Scientists have conducted the first comprehensive study of star dunes, unveiling the internal structure and formation timeline of these towering desert wonders. Focusing on Morocco's Lala Lallia dune, standing at 330 feet (100 meters) tall and 2,300 feet (700 meters) wide, researchers utilized ground-penetrating radar and luminescence dating. The study revealed that Lala Lallia formed over about 900 years, accumulating 6,400 metric tons of sand annually as winds shape the desert landscape. Star dunes, resembling pyramids with arms radiating from a central peak, account for under 10% of Earth's dunes but are the tallest. They've also been spotted on Mars and Saturn's moon Titan. The findings, published in Scientific Reports, provide insights into the complex wind patterns and sand accumulation processes in deserts. With Lala Lallia moving westward at 1.6 feet (0.5 meters) per year, the study sheds light on the dynamic nature of these geological formations, aiding in identifying ancient dunes in the geolog ical record. Star dunes, found across the globe from China's Badain Jaran desert to Colorado's Great Sand Dunes National Park, create captivating and formidable landscapes. Source: Oman News Agency Moscow, The Russian foreign ministry summoned German Ambassador Alexander Lambsdorff on Monday after an alleged audio leak revealed conversations of German military officers discussing the potential deployment of Taurus missiles to target the Crimea Bridge. 'The German ambassador arrived at the Russian Foreign Ministry, where he was summoned in connection with the publicized conversation of German officers about Crimea,' Russian state-run agency RIA Novosti said. In the leaked audio, purported German officers discussed the capability of Taurus missiles to destroy the Crimean Bridge and the logistics of such an attack. The leak underscores Russia's concerns about Western involvement in the Ukraine conflict as the Crimean Bridge has been bombed twice since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The conversation 'shows the direct involvement of the so-called collective West in the conflict around Ukraine,' said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov in his daily telepress briefing on Monday. He said the conve rsation indicated that within the German Army, 'there are concrete discussions about launching attacks on Russian territory.' 'It is part of Putin's information warfare, without a doubt. It is a hybrid attack, disinformation. It is about creating division, undermining our unity,' Pistorius said In the audio, the officers could be heard discussing the technical and political implications of a potential deployment of Taurus missiles to Ukraine and speculate on the Russian targets that Kyiv could target with them. Source: Syrian Arab News Agency