SpaceX CEO Elon Musk made a bold announcement last month about sending humans to Mars in four years. While this may seem unrealistic to many experts, settling humanity on Mars is the ultimate goal his aerospace company is pursuing.

Interestingly, a person on X proposed an interesting idea – sending Tesla’s humanoid robots to Mars in order to set things up for humans.

“Elon is really about to send Starships full of Humanoid Robots to Mars in the 2030s to start building the base isn’t he?” asked Aidan Gold, a SpaceX investor.

Hopefully, millions of humans too
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 11, 2024

Without denying, Musk said he hopes to send millions of humans to the red planet too. “Hopefully, millions of humans too,” he replied.

“Good to get the robots setting things up for human arrival,” Gold said in a second post to which Musk responded with a ‘100’ emoji. Tesla’s humanoid robots gained spotlight again after Tesla’s event which took place earlier today.

ALSO SEE: Elon Musk Says He Could Be Dead Before Occupying Mars; ‘If We Don’t Improve…’

Optimus is your personal R2D2 / C3PO, but better

It will also transform physical labor in industrial settings pic.twitter.com/iCET3a9pd8
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 11, 2024

Earlier in September, Musk said that SpaceX will launch the first Starships to Mars with humans in four years. These launches will follow uncrewed missions to the red planet to test the “reliability of landing intact on Mars.”

“Flight rate will grow exponentially from there, with the goal of building a self-sustaining city in about 20 years,” Musk had said about the years beyond 2028.

Starship is SpaceX’s biggest reusable rocket that is getting ready for its fifth test flight on October 13.

ALSO SEE: SpaceX Announces Date For Starship’s Flight 5 As It Awaits Government Permit

Earth has been struck by a severe geomagnetic storm after another round of explosions on the Sun. This comes after an intense episode of solar flares coupled with the expulsion of charged solar particles called the coronal mass ejection.

According to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, the CME slammed into Earth at around 8:45 pm IST last night resulting in a G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm.

UPDATE! CME passage intensified; things are favorable for G4 levels to potentially continue into night hours. Keep space weather aware at https://t.co/YLUbTRM02y for the latest. We take actions to notify officials and critical infrastructure operators, so you can enjoy the aurora pic.twitter.com/uvZ7Ju0ps8
— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) October 10, 2024

“G4 levels reached again! CME progression will continue overnight with periods of weakening and some escalation possible in geomagnetic storm levels. The G4 Watch remains in effect for 11 Oct and all applicable warnings remain in place,” it stated on X.

A geomagnetic storm is a disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field and the solar particles that cause it can impact power grids, GPS and radio communication systems and satellites in orbit. The NOAA has said that the geomagnetic storm can also reach to G5 levels if the solar activity continues.

ALSO SEE: Brilliant Red Auroras Cover US Skies After Geomagnetic Storm; Pictures Surface

SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP

ODENTON, MD 😭💜

Taken between 7:20p to 7:45p ET pic.twitter.com/Qno4yHNOcp
— Carina ☀️ Alden (@SpaceWxRina) October 10, 2024

ITS LITERALLY OVERHEAD IN MARYLAND THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/R9mLOKM9fN
— Space Weather Watch (@spacewxwatch) October 10, 2024

Aurora pictures from the UK! 🩷💜💚 Thanks to my family in Worcestershire/Herefordshire 🌞 pic.twitter.com/jk3x4Iwxhi
— Emma Davies (@SpaceDavies) October 10, 2024

Northern Lights success from Colorado tonight! To me, the view below didn’t quite compare to the May 2024 geomagnetic storm (from similar latitude), but it was amazing to see these deep reds with the naked eye. pic.twitter.com/JzYZVcMh7H
— Dr. Ryan French (@RyanJFrench) October 11, 2024

What is even happening right now? I feel like I am having a religious experience – or an alien abduction. Not sure which. #aurora pic.twitter.com/vgDUP0YUC9
— Dr David Boyce (@DrDavidBoyce) May 10, 2024

Auroras boreales en el cielo de A Costa da Morte en Galicia pic.twitter.com/B0BFIZuyd6
— Fandi🇪🇦 (@adri_tbv) October 11, 2024

Tonight is the second time this year we witnessed the #northernlights in Key Largo, Florida. It’s extremely rare to see the aurora so far south. These photos were taken from Latitude 25°6′24″N pic.twitter.com/7uGx1sEohl
— Mike Theiss (@MikeTheiss) October 11, 2024

On the bright side, residents in Canada, the U.S and the U.K among other European nations are getting mesmerised by auroras that have been triggered in the polar regions. Many posted pictures of the brightly lit skies in pink and green hues on social media.

Interestingly, the auroras that are normally limited to the polar regions were seen as far as Florida. This surprisingly happened before Hurricane Milton took over with devastating winds and rains.

ALSO SEE: NASA Releases Pictures Of Explosions On The Sun As Auroras Amaze Skywatchers

(Image: X)

Another storm has rapidly intensified. This time, it’s Hurricane Milton.

The hurricane is projected to make landfall on the west coast of the Florida peninsula on Wednesday night or early Thursday, and is tracking towards the well-populated Tampa Bay region, or areas just south. The hurricane jumped from a Category 1 to 5 in under a day.

For those in the Tampa area or interested in the storm’s impacts there, you can watch on the webcams below.

This hurricane will undoubtedly be life-threatening. “Prepare for MAJOR impacts from storm surge, hurricane winds, & flooding rainfall far from the center,” the National Weather Service’s Tampa Bay office posted online. Watch for guidance from local National Weather Service offices and other relevant agencies for updates and evacuation information.

Though a number of factors influence the formation of strong hurricanes (opposing winds that can break apart storms, moist or dry air, etc.), a vital influence is warm sea surface temperatures of over 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). Warm oceans act as jet fuel for hurricanes, storm scientists explain. That’s because warmer oceans fuel tropical storms as more water naturally evaporates into the air, giving storms energy and moisture to intensify. Crucially, the oceans, which absorb most of the heat created by burning fossil fuels, are relentlessly warming.

Today, Atlantic hurricanes are already twice as likely to develop from a milder storm into a major hurricane.

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Tampa Bay Riverfront webcam

Siesta Key Beach (off the coast of Sarasota)

(You may need to click the video to watch it on YouTube.)

Clearwater Beach Hilton

Clearwater Pier Cam

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And remember, as you’re watching the slightly shifting track updates of Hurricane Milton, the track forecast cone is not an impacts cone. Other regions will see extreme deluges of rain, surge, and flooding.