The cosmological principle states that at a large enough scale‚ the universe is uniform and isotropic. That means that it’s the same everywhere‚ no matter which direction you are looking at. You should not be seeing a single enormous structure in a particular direction. So imagine finding two in close proximity.Two years ago‚ researchers found the Giant Arc. This is a crescent of galaxies spanning 3.3 billion light-years located 9.2 billion light-years away. Now‚ the same team reports the discovery of a second giant structure. They are calling it the Big Ring – it has a diameter of 1.3 billion light-years and it is also 9.2 billion light-years away. The two are only 12 degrees apart in the sky.“We could expect maybe one exceedingly large structure in all our observable universe. Yet‚ the Big Ring and the Giant Arc are two huge structures and are even cosmological neighbours‚ which is extraordinarily fascinating‚” discoverer Alexia Lopez‚ a graduate researcher from the University of Central Lancashire‚ said in a statement.   “Neither of these two ultra-large structures is easy to explain in our current understanding of the universe. And their ultra-large sizes‚ distinctive shapes‚ and cosmological proximity must surely be telling us something important – but what exactly?”An exact explanation for this is yet to be provided. According to the cosmological principle‚ galaxies should be evenly distributed‚ and despite the presence of galaxy clusters and the so-called cosmic web‚ these structures tend to average out. So structures cannot grow beyond a certain limit.“Cosmologists calculate the current theoretical size limit of structures to be 1.2 billion light-years‚ yet both of these structures are much larger – the Giant Arc is almost three times bigger and the Big Ring’s circumference is comparable to the Giant Arc’s length‚” Lopez continued.“From current cosmological theories we didn't think structures on this scale were possible. We could expect maybe one exceedingly large structure in all our observable universe. Yet‚ the Big Ring and the Giant Arc are two huge structures and are even cosmological neighbours‚ which is extraordinarily fascinating.”Further observations will be needed to confirm these claims and provide insight that the theory can use to understand what the presence of these structures means for our understanding of the Universe.Lopez presented her findings on the Big Ring at the 243rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society. 

Researchers have studied several stars similar to the Sun and determined that there is a higher likelihood of discovering advanced extraterrestrial civilizations near certain of them‚ reports Phys. Scientists first discovered a planet orbiting a Sun-like star called 51 Pegasi in 1995. New observations of this star‚ published recently‚ suggest that the current magnetic environment around it may be particularly favorable for the development of complex life. When stars similar to the Sun appear‚ they usually have a high speed of rotation around their axis. As a result of their high rotation rates‚ Sun-like stars generate strong magnetic fields‚ resulting in constant streams of charged particles and harmful radiation directed at neighboring planets. However‚ over billions of years‚ the star’s rotation gradually slows down‚ a phenomenon called magnetic braking occurs. It is noted that with a decrease in rotation speed‚ the magnetic field of the star weakens. It was previously thought that magnetic braking was an endless process‚ but new research is challenging this assumption. Research suggests that the best place to search for life‚ including advanced life‚ beyond our solar system may be planets orbiting old and middle-aged stars. The post Old stars may be the best place to search for alien-life appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Media Research Center founder and president L. Brent Bozell spoke in the strongest terms Thursday about the need for the media to denounce and fire journalists joking about assassinating Donald Trump like John F. Kennedy was shot dead in 1963. The comments by journalists yet to be identified were caught on an open mic outside the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington‚ DC while Trump was inside.  “Maybe someone‚ just like they told JFK‚ ‘You know what you should do? You should take a convertible! It’s so nice out‚" one of them joked as people laughed.  EXCLUSIVE: MRC's @BrentBozell calls on Joe Biden and leftist media outlets to denounce the journalists caught talking about assassinating President Trump. The culprits must be fired. Rhetoric like this is dangerous and someone's going to get hurt. pic.twitter.com/gCUqVi1S8Z — Media Research Center (@theMRC) January 11‚ 2024 Bozell insisted:  Making jokes about assassinating a president is no laughing matter. But in today's highly charged world‚ it is flat-out dangerous. When you make it acceptable to joke about assassinations‚ someone will eventually act on it.  Bozell reminded people of James Hodgkinson‚ the Bernie Sanders volunteer who shot at a softball practice of House Republicans in 2018‚ nearly killing Congressman Steve Scalise‚ as well as Nicholas Roske‚ arrested in 2022 (armed with a pistol) near the home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.  The MRC president asked how the media would react if a conservative comedian held up a bloody fake head of Joe Biden‚ as Kathy Griffin did with Donald Trump in the summer of 2017. At around the same time‚ a Shakespeare theatre company produced a modernized version of the play Julius Caesar‚ with Trump playing the leader who was stabbed to death. Liberals praised these things.  Bozell called on President Biden to denounce these jokes‚ since he speaks of Donald Trump in frightening terms as the end of democracy. In today's violent world‚ it's not hard to imagine that people might attempt violence toward Trump if he's described as a mortal threat. 

