, and Eytan Stibbe, 63, an Israeli businessman and ex-fighter pilot.

According to Axiom Space, each of the men will engage in various philanthropic projects while in orbit, such as teaching or doing experiments for researchers on the ground.

“This collection of pioneers – the first space crew of its kind – represents a defining moment in humanity’s eternal pursuit of exploration and progress,” said López-Alegría in a statement Tuesday. “I know from firsthand experience that what humans encounter in space is profound and propels them to make more meaningful contributions on returning to Earth. And as much as any astronaut who has come before them, the members of this crew have accomplished the sorts of things in life that equip them to accept that responsibility, act on that revelation, and make a truly global impact.”

“I look forward to leading this crew and to their next meaningful and productive contributions to the human story, both on orbit and back home,” he said.

According to “Good Morning America,” which first reported on the planned trip, the three men who will be joining López-Alegría will each pay $55 million. The Axiom Space vice president traveled to space on four missions during his decades-long career as a NASA astronaut. López-Alegría has logged 257 days in space and performed 10 space walks.

The private crew will be traveling on the SpaceX Dragon Capsule, a craft that made history last year when it successfully sent two NASA astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, to the ISS and back. (Previous manned crafts traveling to the ISS have been built by governments, not by companies.)

“We sought to put together a crew for this historic mission that had demonstrated a lifelong commitment to improving the lives of the people on Earth, and I’m glad to say we’ve done that with this group,” said Axiom Space President Michael Suffredini.

“This is just the first of several Axiom Space crews whose private missions to the International Space Station will truly inaugurate an expansive future for humans in space–and make a meaningful difference in the world when they return home,” he said.

The company, which advertises itself as “the space industry’s only full-service orbital mission provider for private and national astronauts,” hopes to perform two of these types of missions per year in the future.

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US

Tallahassee tornado: Twister strikes Florida’s capital, damaging Tallahassee International Airport

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The city posted photos of a hangar ripped apart and a small plane flipped upside down

“Due to impacts from the severe weather moving through the area, Tallahassee International Airport is temporarily closed for damage assessment,” the airport tweeted.

“Currently, no injuries are reported. Updates will be posted as they become available.”

A tornado warning was in effect until 12:30 p.m ET Wednesday.

Radar indicated the tornado moved near or over the airport. At around noon, the twister was tracking across southern parts of the city.

Breaking news — this story will be updated.

CNN’s Monica Garrett contributed to this report.

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Business

International travelers must pass COVID-19 test to fly into U.S.

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Travelers entering the United States from a foreign country must first pass a COVID-19 test to board a return flight. The directive from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took effect on Tuesday, Jan. 26.The directive aims to control the spread of COVID-19 and new variants of the disease that have been detected in other countries.All air passengers arriving in the U.S. from a foreign country must get tested no more than three days before their flight departs, according to the directive.The negative test result is then presented at the ticket counter and must be approved before a passenger can board the flight.If a traveler is recovering from COVID-19, a letter from a doctor or public health official must be presented stating it’s safe for the passenger to travel.The directive does not apply to travelers returning from U.S. territories, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.Even if a traveler has received the COVID-19 vaccine, they must still pass a COVID-19 test. Travelers driving across the border do not need to take a test.For a closer look at the directive and some other common questions and answers, visit the CDC webpage.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Travelers entering the United States from a foreign country must first pass a COVID-19 test to board a return flight.

The directive from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took effect on Tuesday, Jan. 26.

The directive aims to control the spread of COVID-19 and new variants of the disease that have been detected in other countries.

All air passengers arriving in the U.S. from a foreign country must get tested no more than three days before their flight departs, according to the directive.

The negative test result is then presented at the ticket counter and must be approved before a passenger can board the flight.

If a traveler is recovering from COVID-19, a letter from a doctor or public health official must be presented stating it’s safe for the passenger to travel.

The directive does not apply to travelers returning from U.S. territories, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Even if a traveler has received the COVID-19 vaccine, they must still pass a COVID-19 test.

Travelers driving across the border do not need to take a test.

For a closer look at the directive and some other common questions and answers, visit the CDC webpage.

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World

Iran executes another wrestler despite US, international outcry, reports say

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Iran has executed another decorated wrestler this week despite international outcry and condemnation from the U.S. State Department, according to reports. 

