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  In 2008, Russian researchers excavated a site called Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains of Siberia. Amongst a variety of Neanderthal tools was a fragment of a finger bone, presumed to be nothing out of the ordinary. When German researchers sequenced the DNA two years later, they discovered something remarkable. Not only did the DNA fail to match that of Neanderthals or modern humans, but it appeared to belong to an unidentified extinct hominin species, the Denisovans.   What Evidence Do We Have? The Xiahe mandible, discovered in Baishiya Karst Cave, Xiahe County, China, by Dongju Zhang, 2019. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Following the initial discovery of a finger bone in Russia, known as Denisova 3, scientists sought further evidence before drawing any conclusions. Since 2010, researchers have identified a small number of Denisovan specimens from the Siberian cave, including three molars, a long bone fragment, and a parietal bone fragment from a skull. Uniquely, a genetic study revealed that the owner of the long bone, nicknamed Denny, was a first-generation hybrid. The young girl had a Denisovan father and a Neanderthal mother, confirming that interbreeding took place between the two hominin species.   Despite the scarcity of fossil findings, genetic studies have indicated that Denisovans were once widespread in East Asia. Discoveries were restricted to Denisova Cave until 2019 when a re-analysis of a mandible from the Tibetan Plateau allowed researchers to identify the fossil as Denisovan. The mandible was found in Baishiya Karst Cave in Xiahe, China, in 1980 and has been dated to at least 160,000 years ago using U-series dating. As well as providing evidence of Denisovans outside the Altai Mountains, the Xiahe mandible offered insights into the species’ adaptation to high-altitude environments.   Altai Krai in Russia. Source: Alex Kotomanov via Unsplash   Previously, discoveries were limited to regions with colder climates, including Siberia and Tibet. That was until a human mandible, discovered by a fisherman in the Penghu Channel, was re-analyzed almost 20 years after its discovery. In 2025, researchers used a protein analysis technique to identify the mandible, Penghu 1, as Denisovan. The study confirmed speculations about the group’s widespread presence, including in warmer climates like Taiwan. Scientists had theorized that the mandible was Denisovan based on its robust structure, but like many unclassified hominin fossils, the specimen was previously unsuitable for DNA testing.   The Significance of the Dragon Man Skull The Songhua River running through Harbin, the capital of China’s Heilongjiang Province. Source: NASA Earth Observatory   In 1933, a laborer discovered a human-like skull while working on the construction of a bridge over the Songhua River that runs through Harbin City in China. As the city was under Japanese occupation at the time, the worker hid the skull in a well. Almost 90 years later, the family of the laborer recovered and donated the fossil to science. The skull was named Dragon Man, after the Heilongjiang Province, or Black Dragon River, where the man had found it. In 2021, researchers determined that the Dragon Man skull belonged to a new hominin species, which they named Homo longi. Academics have since debated the classification of the specimen.   In 2025, two papers were published supporting that the 146,000-year-old cranium belonged to a Denisovan. Paleogeneticist Qiaomei Fu, who had investigated Denisova 3, extracted proteins from the Harbin skull after previous unsuccessful attempts to retrieve DNA. By analyzing the proteins, Fu found three variants unique to Denisovans, indicating that the individual belonged to a Denisovan group. Supporting evidence was retrieved as the research team isolated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from dental plaque. The mtDNA, which is inherited from the mother’s side, was linked to Denisovans found in the oldest archaeological layers of Denisova Cave.   An engraving of the incisors, canines, and molars of an adult Homo sapien, by Ambroise Tardieu, 1788-1841. Source: JSTOR   The papers have been met with both support and caution as academics decide whether Denisovans—who have not yet been formally described as a distinct species—should be referred to as Homo longi. These exciting findings offer new insights into the physical appearance of Denisovans, helping researchers to identify similar morphological traits in other fossils. The Harbin skull also widens our understanding of the geographical range inhabited by Denisovans in Asia during the Middle Pleistocene.   Denisovan Ancestry in Modern Humans Today Homo heidelbergensis skull at the Natural History Museum, London. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Some 600,000 years ago, a common ancestor of the Neanderthals, Denisovans, and Homo sapiens migrated out of Africa. Evidence suggests this shared ancestor was a species known for their sophisticated tools and use of controlled fire: Homo heidelbergensis. One branch ventured into Europe and West Asia and evolved into Neanderthals, while another branched into Southeast Asia, where they became Denisovans. Populations that remained in Africa evolved into anatomically modern humans and migrated into Eurasia by 50,000 years ago, where they came in contact and interbred with other hominins.   