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel is a strange person. The latest evidence being his Thursday monologue where he pondered Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s sex life‚ specifically his supposed lack of skill in that area of his life. The context for Kimmel’s musings was one overzealous school district’s interpretation of the state’s law against providing sexualized reading material to students‚ “The Escambia County Public School District in Florida‚ as part of their state's ongoing war against reading‚ is now considering -- and this is not a joke -- is now considering a ban of the dictionary because it includes a definition of the word ‘sex.’”     The way these things have happened in the past is the school district goes beyond common sense‚ does their review‚ and then reinstates books that clearly didn’t need to be reviewed in the first place. However‚ the media—including the comedy shows—usually only focus on the first part and Kimmel is no exception‚ “They have a state law designed to protect children from education and they're reviewing the dictionary. If the review holds‚ kids won't be able to get a dictionary at the library at school. If they want to look up a word‚ they’re have to go on the internet where there is no sexually explicit material at all! What a state. While you're at it‚ why not ban the word ‘dictionary’? From here on‚ they'll be called ‘tionary’ No dick allowed.” Kimmel continued‚ "The district pulled five dictionaries‚ eight encyclopedias and The Guinness Book of World Records from the shelves. They're also reviewing the biographies of Beyoncé‚ Oprah‚ and The Diary of Anne Frank‚ which is filthy‚ pure pornography. What year is it?" Putting up an image of DeSantis on screen‚ Kimmel claimed that‚ “In case you were wondering‚ this is how one of the offending dictionaries defines sex: something this man is definitely not good at‚” adding “So‚ maybe it's a personal thing‚ I don't know.” Then again‚ speculating about Republican and conservative sex lives is a something Kimmel does have an odd obsession with. Here is a transcript for the January 11 show: ABC Jimmy Kimmel Live! 1/11/2024 11:35 PM ET JIMMY KIMMEL: The Escambia County Public School District in Florida‚ as part of their state's ongoing war against reading‚ is now considering -- and this is not a joke -- is now considering a ban of the dictionary because it includes a definition of the word "sex."  They have a state law designed to protect children from education and they're reviewing the dictionary. If the review holds‚ kids won't be able to get a dictionary at the library at school. If they want to look up a word‚ they’re have to go on the internet where there is no sexually explicit material at all!  What a state. While you're at it‚ why not ban the word "dictionary"? From here on‚ they'll be called "tionary" No dick allowed.  The district pulled five dictionaries‚ eight encyclopedias and The Guinness Book of World Records from the shelves. They're also reviewing the biographies of Beyoncé‚ Oprah‚ and The Diary of Anne Frank‚ which is filthy‚ pure pornography. What year is it? They're also planning to ban calculators so students can't type out 58008 and turn it upside down.  In case you were wondering‚ this is how one of the offending dictionaries defines sex: something this man is definitely not good at. So‚ maybe it's a personal thing‚ I don't know.  