Mehdi Ali Hosseini was put to death at a prison in the city of Dezful on Monday, Al Arabiya reported, citing a local news outlet. A judiciary official there also confirmed the execution to the state-run ISNA News Agency. 

A top U.S. State Department official came out swinging earlier this month against Iran’s plan to execute Hosseini after Tehran’s rulers publicly hanged the champion wrestler Navid Afkari in September on widely criticized, trumped-up charges. 

IRANIAN EXECUTIONS SPARK OUTRAGE FROM THE US 

“The Iranian regime must be held to account for their vile human rights abuses and their attempt to cling to power through execution,” Ellie Cohanim, the State Department’s deputy special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism, had told Fox News. 

Hosseini, who is from Andimeshk in the province of Khuzestan, was arrested in 2015 and charged with premeditated murder, supposedly committed during a group brawl. It is unclear, though, whether Iran’s regime forced Hosseini to confess to a crime he did not commit. 

Iran’s opaque judiciary and penal system repeatedly tortured Afkari into admitting a killing he did not carry out, according to human rights organizations and Western governments. The clerical rulers hanged Afkari for protesting in 2018 against the economic and political corruption of the regime controlled by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

Reports of Hosseini’s execution this week were met with further criticism from activist groups. 

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“The clerical regime cannot survive even one day without execution, torture and repression in a bid to create a reign of terror to prevent escalation of popular uprising as it is engulfed with incurable internal and external crises,” the National Council of Resistance of Iran said. 

“The Iranian Resistance reiterates its call on the United Nations Secretary-General, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Human Rights Council and all human rights defenders, as well as the European Union and its member states, to condemn the heinous execution of Mehdi Ali Hosseini and take immediate action to save the lives of prisoners on the death row,” it added. 

Fox News’ Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report. 

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Science

This One Spot on The International Space Station Is Kept Filthy – For Science

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While most of us are now more fastidious about keeping our homes and workplaces clean, on board the International Space Station, cleanliness is imperative.

Of high importance is anti-bacterial measures, since bacteria tend to build up in the constantly-recycled air inside the ISS.

 

Every Saturday in space is “cleaning day” where surfaces are wiped down, and the astronauts vacuum and collect trash.

But there’s one spot on board the station where cleaning is a no-no. But don’t worry, its all for science!

The MatISS experiment, or the Microbial Aerosol Tethering on Innovative Surfaces in the International Space Station tests out five advanced materials and how well they can prevent illness-causing microorganisms from settling and growing in microgravity.

MatISS also has provided insight into how biofilms attach to surfaces in microgravity conditions.

The experiment is sponsored by the French space agency CNES and was conceived of in 2016. Three iterations of the experiment have been used on the ISS.

The first was MatISS-1, and it had four sample holders set up in for six months in three different locations in the European Columbus laboratory module.

This provided some baseline data points for researchers, as when they were returned to Earth, researchers characterized the deposits on each surface and used the control material to establish a reference for the level and type of contamination.

 

MatISS-2 had four identical sample holders containing three different types of materials, installed in a single location in Columbus. This study aimed to better understand how contamination spreads over time across the hydrophobic (water-repellant) and control surfaces.

The upgraded Matiss-2.5 was set up to study how contamination spreads – this time spatially – across the hydrophobic surfaces using patterned samples. This experiment ran for a year and recently the samples were returned to Earth and are now undergoing analysis.

The samples are made of a diverse mix of advanced materials, such as self-assembly monolayers, green polymers, ceramic polymers, and water-repellent hybrid silica.

The smart materials should stop bacteria from sticking and growing over large areas, and effectively making them easier to clean and more hygienic. The experiment hopes to figure out which materials work the best.

ESA says that “understanding the effectiveness and potential use of these materials will be essential to the design of future spacecraft, especially those carrying humans father out in space.”

Long-duration human space missions will certainly need to limit biocontamination of astronaut habitats. 

This article was originally published by Universe Today. Read the original article.