Geneticists have observed present-day populations with Denisovan ancestry to show varying levels of genetic affiliation to the Altai Denisovan genome, suggesting that interbreeding occurred at least twice. Researchers have proposed a third introgression event, or genetic exchange between gene pools, observed in Papuans. The Papuans, an Indigenous people of New Guinea, have high levels of Denisovan DNA, accounting for up to 5% of the genome. However, the Ayta Magbukon of the Philippines display the highest known level of Denisovan DNA, which research shows is from a distinct Denisovan population to the group that contributed to the Papuan genome.   The Ayta Magbukon people, who occupy the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines, 2020. Source: National Commission on Indigenous Peoples   Denisovan ancestry is also present in the genome of Indigenous peoples of Island Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, as well as Aboriginal Australians. At lower levels, Denisovan ancestry can be detected among other modern human populations, including South Asian, East Asian, Siberian, and Native American populations. In addition to modern humans, Denisovans interbred with Neanderthals, evidenced by a 90,000-year-old fossil specimen belonging to the first-generation hybrid, Denny. Although the geographical ranges of the two were distinct, it is clear that populations overlapped in Siberia and other areas.   Enduring Harsh Winters and High Altitudes Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai Province, China, 2007. Source: Flickr   Sediments from Denisova Cave support the presence of Denisovans in the Altai Mountains of Siberia from at least 200,000 years ago, where they lived sporadically until around 50,000 years ago. With little preserved remains, researchers turned to genetic studies to pinpoint where Denisovans called home, revealing a broader distribution than their fossil trail implies.   Denisovan DNA is highest in Indigenous populations of the Philippines, Melanesia, and Aboriginal Australians, suggesting Denisovans reached east of Wallace’s line, a faunal boundary running through Indonesia. While their full geographic range is not fully understood, academics believe Denisovans inhabited a broad area stretching from Siberia to parts of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and potentially Oceania.   The population took a significant hit shortly after splitting from modern humans; a decline from which they never fully recovered. By comparing chromosomes inherited by Denisova 3 from each parent, researchers estimated Denisova Cave had a small effective population. Despite this, inbreeding does not appear to have been as prevalent as it was among Neanderthals, possibly due to interbreeding, larger group sizes, and a wide geographic range.   Sherpa group with yaks traveling past farmland on the lower slopes of the Himalayas, Nepal, Khumbu, by Carole Reeves, 1986. Source: JSTOR   Found in Baishiya Karst Cave, the Xiahe mandible showed that Denisovans occupied the cave over 160,000 years ago, surviving the high altitudes of the Tibetan Plateau. This population—closely related to the Denisovans from Denisova Cave—adapted to the low-oxygen environment long before modern humans arrived in the region. According to genetic studies, the EPAS1 allele found at high frequencies in many present-day Himalayan populations, including Sherpas and Tibetans, was inherited from the Denisovans. By improving oxygen transport in the blood, EPAS1 allows populations to adapt to high altitudes. Not only did Denisovans endure elevated environments, but they thrived in both cold and warm climates, with adaptations like their large body size offering clues about how they responded to such diverse conditions.   Denisovans vs Neanderthals Monte Circeo 1 Neanderthal skull, exhibited in Naturmuseum Freiburg, Germany, 2011. Source: Wikimedia Commons   With limited fossil evidence, scientists used a method to analyze DNA methylation patterns compared to those of Neanderthals, modern humans, and chimpanzees. By modifying DNA to regulate gene expression, the team could reconstruct the anatomical profile of a Denisovan. Unsurprisingly, the results showed that Denisovans shared several physical traits with their closest relatives, the Neanderthals. Both species shared their elongated facial structure with a robust jaw and a low protruding forehead. The reconstruction also predicted that Denisovans had a similar wide pelvis and thick ribs to the Neanderthals, but a longer dental arch and less facial protrusion, confirmed by the Xiahe mandible.   Neanderthal model on display at the Jeongok Prehistory Museum in Yeoncheon County, South Korea, 2025. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Following support that the well-preserved Harbin skull belonged to a Denisovan, researchers could better understand their cranial morphology. As anticipated, the skull displayed a prominent brow ridge similar to a Neanderthal. However, Denisovans lacked the characteristic Neanderthal “chignon” or “occipital bun,” a prominent projection at the back of the skull, as well as a depression known as a suprainiac fossa. Fossil evidence has also demonstrated the unusually large size of their molar teeth, housed in a robust jaw, which could indicate an adaptation to a diet of tough, fibrous foods.   