Texas seized control of a 47-acre municipal park in Eagle Pass Wednesday evening under an emergency declaration from Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in an effort to stem the flood of illegal aliens into the state. Shelby Park‚ which was previously privatized as part of Operation Lone Star‚ adjoins a high-traffic portion of the Rio Grande where Abbott deployed his floating wall to the Biden administration's chagrin. Along with the public and illegal aliens‚ federal Border Patrol agents are not permitted to enter the park except to remove their remaining equipment and supplies. "As caravans of migrants are moving through Mexico toward the U.S. border‚ we are making clear that Texas will be a tough place to cross‚" Abbott said Thursday evening. The move came one month after the renewal of Abbott's May 2021 border disaster declaration and just days after Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas made the shocking admission that federal immigration authorities release over 85% of the illegal aliens they detain. Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas noted in a video shared to Meta Wednesday evening that he received a call from Victor Escalon‚ South Texas regional director for the Texas Department of Public Safety‚ indicating the state planned to take "full control" of the park. Sure enough‚ Humvees rolled in just before midnight and state agents blocked entrances to the park‚ reported Texas Public Radio. — (@) "They tell me that the mission is to prevent undocumented people from crossing into Eagle Pass‚" Salinas said during a press conference Thursday. "That is not something that the city wanted‚ requested‚ asked for." Under the direction of the DPS‚ Salinas reportedly signed an affidavit in June 2022 declaring Shelby Park his personal property‚ enabling the state to close the park to the public‚ to install defensive wire and obstacles along the riverbank‚ and to arrest illegal aliens caught skirting through. While the Eagle Pass City Council voted in August 2023 to rescind the affidavit‚ wresting the park from Operation Lone Star and making it public once again‚ Salinas reinstated the authorization for the DPS one month later and signed a declaration of emergency over the migrant crisis. Salinas indicated Thursday he was told that the state was taking control of the park "indefinitely" under the border disaster declaration. Abbott spokeswoman Renae Eze said in a statement obtained by The Hill‚ "Texas is holding the line at our southern border with miles of additional razor wire and anti-climb barriers to deter and repel the record-high levels of illegal immigration invited by President Biden's reckless open border policies. Instead of enforcing federal immigration laws‚ the Biden Administration allows unfettered access for Mexican cartels to smuggle people into our country." "Texas will continue to deploy Texas National Guard soldiers‚ DPS troopers‚ and more barriers‚ utilizing every tool and strategy to respond to President Biden's ongoing border crisis‚" added Eze. The Hill indicated Customs and Border Protection officials did not respond to requests for comment. The National Border Patrol Union said in a statement obtained by Fox News' Bill Melugin‚ "Governor Abbott is not harming Border Patrol operations‚ he is enhancing them. His seizing control of Shelby Park allows our agents to deploy to troubled spots that experience high numbers of gotaways. Governor Abbott’s actions should be seen as a force multiplier." The Texas Military Department stated‚ "The Texas National Guard has maintained a presence with security points and temporary barrier in Shelby Park since 2021. The current posture is to prepare for future illegal immigrant surges and to restrict access to organizations that perpetuate illegal immigrant crossings in the park and greater Eagle Pass area." Over 300‚000 illegal aliens stole into the U.S. in December‚ the highest monthly tally on record‚ reported CBS News. Not including border crossings this month or the multitudes of migrants whose entries have already gone unreported‚ that puts the total for this fiscal year at over 800‚000. 2.47 million‚ 2.37 million‚ and 1.73 million illegal aliens entered the United States in fiscal years 2023‚ 2022‚ and 2021‚ respectively. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Democratic judge overseeing former President Donald Trump's civil business fraud trial in New York precluded the Republican front-runner Wednesday from delivering a formal closing argument. On Thursday‚ Trump defied the judge and seized the opportunity anyway‚ stressing his innocence and protesting his perceived persecution in a six-minute speech. Prohibition The trial drawing to a close this week concerns claims of conspiracy‚ insurance fraud‚ and falsifying business records brought against Trump‚ two of his sons‚ and his company. Justice Arthur Engoron ruled ahead of the trial in September that Trump was liable for fraud‚ having supposedly lied to banks and insurers by misstating the value of his assets. Engoron initially indicated Wednesday that he might consider allowing Trump to speak if he would agree both to adhere to the rules attorneys are normally bound to in their closing arguments and not to criticize the plaintiffs or prosecutors in the case‚ reported the Associated Press. Engoron‚ who suggested he was "inclined to let everyone have his or her say‚" specifically said Trump must stick to "relevant‚ material facts that are in evidence" and avoid introducing new evidence‚ delivering a "campaign speech‚" or issuing derogatory remarks aimed at the court or New York's George Soros-backed attorney general‚ Letitia James. Trump's legal team suggested the parameters set out by Engoron were unfair. Christopher Kise‚ Trump's attorney‚ stated the limitations were "fraught with ambiguities‚ creating the substantial likelihood for misinterpretation or unintended violation." "You are not allowing President Trump‚ who has been wrongfully demeaned and belittled by an out of control‚ politically motivated attorney general‚ to speak about the things that must be spoken about‚" added Kise. Engoron responded‚ "I won't debate this yet again. Take it or leave it." The Democratic judge‚ who previously fined Trump for contempt