 

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World

These international destinations are open to US tourists

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Editor’s Note — CNN Travel updates this article periodically. It was last updated in its entirety on January 19. The item on Sri Lanka was added January 22. The US State Department advises that travelers consult country-specific travel advisories via their website or consult the CDC’s latest guidance. Before you make any international travel plans, check these sites first and again before you depart.
(CNN) — Once one of the world’s most powerful travel documents, the might of the US passport has shriveled during the pandemic. With US Covid-19 cases still causing concern, many nations continue to view American vacationers with trepidation.

The European Union has omitted the United States from its list of countries whose tourists may visit. Americans still can’t vacation in their neighbor to the north, Canada, nor head to many Asian favorites such as Japan.

While most American travelers are staying on US soil, some are going abroad. For those, there are still popular options such as Mexico and Turkey — and other places they might not have considered until now.

In the end, it’s up to you to decide whether travel to international destinations is responsible or advisable. Nations might change rules at any time. You may have to follow curfews and mask mandates. Violations could involve hefty fines and even jail time. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US State Department provide Covid-19 risk assessments by country.
Also keep this important update in mind: Starting January 26, all air passengers 2 and older must show proof of a negative Covid-19 test to enter the United States. That includes US citizens returning from trips to other countries. Be sure to get information on testing sites in your destination for your return trip.

What follows is a list of countries, in alphabetical order, where it’s still possible for US passport holders to go for a vacation:

Albania

Set on the Adriatic Sea, Albania remains open. The US Embassy website states that while there’s no Covid-19 test requirements or quarantine to enter, you can expect a health screening. Mask requirements and new curfews are in place.

Anguilla

To enjoy resorts such as Belmond Cap Juluca on Anguilla, you must go through a strict approval and testing regimine.

Richard James Taylor/Belmond Cap Juluca

This British territory in the Caribbean is accepting US visitors. You must be preapproved; click here to start the process and read up on extensive Covid-19 testing requirements, including the specific type of test you must get, as well as mandatory quarantine and insurance.

Antigua and Barbuda

US travelers 12 and older to Antigua and Barbuda “arriving by air must present a negative Covid-19-RT-PCR (real time polymerase chain reaction) test result, taken within seven days of their flight,” according to the country’s tourism website.

Aruba

Scroll down to the “Dutch Caribbean” entry below for information on Aruba and other islands in this group.

The Bahamas

UPDATE: Visitors 11 and older to these sun-kissed islands must have a negative Covid-19 PCR test result no more than five days old before arrival. Once you have the negative result, you can apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa here, where you must opt in for Covid-19 health insurance. You must also take a rapid test on day 5 unless you’re leaving. Get updates on the islands’ travel website and on the US Embassy website.

Bangladesh

US citizens may travel to this culturally rich South Asian nation. The US Embassy in Bangladesh says you must have a medical certificate with English translation stating you’re negative for Covid-19, with the test taken within 72 hours of travel. You must also “home quarantine” for 14 days even with a negative test.

Barbados

Hammocks and sunbeds under the palm trees are the calling cards of Barbados.

zstock/Shutterstock

UPDATE: US citizens must complete an online form and submit it 24 hours before travel, the US Embassy says. You must present a valid negative Covid-19 PCR test result, taken within 72 hours of arrival. As the US is designated a high-risk country, you must still quarantine at an approved hotel or resort until you get a second test and negative result. You must also wear an electronic tracking bracelet. Find out more at the Visit Barbados website.

Belize

UPDATE: Known for diving and jungle wildlife, Belize is open to US citizens. To enter, you must download the Belize Health App and have a negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken within three days of arrival. Or you can be tested upon arrival at a cost of $50. Get additional information with the Belize Tourism Board.

Bermuda

Bermuda requires each inbound passenger 10 and older to apply for travel authorization at the cost of $75 per adult and $30 for flight crew and children 9 and younger. Upon arrival, passengers must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken no more than five days before departure. More tests are required on days 4, 8 and 14 of your visit. Read Bermuda’s extensive requirements here, including a traveler’s wristband rule.

Bolivia

A boat gently sails close to the shores of Lake Titicaca, which Bolivia shares with neighbor Peru.

Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty/File

This landlocked South American country allows US visitors who have a negative Covid-19 test taken within 10 days of a flight departing North America. Expect a health screening. No quarantines are in place. Check here for details.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

US citizens may enter Bosnia, known for cosmopolitan Sarajevo and gorgeous lakes, with a negative Covid-19 PCR test result that’s less than 48 hours old.

