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"Researchers are working on a way to protect airplanes from the dangerous particles that loom in the air following volcanic eruptions. \nAirbus has teamed up with British airliner EasyJet to create the first artificial ash cloud, which stems from a volcanic blast and can severely damage a jet's engine. \nSee also: 7 Oddball Things Found on the Space Station\nTo test the system, a military aircraft dispersed one ton of ash on Wednesday collected from the 2010 eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallaj\u00F6kull volcano. The massive eruption closed airspace for six days and cost the aviation industry an estimated $1.7 billion. \nThe recent test was successfully completed, and the plane identified the ash from distances of 37 miles away. The technology could be installed in EasyJet planes by the end of 2014.\nThe timing would be optimal, too; Iceland experiences eruptions once every five years, so the next one could be just two years away. \nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.\nImage: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2013/11/27/airbus-easyjet-ash-cloud/>