of court‚ interpreted the failure of the former president's legal team to respond by deadline as a rejection of his terms. Defiance Closing statements were made Thursday as the case wound down. Kise asked Engoron to reconsider letting Trump speak for two or three minutes prior to the lunch break‚ reported CNN. The Democratic judge once again asked Trump whether he would abide by the limits outlined Wednesday and thereby stick to the facts. Rather than give a simple answer‚ Trump instead gave his intended speech. "I think this goes outside just the facts‚" said Trump‚ beginning his summative statement. "The facts are the financial statements are perfect‚ that there are no witnesses against us. The banks got all their money paid back. There were great loans." "This was a political witch hunt‚" said Trump‚ suggesting further that he should receive damages. "We have a situation where I'm an innocent man‚" continued Trump. "I've been persecuted by somebody running for office‚ and I think you have to go outside the bound." USA Today reported that Trump referenced James in his speech as "the person in the room right now [that] hates Trump." Engoron told Kise to "control your client." "This is a fraud on me. What's happened here‚ sir‚ is a fraud on me‚" said Trump. After several minutes‚ the judge interrupted Trump: "One minute‚ that's all I'm saying." "Your honor‚ look‚ I did nothing wrong‚" continued Trump. "They should pay me for what we had to go through. What they've done to me reputationally and everything else." The judge finally cut Trump off at 1 p.m.‚ intimating he would have had been allotted more time had it been "done differently." Trump later wrote on Truth Social‚ "The Judge cut me off in Court and would not let me explain that I was worth much more than the 4 plus $Billion (years ago) I show in the Financial Statements‚ which are conservatively done. Judge Engoron‚ curiously‚ cut Mar-a-Lago's VALUE by a Billion Dollars‚ all the way down to $18‚000‚000 (and other assets as well!) to try and save the A.G.'s case. What is going on here? WITCH HUNT! ELECTION INTERFERENCE!" The Associated Press indicated that Trump skipped the state's closing arguments to hold a news conference wherein he stated‚ "They have no case." The judge‚ who heard the case without a jury‚ indicated he planned to have a verdict by Jan. 31. Letitia James‚ who brought the lawsuit against Trump in 2022‚ seeks to slap Trump with $370 million in penalties and a lifetime ban on doing business in the state. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The federal government has accused seven men of gang-raping two toddlers‚ according to police. The child sex crimes were filmed at various locations – including at a popular Texas mall – and posted online‚ according to the FBI. Texas police arrested 29-year-old Arthur Hector Fernandez last month‚ and he is currently in federal custody. The suspect was charged with 14 criminal complaints – including the sexual exploitation of children – in federal court in Houston‚ Texas. Fernandez is the only suspect charged in the case thus far. There are reportedly four videos of child sex abuse in the case. Fernandez reportedly worked at a kiosk at the Galleria Mall in Houston. He was friendly with two women who also worked at the mall and had watched their children when they worked‚ according to the FBI.The criminal complaint notes that the person filming the graphic videos‚ along with one or two other men‚ were seen in the four videos abusing two different toddlers – both 2 to 3 years old. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported‚ "At least seven people could be seen abusing the children or heard talking in the videos‚ according to court documents." The alleged sexual assaults of children took place in different locations‚ including bathrooms at the Galleria Mall.KRIV reported that FBI agents launched an investigation after they were tipped off on the disturbing videos by the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation in early December. The four videos were allegedly available in an "invitation-only forum" on the dark web.The FBI reportedly utilized "an open-source image repository" to identify one of the young children and discovered a match on social media. A relative of the minor under the age of 3 recognized the bracelets that Fernandez was wearing‚ according to the complaint. The relative of the alleged victim also said Fernandez would often wear white Converse All-Stars – which were reportedly seen in the video.The FBI executed a search warrant at the home of Fernandez‚ seizing electronic devices and three pairs of sneakers believed to have been seen in the videos. The FBI found the second alleged victim after law enforcement scoured Fernandez's Instagram account‚ states the complaint filed in the Southern District of Texas on Dec. 14. The relative of the alleged victim also worked at the mall and purportedly told investigators that Fernandez took her child trick-or-treating on Halloween. "The evidence in this case is overwhelming and revolting‚" the judge wrote in a court order. "I cannot allow [him] to abuse any other minors‚ and there are no conditions or combination of conditions that can alleviate a danger to the community. This is not a close call."FBI agent Torrence White did not comment directly on the case but told KTRK-TV‚ "The perpetrators of these crimes are family members‚ teachers‚ and members of the community. Oftentimes folks are looking for the monster in the white van‚ but often it's the person you know." The public defender listed as Fernandez's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA Today.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here! Former Galleria employee sexually assaults toddlers in bathroom www.youtube.com

The concert captures the band at their peak‚ with such favorites as "Rock'n Me‚" "Jet Airliner" and "Fly Like an Eagle" The post Listen to Steve Miller Band’s Live Reggae Version of ‘The Joker’ From 1977 appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

Members of Christie’s steering committee told NR they’re concerned about Haley’s refusal to disavow the Trump-VP rumors.

Paul also attacked Haley for comments she made calling for the elimination of anonymity on social media.