Botswana

UPDATE: US citizens can enter this safari favorite with a negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken no more than 72 hours before departure. If you fail to provide test results or show coronavirus symptoms, you will have to quarantine for 14 days at your own expense. Another test will be given on the 10th day. The US Embassy says Botswana has limited testing capacity. For details, check here.

Brazil

The famed Christ the Redeemer statue stands above Guanabara Bay in an aerial view of Rio de Janeiro.

Mario Tama/Getty Images South America/Getty Images

Starting December 30, Brazil banned entry by land and sea (with a few exceptions) and put stricter measures on visitors by air, who must fill out a health declaration and present a negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken with 72 hours of boarding the flight. Read the embassy website for more details.

British Virgin Islands

NEW: US citizens need a travel certificate that you can get at the BVI Gateway website. You need a negative Covid-19 test result taken five days or less before travel to enter. You’ll also get another test on arrival and must quarantine four days while waiting for results. More information: US Embassy website | BVI government website.

Cambodia

If you want to go to Cambodia, the rules are quite stringent. You’ll have to pay a $2,000 deposit and you must possess a negative Covid-19 test result taken within 72 hours of arrival. You must also take two more Covid-19 tests — on arrival and on day 13 of a 14-day mandatory quarantine. You must also buy a $90 local health insurance package.

Chile

Colombia

All arriving passengers to Colombia should either have a negative result from a Covid-19 PCR test taken no more than 96 hours before departing; take a test upon arrival and quarantine waiting for a negative result; or quarantine for 14 days. Find out additional details here.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is allowing residents from all US states access. Visitors must complete a “health pass” form but are no longer required to take a Covid-19 PCR test. You must have proof of travel medical insurance, which you can get in Costa Rica. Get more details here.

Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

NEW: US citizens must have a negative Covid-19 PCR test result no more than seven days old before arrival. You must fill out a travel declaration form and pay the fee online. Learn more: US Embassy webpage.

Dominica

Dominica is a lush, rugged Eastern Caribbean island.

Peter Schickert/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

This eastern Caribbean island is open. All travelers to Dominica must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test result, recorded between 24 and 72 hours before arrival, and complete an electronic Immigration and Customs form via Dominica’s online portal 24 hours before traveling. US travelers should expect further testing and screening as it’s deemed a high-risk country.

Dominican Republic

People traveling to the Dominican Republic no longer have to show a negative PCR Covid-19 test result on arrival. DR authorities will give breath tests to a small percentage of random passengers plus anyone showing symptoms. You must also fill out a health affidavit. More info: US Embassy in the DR.

Dubai

Scroll down our new entry on United Arab Emirates below.

Dutch Caribbean islands

Find out the important details on these various Dutch islands in the Caribbean by clicking on the links:

Aruba: All US visitors 15 and older must fill out a health assessment and have a negative Covid-19 test result. Aruba has eliminated its list of US states that require extra testing. JetBlue passengers can take an at-home, saliva-based test. Check the Aruba tourism site for all the specific health requirements.
Bonaire: You must transit through Curaçao (see below) and comply with a host of testing and quarantine protocols. Find out the details on Bonaire’s tourism website.
Curaçao: The island of Curaçao is allowing entry to US citizens from all 50 states starting January 1. All visitors must present proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken within 72 hours of traveling. You must fill out a digital immigration card at dicardcuracao.com.
Saba: This unspoiled island has extensive entry requirements for US citizens, including getting government permission, a negative Covid-19 PCR test result (no more than 120 hours old) and 10 days of quarantine. Check the details here.

Ecuador

Photographers get to film the wildlife of the Galapagos within inches of their cameras.

Ecuador requires US travelers to present proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 10 days of arrival to avoid quarantine. Testing is available for those who don’t arrive with a negative result. You must quarantine at an approved facility while waiting for results. The Galapagos Islands require additional entry requirements. Click for details on those.

Egypt

US travelers to Egypt need to present a negative PCR Covid-19 test result. Carefully read the US Embassy’s update on the timing of the test — to be safe, it should be no older than 72 hours before flight departure. Travelers must present paper copies; digital copies aren’t accepted. Children 5 and younger are exempt. You may be required to show proof of health insurance.

