“The $1 billion mission to reach

the Earth's mantle”

A team of international geologists are going to drill into the Earth's mantle in an attempt to

answer questions about the origins and evolution of life. The drills will need to get

through around 6 km of oceanic crust to reach the mantle. Their task will be all the more

difficult for being conducted out in the middle of the ocean. It is here that the Earth´s crust is at its thinnest at around 6 km compared to as much as 60 km (37.3 miles) on land. They have already identified three possible locations -- all in the Pacific Ocean. The hole they will drill will

be just 30 cm in width all the way from the ocean floor to inside the mantle -- a

monumental engineering feat. If project gets the go-ahead, the team hope to reach the

mantle by early 2020s.

President Barack Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney face off on President Barack Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney face off on Wednesday in the first of three presidential debates.Wednesday in the first of three presidential debates.

Authorities in Oregon are investigating how a hog farmer was eaten by his Authorities in Oregon are investigating how a hog farmer was eaten by his animals. The remains of Terry Vance Garner, 70, were found in his hog animals. The remains of Terry Vance Garner, 70, were found in his hog enclosure Wednesday, according to local news reports Monday. The farmer enclosure Wednesday, according to local news reports Monday. The farmer had gone to feed the hogs, some weighing as much as 700 pounds, about had gone to feed the hogs, some weighing as much as 700 pounds, about 7:30 a.m., according to a report from CNN affiliate KMTR. After Garner was 7:30 a.m., according to a report from CNN affiliate KMTR. After Garner was not seen for several hours, a family member went to check on him and not seen for several hours, a family member went to check on him and found his dentures in the hog pen. Other remains were found, but the hogs found his dentures in the hog pen. Other remains were found, but the hogs had eaten most of the farmer, according to the report.had eaten most of the farmer, according to the report.

The military psychiatrist is accused of opening fire three years ago at the The military psychiatrist is accused of opening fire three years ago at the Texas Army post's processing center, where soldiers were preparing to Texas Army post's processing center, where soldiers were preparing to deploy to Afghanistan and Iraq. The attack left 13 dead and 32 people deploy to Afghanistan and Iraq. The attack left 13 dead and 32 people wounded. Hasan was paralyzed from the waist down after police wounded. Hasan was paralyzed from the waist down after police exchanged fire with him. His court-martial tied to the shooting had been exchanged fire with him. His court-martial tied to the shooting had been scheduled to start in August but has been delayed because of the scheduled to start in August but has been delayed because of the suspect's beard. Army regulations prevent soldiers from wearing facial hair suspect's beard. Army regulations prevent soldiers from wearing facial hair while in uniform. Hasan, who is still considered a soldier, is a practicing while in uniform. Hasan, who is still considered a soldier, is a practicing Muslim and maintains he has the right to wear the beard under U.S. laws Muslim and maintains he has the right to wear the beard under U.S. laws protecting religious freedoms.protecting religious freedoms.

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