The 2024 model year Toyota Hilux pickup truck was released on the home market in Japan. The car retained its units, but received more options already in the database.

Thus, the Panoramic View all-round viewing system is included as standard equipment. Now, looking at the media system screen, the driver will be able to better navigate the off-road track. The infotainment system itself has also become better (integrated navigation is already included in the base) and the rear view camera.

While the base Z and GR Sport versions were previously painted in Super White II, they are now available in Platinum Pearl Mica.

Based in Japan, the Hilux is equipped with a 2.4-liter turbodiesel engine producing 150 hp, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The pickup price starts at $27,275.

Xiaomi, according to Chinese media, is working on extended range EV (EREV) systems for electrified models. The manufacturer is already recruiting development engineers with relevant experience.

According to the job descriptions, engineers will be responsible for developing and testing range extender systems, designing system components and helping to build the supply chain. Employees will also be responsible for researching future trends in range extending technologies.

The company is seeking engineers with a bachelor’s degree or higher with more than three years of experience managing the design and development of such systems. The candidate must also have experience working on multiple mass production and service projects. In addition to EREV developers, Xiaomi is looking for engineers for internal combustion systems, air intake and exhaust systems, as well as other engine specialists.

Xiaomi is known to be testing an electric car, but some media outlets have stated that the upcoming Xiaomi sedan is quite long, leading to speculation that the designers have left room for an internal combustion engine. Working as a generator, such an engine serves to increase the range of electrified models.

Back in August, Xiaomi began producing machines. As of early September, Xiaomi’s Beijing plant was producing about 50 vehicles per week.

Using the radioactive iron isotope 60-Fe, a team of researchers from the University of Illinois was able to determine the approximate astronomical distances to the explosions of the Pliocene supernova SN Plio (3 million years ago) and the Miocene supernova SN Mio (7 million years ago).

“Supernovae are a dramatic example of how stars have life cycles. Supernova explosions mark the spectacular deaths of the most massive stars—those with at least 8 times the mass of the Sun. They play a central role in astrophysics and cosmology for many reasons,” says Dr. Brian Fields, professor of astronomy at the University of Illinois and co-author of the study.

For the study, the scientists analyzed the undecayed radioactive iron isotope 60-Fe, obtained in several previous studies that sampled 60-Fe from the Earth’s crust, marine sediments and lunar regolith. The age of these samples was determined using the half-life of 60-Fe of 2.62 million years. These samples were found to come from two supernova explosions. The purpose of this study was to determine the distances to these two explosions.

The results indicate that SN Plio occurred at a distance of 20 to 140 parsecs (or 65 to 457 light-years) from Earth, but the most likely range is 50-65 parsecs (163 to 212 light-years). For SN Mio, the team determined the approximate distance to be 110 parsecs (359 light years). Such distances might be considered relatively “safe” for Earth, but how could such explosions potentially affect the Solar System?

“If a supernova explodes too close to Earth or another Earth-like planet, the event could be devastating to life. A supernova explosion creates high-energy radiation called gamma rays that will irradiate the planet’s atmosphere for many months after the explosion. Our atmosphere will protect us from direct exposure to these gamma rays, but at great cost: the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere will become significantly thinner. This would leave Earth vulnerable to the sun’s intense ultraviolet rays, which are harmful to most life on Earth. It will take several years for the earth to restore its ozone,” says Dr. Fields.

Supernovae are some of the most spectacular phenomena in space. The oldest recorded supernova is RCW 86 or SN 185, which occurred on December 7, 185 AD and was documented by Chinese astronomers. They noted that the light remained in the sky until June 186. Modern astronomers call such an event a temporary astronomical phenomenon and suggest that RCW 86, which lies about 2,800 parsecs (9,100 light-years) from Earth with an estimated diameter of 85 light-years, was likely a Type Ia supernova.

Dr Fields said: “Supernova explosions are rare – about one to three such events occur every century in our Milky Way galaxy. Most of them explode far away and pose no danger to Earth. But on a scale of many millions of years, it is very likely that one of them will explode close to Earth.”

Despite these findings, Dr. Fields notes that at this time, “there are no threatening supernova candidates close enough to place us within their striking range.” It also suggests that the mass extinction that occurred at the end of the Devonian period about 360 million years ago may have been the result of one or more supernovae.

One of the most famous future supernovae is the star Betelgeuse, a red supergiant about 550 light-years from Earth. It is the second brightest star in the constellation Orion. Betelgeuse attracted attention in late 2019 when astronomers spotted the star darkening and some speculated that it would soon explode into a supernova. However, additional observations in August 2020 showed that the dimming was caused by a cloud of super-hot material ejected by the star. This was confirmed in an August 2022 study.

It is not known exactly when Betelgeuse will explode because, according to our data, the late phases of a massive star’s life do not cause noticeable changes in the surface region of the star. So, Betelgeuse could be the next supernova in our Galaxy in the near future, but it could also explode in 100,000 years. But her inevitable death will definitely come, so enjoy her in the Orion constellation now while you still can