Ethiopia

Known for its surreal landscapes and ancient culture, Ethiopia requires arriving US citizens to have a medical certificate with a negative Covid-19 RT PCR test before boarding their flight that’s no more than 120 hours old. In addition, Ethiopia requires a seven-day quarantine.

French Polynesia

US travelers are welcome to the islands of Tahiti and Bora Bora. French Polynesia requires a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours of departure, to be presented before boarding. You will also be provided with a self-test kit to take on your fourth day. You must fill out an online ETIS form before you go.

Ghana

A West African cultural jewel, Ghana is open to US travelers. You must have a negative Covid-19 PCR test result that’s 72 hours old or less. Arriving passengers then must take a second test that costs $150. There’s also a temperature screening.

Grenada

UPDATE: This Caribbean island is welcoming US visitors, but they must do the following: Present a negative Covid-19 PCR test result within 72 hours of departure; apply for travel authorization with the Ministry of Health; have a minimum seven-day reservation at an approved hotel for quarantine; and take a second test to be allowed to move about or remain at the hotel for the rest of the vacation. Details: Grenada’s Ministry of Health | US Embassy page.

Guatemala

Antigua, Guatemala, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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All people 10 and older entering Guatemala by air and land must have a negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken 96 hours or less upon arrival. No quarantine. Travelers who have been to the UK or South Africa may be denied entry.

Honduras

Travel to Honduras is permitted with a negative result from a Covid-19 PCR or rapid test. You must also fill out an online precheck form. Travelers who have been to the UK or South Africa are restricted.

Ireland

UPDATE: US travelers are still allowed to visit Ireland, but recent restrictions on movement could make it a very limited vacation. New requirement: You must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken within the previous 72 hours to enter; you can take a second test after five days. If it’s negative, restrictions are relaxed. Additional info: Irish government travel page.

Jamaica

Jamaica requires completion of an online travel authorization form and the possibility of being tested upon arrival. All passengers arriving from the United States 12 or older are required to upload negative Covid-19 test results to get travel authorization. The test date must be within less than 10 days of arrival. Read the website’s requirements closely; it has explicit instructions on taking tests and where you can go. More details: US Embassy in Jamaica.

Kenya

Three giraffes graze with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background. Kenya is open to US travelers who have proof of a negative Covid-19 test.

Courtesy shutterstock

Home to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya is open to US travelers with a negative Covid-19 test result taken 96 hours or less upon arrival and who pass a strict health screening. No quarantine. Outgoing visitors must comply with the Trusted Travel initiative.

The Maldives

The Maldives has reopened to all international tourists. All arriving tourists age 1 or older must have a negative result for a PCR Covid-19 test taken within 96 hours of arrival. There is no mandatory quarantine. See the Maldives’ official tourism website for details.

Malta

Travelers wishing to sidestep the EU travel ban and who are willing to quarantine can visit Malta. Passengers who transit via a “safe corridor country” that allows US visitors may enter Malta after they’ve been in that country for 14 days. For example, US travelers can stay 14 days in Turkey and then be eligible to enter Malta. All passengers must fill out Public Health Travel Declaration and the Passenger Locator forms before departure.

Mexico

San Ildefonso Cathedral in Mérida, Mexico, is one of the oldest churches in Latin America

Shutterstock

Though the land border between the United States and Mexico remains closed through at least February 21, US travelers can still fly to Mexico. No testing requirements are in place, but the State Department lists numerous states to avoid because of crime. You can expect temperature checks and other screenings upon arrival.

Montenegro

Montenegro welcomes Americans with a negative Covid-19 PCR test result or a positive coronavirus antibody test result, neither older than 72 hours. Travelers 5 and younger do not have to show test results. No quarantine with a negative result, according to the US Embassy in Montenegro.

Morocco

UPDATE: This North Africa favorite is open to specific US travelers only. You must have reservations with a Moroccan hotel or travel agency or be invited by a Moroccan company, the US Embassy in Morocco says. A printed, negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken within 72 hours before departure is required to enter. Expect a health screening. No mandatory quarantines are in place, but local curfews are.

