The search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was called off today. The disappearance of the flight three years ago has been described as 'one of the greatest aviation mysteries of all time'. Although the search is unfortunately ending without having located the crash site nor having provided a concrete cause for the disappearance, the international cooperation and scientific acumen demonstrated throughout this effort should still be lauded. For example, the slight doppler shift of the plane's periodic automated signals (even after radio communications had ceased) allowed for the calculation of the airline's movement relative to the relay satellite. Debris from the plane found on the shores of various countries could be traced backwards using details of ocean currents. Hydroacoustic microphones off the southwest coast of Australia were consulted, to see if they had picked up any abnormal sounds around the time of the expected crash. An extensive sonar survey covering 120,000 square kilometers was carried out, which precisely mapped the ocean floor, and even discovered a 19th century shipwreck.
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