How Modern Humans Outlived the Denisovans Papua New Guinea, 2022. Source: Jelilah Kum via Unsplash   Considering the limited evidence, scientists are uncertain of what happened to our enigmatic cousins. Genetic evidence points to interbreeding of modern humans with Denisovans 30,000 years ago, or potentially as recent as 15,000 years ago, in Papua New Guinea. This evidence suggests Denisovans were still around at least 30,000 years ago, potentially surviving the Neanderthals by around 10,000 years.   Researchers hypothesize that Denisovans eventually faded into the broader modern human population due to ongoing interbreeding. Another hypothesis suggests that Homo sapiens outcompeted them, caused their extinction by violence, or introduced new diseases. Considering their widespread geographic range, environmental and climatic conditions could not represent a single cause but may have played a vital role in their disappearance, alongside other factors.   Replica of the Jinniushan Man skull discovered at the Jinniushan site, exhibited in the Liaoning Museum, Shenyang. Source: Flickr   In the coming years, discoveries could arise that will further add to the picture. In particular, the Harbin cranium could enable the identification of further fossils using morphological traits. For instance, the specimen has been compared to craniums, including the Dali skull, the Hualongdong skull, and the Jinniushan skull, which were found in different provinces of China. Nevertheless, now is an exciting time for anthropology enthusiasts as the story of our extinct fellow hominins unravels before our eyes.

The singer-songwriter who famously declared that “no one is illegal on stolen land” now faces pushback from people who appear to be taking her statement literally. Billie Eilish and her brother, Finneas O’Connell, won the “Song of the Year” Grammy Award for their hit “Wildflower” Sunday, and Eilish used her speech to condemn the Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge to Minneapolis. “No one is illegal on stolen land,” she declared. Her later remarks revealed the clear connection to immigration issues. “We need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting,” she added. “F— ICE!” The statements connect two leftist ideas: that illegal immigrants should not face deportation despite breaking the law to enter the country, and that the U.S. government effectively stole land from Native American tribes. Her remarks come after the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37, at the hands of immigration agents, and the anti-ICE invasion of a church in the middle of a service that drew further attention to the ICE surge in Minneapolis. If No One Is Illegal, What About Trespassers? While many on the Left celebrated Eilish’s remarks, others appear to have taken her statement as an invitation. “I am flying to the USA next Friday to attempt to move into Billie Eilish’s beachside Malibu mansion,” Australian influencer Drew Pavlou announced on X. He launched a crowdfunding effort to support his travel expenses, but GoFundMe deleted it. “Your fundraiser has been removed because we’re unable to verify your connection and plan to transfer donations to the person you’re raising money for,” the company sent in an email explaining the campaign’s deletion. GOFUNDME DELETED MY BILLIE EILISH FUNDRAISERTHIS IS DISGUSTING AND UNFAIR I will look at alternative fundraising platforms pic.twitter.com/j3U65aitHp— Drew Pavlou ???????? (@DrewPavlou) February 3, 2026 His second campaign, launched on GiveSendGo, has raised nearly 75% of its goal. About the ‘Stolen Land’ Claim Pavlou sought to squat in a mansion located in the greater Los Angeles Basin, the ancestral territory of the Tongva Native American tribe. The tribe celebrated Eilish’s “stolen land” claim but suggested that she should directly name the “true” owners of the land. “Eilish has not contacted our tribe directly regarding her property,” a spokesperson for the Tongva tribe told The Daily Mail. However, the spokesperson added, “we do value the instance when public figures provide visibility to the true history of this country.” “It is our hope that in future discussions, the tribe can explicitly be referenced to ensure the public understands that the greater Los Angeles Basin remains Gabrieleno Tongva territory,” the tribe representative concluded. Much of the discussion of Eilish’s mansion is hypothetical, however, since her brother, Finneas O’Connell, sold the beachfront property for $5.6 million in 2022, according to the Los Angeles Times. The building then burned down in the Palisades Fire last year, the New York Post reported. Eilish reportedly lives in an equestrian ranch in Glendale, California, which would still be part of the Tongva’s ancestral land. The post The Fallout From Billie Eilish’s Grammy Awards Speech appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Ninety-one percent. That’s the share of young liberal women who oppose deportations of illegal immigrants. In a country where 61% of voters support deportation efforts, one demographic has positioned itself further from the American mainstream than any other group in modern polling. This hasn’t shown itself in just one issue. It’s a pattern. And understanding it explains a lot about our current political dysfunction. The Empathy Paradox The inversion here is striking. White young liberal women oppose deportations at 94%. Their non-white counterparts? 