Namibia

US citizens can visit the desert nation of Namibia, which requires a negative Covid-19 PCR test result that’s not older than seven days. If the test is older than seven days, you’ll be tested and placed in quarantine at your own expense as you await the results.

Nicaragua

Home to volcanoes and beaches, Nicaragua is open. You must have a negative result from a Covid-19 PCR or serology test. No time frame is provided for how recent it must be.

North Macedonia

Panama

A Covid-19 PCR or antigen test with a negative result, taken 48 hours or less before arrival time, is required to visit Panama. If the test results are older than 48 hours, you must take a rapid Covid-19 test at the airport. Read the government’s detailed requirements here. You must also fill out an online health affidavit.

Peru

Rwanda

UPDATE: Visitors to Rwanda must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test result, taken within 120 hours of departure. They also must take a second test upon arrival, shelter in a hotel and receive their results within a day. The national parks are open, including primate tracking. To enter a park, you must have a negative test result less than 72 hours old. Additional info: US Embassy in Rwanda.

Senegal

Senegal is known for it music, but beaches such as Saly are a draw as well.

GEORGES GOBET/AFP/Getty Images

Senegal, known for its beaches and music, is allowing US tourists to visit. To enter, all people 2 and older must present an original Covid-19 PCR test certificate with a negative result that was taken five days or less before arrival. There’s no quarantine.

Serbia

Serbia had been one of the easiest countries to visit with no testing requirements, but that changed on December 21. Now, US citizens need to provide a negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken within the previous 48 hours or a negative antigen test.

South Africa

One of the most popular destinations in Africa has reopened to US citizens. South Africa requires a negative Covid-19 PCR and/or serology test result taken within 72 hours of departure. Keep in mind a Covid-19 variant has been discovered in South Africa — check reports closely before you make plans.

South Korea

As of January 8, US visitors to South Korea must provide a negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken within 72 hours of departure. US travelers must also quarantine for 14 days upon arrival even with a negative test. You must also submit to health screenings.

Sri Lanka

The hilly interior of Sri Lanka is best explored by the charming trains which climb through countryside covered with tea plantations.

NEW: The tropical island off India’s southeastern coast has opened back up to all nations. You must have a negative result from a Covid-19 test to enter and stay at least 14 days at an approved hotel or resort. Click on the CNN Travel article below for all the details. Also, find more information at Sri Lanka Tourism.

St. Barts

The island of St. Barts is open. Visitors 10 and older are required to show a negative Covid-19 PCR test result, taken within 72 hours of arrival or a negative antigen test taken within two days of arrival. Those staying longer than a week will need to pay about $150 for an additional test on their eighth day. Find out more here.

St. Kitts and Nevis

UPDATE: This Caribbean island federation reopened on October 31. You must fill out a Travel Authorization Form before arrival and upload a negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken 72 hours or less before you start your trip. You must stay on approved hotel property for your first seven days. You must take another test on day 7 of your visit if you’re staying longer. If it’s negative, you can move about on a limited basis. For stays of 14 days or longer, a third test is required. Additional information: US Embassy.

St. Lucia

Pigeon Beach in St. Lucia awaits if you meet the requirements.

DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images

US citizens 5 and older traveling to St. Lucia must provide a negative Covid-19 PCR test, taken within seven days of arrival. Visitors must also complete a travel registration form and arrive with a printed copy. You must have confirmed reservations at a Covid-certified property for the duration of the trip.

St. Maarten

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Tanzania

A favorite for safaris and beaches, Tanzania is open to tourists. Incoming passengers are required to fill out a health surveillance form and have a health screening. You might also have to take a Covid-19 test if the airline you’re flying with requires it.

Turkey

UPDATE: Turkey has started requiring that US citizens and all other visitors must have a negative Covid-19 test result taken 72 hours or less before their flight to enter. Previously, Turkey did not require a test. This will be in effect until March 1. Passengers must fill out an information form and prepare to be checked for coronavirus symptoms.

Turks and Caicos

Visitors to the Turks and Caicos must fill out a travel authorization form and provide a negative Covid-19 test result taken within five days of arrival. Children 9 and younger are exempt. Travelers must complete an online health questionnaire and carry travel medical insurance to cover any Covid-19-related costs.