83% opposed. The women who look least like the people being deported hold the strongest opposition. The women who share ethnic backgrounds with many deportees are eleven points less absolute in their position. We’re not measuring empathy. We’re measuring ideology. The positions don’t correlate with proximity to the issue. They correlate inversely with it. Women 55 and older support deportations 66-27. Men of all ages support them by similar margins. But women under 55 flip to 42-53 opposition. Drill into that cohort and you find young liberal women driving the entire gender gap single-handedly. A chasm separates them from the general electorate. It goes beyond disagreement to being in a parallel universe. The Algorithm Did This Values didn’t change generationally. Your grandmother and your 28-year-old cousin both believe in fairness, family, and compassion. What changed is information architecture. Forty percent of young liberal women are highly online, 40% are watching national broadcast news, and a third get news from TikTok. They’re triple-dosing on media that reinforces identical narratives from different platforms. Compare that to the general electorate: only 8% use TikTok as a news source. When one group’s primary information channel differs from everyone else’s by a factor of four, they’re not seeing the same country. TikTok’s algorithm doesn’t inform. It radicalizes. It finds what triggers your emotions and feeds you more of it until a policy position becomes an identity marker and an identity marker becomes a moral absolute. The platform rewards the most extreme version of any argument because extremity drives engagement. White young liberal women index even higher on TikTok news consumption than their non-white peers. The algorithm has sorted them into an informational ghetto where enforcement of immigration law isn’t a policy question but a human rights atrocity, and where anyone who disagrees isn’t wrong but evil. The Minnesota Warning Abstract polling becomes concrete crisis in Minnesota. Gov. Tim Walz built an administration responsive to this demographic’s priorities. Sanctuary policies. Limited cooperation with federal enforcement. Social services without status verification. The activist class got all it wished for. Then came the consequences. Federal agents on Minneapolis streets. A state government in open conflict with federal authority. National attention for all the wrong reasons. The policies that polled well in progressive echo chambers collided with the democratic will of a nation that sees the issue completely differently. This is what happens when one ideologically isolated group captures institutional power disproportionate to its numbers. The 8% were louder than the 92%. They dominated the spaces where Democrat politicians seek approval. They set the terms of acceptable discourse within their coalition. But democracy doesn’t work by decibel level. Eventually, majorities assert themselves, whether at the ballot box or through federal enforcement actions that override state resistance. Minnesota is experiencing that correction in real time. Untethered The deeper question isn’t about immigration. It’s about epistemology. How do you share a country with fellow citizens who experience a fundamentally different reality? Not different values. Different facts. Different base assumptions about what is happening and why. Young liberal women believe they’re more informed than other demographics. They consume more news. They engage more with current events. By every self-reported metric, they’re “paying attention.” But information volume isn’t information quality. Watching multiple sources that agree with each other isn’t balance. Engaging deeply with content designed to confirm your priors isn’t research. That’s called reinforcement. The gap between this demographic and everyone else will determine elections, shape policy fights, and strain institutions for the next decade. These women vote at high rates. They staff nonprofits and newsrooms. They run social media accounts for major organizations. Their reality distortion field isn’t confined to their own lives. It shapes the information environment for everyone else. Somewhere between the 91% opposition and the 61% support lies a conversation America needs to have. One where proximity to an issue matters more than ideological purity. Where empathy gets balanced against practical wisdom. Where disagreement doesn’t equal evil. The polling is clear about where the isolation lives. The only question is whether anyone trapped in that bubble will ever see these numbers, or whether the algorithm will make sure they never do. The post The Radicalization of Young Liberal Women: A Minnesota Lesson appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The divide between ordinary Americans and the elitist gatekeepers in every industry has never appeared more stark. In this case, at least, the ordinary Americans have gained the upper hand. According to Breitbart, the Amazon MGM Studios entertainment company will add the hit documentary "Melania" to more than 200 new...

The Washington Post announced on Wednesday that it would begin mass layoffs, affecting hundreds of journalists in the newsroom. The layoffs are expected to “decimate the organization’s sports, local news and international coverage,” The New York Times stated. In an email sent to staffers by Executive Editor Matt Murray and Human Resources Chief Wayne Connell, employees were instructed to stay home but attend a Zoom meeting to learn about “significant actions.” BREAKING: Washington Post employees have been asked to stay home today and participate in a Zoom call at 8:30am Widespread layoffs expected — Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) February 4, 2026 More from The New York Times: The company is laying off about 30 percent of all its employees, according to two people with knowledge of the decision. That includes people on the business side and more than 300 of the roughly 800 journalists in the newsroom, the people said. The cuts are a sign that Jeff Bezos, who became one of the world’s richest people by selling things on the internet, has not yet figured out how to build and maintain a profitable publication on the internet. The paper expanded during the first several years of his ownership, but the company has sputtered more recently. Matt Murray, The Post’s executive editor, said on a call Wednesday morning with newsroom employees that the company had lost too much money for too long and had not been meeting readers’ needs. He said that all sections would be affected in some way, and that the end result would be a publication focused even more on national news and politics, as well as business and health, and far less on other areas. “If anything, today is about positioning ourselves to become more essential to people’s lives in what is becoming more crowded, competitive and complicated media landscape,” Mr. Murray said. “And after some years when, candidly, The Post has had struggles.” Mr. Murray said the sports section would close, though some of its reporters would stay on and move to the features department to cover the culture of sports. The Post’s metro section will shrink, and the books section will close, as will the “Post Reports” daily news podcast. “These layoffs are not inevitable. A newsroom cannot be hollowed out without consequences of its credibility, its reach and its future,” said the Washington Post Guild, which represents hundreds of newsroom employees, according to NBC News. “In just the last three years, the Post’s workforce has shrunk by roughly 400 people. Continuing to eliminate workers only stands to weaken the newspaper, drive away readers and undercut The Post’s mission: to hold power to account without fear or favor and provide critical information for communities across the region, country and world,” it added. Journalists are being shown the door at the Washington Post today. One third of staff are being cut, per AP The sports department: gone Books department: closing The number of international journalists: reduced Local reporting arm: “restructured”… — Ben Dennis Reports (@broadcastben_) February 4, 2026 NBC News shared further: The announcement follows recent scrutiny over newsroom budget decisions, including the paper’s shifting plans around Winter Olympics coverage. As first reported by The New York Times, the paper initially told more than a dozen journalists it would no longer send them to cover the Winter Olympics in Italy, less than three weeks before the Games were set to begin. After public criticism, including from prominent sports journalists, the paper reversed course again and now expects to send four reporters, NBC News confirmed. In a statement, former Washington Post editor Marty Baron said Wednesday’s announcement “ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world’s greatest news organizations.” And ahead of the layoffs, members from the Post’s local desk wrote in an open letter dated Jan. 27 to Bezos that they had been warned their section would be “decimated” and left “unrecognizable,” urging leadership to preserve the paper’s local coverage. Similarly, the guild had also warned in the days leading up to Wednesday’s announcement that the cuts could “potentially leave our newsroom even smaller than the one [Bezos] purchased — and losing twice as much money.”