Uganda

This lush nation in Central Africa is open to US tourists who have a negative Covid-19 test result taken no more than 120 hours before departure. Read more here.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE has recently relaxed entry requirements. Tourist visas for US citizens are being issued at the Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports. Travelers 12 and older must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test result within 96 hours of departure. Even with a negative test, you might still need to quarantine (depending on the emirate) and take a follow-up test. Check here for updates and details.

United Kingdom

UPDATE: Technically, US travelers may still travel to the United Kingdom. But travel for leisure is being highly discouraged because of the new coronavirus variant. You should closely follow news reports and watch for updates on the US Embassy link here before making any plans. If you still choose to go, you must have a negative Covid-19 test result taken 72 hours before departure to enter and quarantine for 10 days. Also note that rules may vary between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Click this link for more details on this rapidly changing situation.

Zambia

Known for Victoria Falls and wildlife, Zambia is allowing all international travelers to enter. You’ll need a negative Covid-19 test result taken at least 14 days before arrival. There’s also a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Recently removed from the list

The following countries had been allowing US citizens to enter but are closed again or removed by CNN Travel for other reasons: Croatia (no Americans allowed to enter until at least January 30) | Belarus (because of mass protests) | Haiti (CNN has been unable to confirm important details on quarantining).

Omitted countries

CNN Travel has omitted certain open countries if they had very limited numbers of US travelers before the pandemic; have ongoing or recent armed conflicts, terrorism or rampant crime and unrest; or have entry requirements so extensive and complicated that they put the country out of reach of almost all US citizens. However, you can click here to check for the status and entry requirements of any country in the world.

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Science

Upward-shooting ‘blue jet’ lightning spotted from International Space Station

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Scientists on the International Space Station spotted a bright-blue lightning bolt shooting upward from thunderclouds. 

Blue jets can be difficult to spot from the ground, since the electrical discharges erupt from the tops of thunderclouds. But from space, scientists can peer down at this cerulean lightshow from above. On Feb. 26, 2019, instruments aboard the space station captured a blue jet shooting out of a thunderstorm cell near Nauru, a small island in the central Pacific Ocean. The scientists described the event in a new report, published Jan. 20 in the journal Nature. 

The scientists first saw five intense flashes of blue light, each lasting about 10 to 20 milliseconds. The blue jet then fanned out from the cloud in a narrow cone shape that stretched into the stratosphere, the atmospheric layer that extends from about 6 to 31 miles (10 to 50 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface.

Related: Photos of elves and blue jets: See Earth’s weirdest lightning 

Blue jets seem to appear when the positively-charged upper region of a cloud interacts with the negatively charged boundary between the cloud and the air above, according to the report. The blue jet appears as a result of this “electric breakdown,” where the opposing charges swap places in the cloud and briefly equalize, releasing static electricity. However, the properties of blue jets and the altitude to which they extend above clouds “are not well characterized,” the authors noted, so this study adds to our understanding of the dramatic phenomenon. 

Four of the flashes preceding the blue jet came with a small pulse of ultraviolet light (UV), the scientists noted. They identified these emissions as so-called “elves,” another phenomenon seen in the upper atmosphere. 

“Elves” — an acronym that stands for Emissions of Light and Very Low Frequency Perturbations due to Electromagnetic Pulse Sources — are light emissions that appear as rapidly expanding rings in the ionosphere, a layer of charged particles that extends from roughly 35 miles to 620 miles (60 to 1,000 km) above the planet surface. Elves occur when radio waves push electrons through the ionosphere, causing them to accelerate and collide with other charged particles, releasing energy as light, the authors wrote.

The team observed the flashes, elves and blue jet using the European Space Agency’s Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM), a collection of optical cameras, photometers, X-ray detectors and gamma-ray detectors attached to a module on the space station. 

“This paper is an impressive highlight of the many new phenomena ASIM is observing above thunderstorms,” Astrid Orr, physical sciences coordinator for human and robotic spaceflight with the European Space Agency (ESA), said in a statement. Experts also suspect that upper atmosphere phenomena, like blue jets, may affect the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, since the ozone layer sits within the stratosphere where they occur, according to the ESA statement. 

Originally published on Live Science.

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