This is not being widely reported, but that’s why you have us! This actually occurred yesterday and I bet you didn’t hear anything about it. On Tuesday, a U.S. Navy F-35C from the Abraham Lincoln downed a Shahed-139 drone about 500 miles off Iran’s coast after it ignored de-escalation attempts in international waters. Hours earlier, Iranian gunboats tried to board the U.S.-flagged tanker M/T Stena Imperative in the Strait of Hormuz, but it evaded them with help from the USS McFaul and Air Force support. These self-defense actions, directed by President Trump, occurred as the U.S. and Iran gear up for Friday’s talks in Istanbul on Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and proxies, amid tensions from deployments and past strikes. Take a look: BREAKING: The U.S. military shot down an unmanned Iranian drone after it “aggressively approached a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier with unclear intent,” a U.S. Central Command spokesman told FOX News. “USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was transiting the Arabian Sea approximately 500… pic.twitter.com/JIETOBjz1D — Fox News (@FoxNews) February 3, 2026 Here is Karoline Leavitt explaining exactly what happened once Iran launched the Kamikaze Drone-Missile at the Abraham Lincoln: .@PressSec: “CENTCOM did make the decision to shoot down that Iranian drone. It was unmanned, it was acting aggressively towards our USS Lincoln…As for @POTUS, he remains committed to always pursuing diplomacy first—but in order for diplomacy to work, of course, it takes two to… pic.twitter.com/wBwyl4MfFT — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 3, 2026 She later confirmed CENTCOM made the decision at the direction of President Trump. In other words, President Trump is in full control: BREAKING: Karoline Leavitt has confirmed a U.S. F-35 SHOT DOWN an Iranian drone which was “aggressively” approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln@PressSec: “CENTCOM made the decision to shoot down the drone… at the direction of President Trump.” “The president ALWAYS has a… pic.twitter.com/pQfiylG9sm — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 3, 2026 Meanwhile, it appears that the Deep State is desperately trying to lure President Trump into kicking off World War III but our President is wisely and calmly not taking the bait. It sure is a good thing we have someone with Donald Trump’s temperament running things right now! The Israelis want the US to strike Iran, but President Trump “is just not there” and “really does not want to do it,” according to US officials. Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/mGOLviEkKU — AF Post (@AFpost) February 3, 2026 Meanwhile, this all comes directly after two Iranian gunboats harassed a US oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz: BREAKING: Two Iranian gunboats menace US-flagged oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz, which was escorted to safety by US guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul, US Central Command says pic.twitter.com/tDqIkKjnyZ — Fox News (@FoxNews) February 3, 2026 Now let’s go back to the Shahed-139, the Kamikaze Drone-Missile. How powerful is it? What damage would it have done if it was not shot down? Here’s a full report: Details on the Shahed-139 Drone The Shahed-139 is an Iranian unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed by Shahed Aviation Industries, a subsidiary of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It is part of the broader Shahed family of drones, which includes both reusable reconnaissance/strike platforms and one-way “kamikaze” loitering munitions. The Shahed-139 is described as an advanced variant of the Shahed-129, incorporating improvements like enhanced satellite communications, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for all-weather imaging, and possibly extended range or payload capabilities. It is designed for medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) missions, similar in role to the U.S. MQ-1 Predator or MQ-9 Reaper. Specific details on the Shahed-139 are limited in open sources, as Iran often classifies or exaggerates its military tech. However, based on its relation to the Shahed-129 (and cross-referenced with similar models like the Shahed-149 “Gaza”), here are the key specifications and capabilities. Where exact Shahed-139 data is unavailable, I’ve noted approximations from the Shahed-129, with upgrades inferred from available reports (e.g., better avionics or endurance). Size and Physical Dimensions Length: Approximately 8 meters (26 feet 3 inches). Wingspan: Approximately 15-16 meters (49-52 feet 6 inches). Height: Approximately 3.1 meters (10 feet 2 inches). Overall Design: It features a pusher-propeller configuration (engine at the rear), high-mounted straight wings, a V-tail, and a narrow cylindrical fuselage made from composite materials with aluminum reinforcements. The landing gear is retractable for aerodynamic efficiency. It’s larger than smaller kamikaze drones like the Shahed-136 (which is only 3.5m long with a 2.5m wingspan) but smaller than heavy bombers or manned aircraft. Weights Empty Weight: Around 400 kg (880 lbs). Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): Estimated 800-1,000 kg (1,760-2,200 lbs), including fuel and payload. Fuel Capacity: Not publicly specified, but supports long-endurance flights, likely 200-300 kg of fuel. Performance and Capabilities Engine: Powered by a single Rotax 914 four-cylinder piston engine (or Iranian copy), producing about 75 kW (100 horsepower), driving a three-bladed propeller. Speed: Cruise speed of 150-185 km/h (93-115 mph); maximum speed around 200-250 km/h (124-155 mph). It’s not supersonic or high-speed like jet drones. Range: Combat radius of 1,700-2,000 km (1,100-1,240 miles); ferry range (one-way without payload) up to 3,000-3,400 km (1,860-2,100 miles) with satellite-linked variants. Endurance: Up to 24 hours, allowing persistent surveillance or loitering over targets. Altitude (Service Ceiling): 7,300 meters (24,000 feet); operational altitude typically 3,000-5,000 meters for reconnaissance. Launch and Recovery: Launched from runways or mobile platforms; recovered via landing. It can operate from dispersed bases in Iran, such as Konarak or Bandar-Abbas. Sensors and Avionics: Equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras (e.g., Oghab-6 gimbal for day/night targeting), laser rangefinder, real-time video datalink, and optional SAR for imaging through clouds or at night. Advanced variants like the Shahed-139 include satellite communications for beyond-line-of-sight control, extending effective range beyond 200-400 km (limited by line-of-sight datalinks in basic models). Guidance and Autonomy: GPS/INS navigation with autopilot for waypoint flying; can be remotely piloted or semi-autonomous. Resistant to some jamming via redundant systems, but vulnerable to advanced electronic warfare. Production and Variants: In service since around 2013 (for Shahed-129 base model); Iran claims production rates of 3+ per year, with 40-50 built total. Variants include naval (Simorgh) for maritime surveillance and a 2023 model with external radar pods. The Shahed-139 specifically enhances radar and comms, making it suitable for over-water operations like the one described. Lethality The Shahed-139 is moderately lethal as a multi-role UCAV, primarily for precision strikes rather than mass destruction. It’s not a “kamikaze” drone like the Shahed-136 (which carries a fixed 50 kg warhead and self-destructs on impact) but a reusable platform that deploys munitions from standoff distances. Armament/Payload: Up to 400 kg total, typically 4 Sadid-345 precision-guided glide bombs (each ~25-30 kg, with 5-10 kg high-explosive warheads) or Sadid-1 anti-tank missiles (similar to Spike-ER, with tandem HEAT warheads for armor penetration). It can carry up to 8 munitions in theory, but usually 4 on twin hardpoints. Munitions are exposed (not in canisters), which can affect reliability. Strike Capabilities: Effective against ground targets like vehicles, buildings, or personnel clusters. Range for munitions: 8-10 km. First combat use in 2016 during the Syrian Civil War, where it conducted hundreds of sorties against ISIS and rebels. Accuracy is good with laser guidance but can fail (e.g., duds in 2017 strikes). Overall Threat Level: Lethal in asymmetric warfare; can evade basic air defenses due to low radar signature (composite build) and altitude. However, it’s vulnerable to advanced fighters like the F-35C (which uses stealth and sensors to detect it easily). In conflicts, it’s been shot down multiple times (e.g., by U.S. F-15s in Syria, Pakistani jets, or now F-35C). Iran has exported or shared tech with Russia (used in Ukraine) and proxies like the Houthis. Non-Lethal Roles: Primarily for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), border patrol, or disaster relief (e.g., 2019 Iran floods). Potential Damage if It Hit the USS Abraham Lincoln Directly The question assumes a direct impact, as if the drone were used in a kamikaze-style attack (though it’s not designed for that—it’s meant to return after missions). In reality, the Shahed-139 would likely deploy its munitions from afar or conduct surveillance, but if it collided or was intentionally crashed into the carrier: Impact Scenario: At cruise speed (150-200 km/h or 42-55 m/s) and mass (800-1,000 kg), the kinetic energy alone is roughly 1-1.5 million joules—equivalent to the explosive force of 0.25-0.35 kg of TNT. Adding carried explosives (e.g., 4 x 10 kg warheads = 40 kg HE, roughly 50-60 kg TNT equivalent), the total blast could mimic a 200-500 lb bomb. Damage Assessment: To the Ship Structure: Minimal risk of sinking or catastrophic hull breach. The USS Abraham Lincoln is a 100,000-ton Nimitz-class carrier with a heavily armored flight deck (2-4.5 inches of steel/kevlar composite) designed to withstand 1,000+ lb bomb hits or missile strikes. A drone impact might dent or penetrate the deck locally (creating a 1-2 meter crater), damage non-structural areas like antennas or catapults, or cause shrapnel spread over 50-100 meters. Secondary Effects: High potential for fires or explosions if it hits fuel stores, parked aircraft (F-35s, F/A-18s), or munitions on deck. This could lead to chain reactions, injuring/killing crew (lethal radius ~20-50 meters from blast) and temporarily halting flight operations. Historical parallels: WWII kamikaze attacks (500-1,000 kg explosives) damaged U.S. carriers but rarely sank them due to robust damage control (firefighting teams, compartmentalization). Operational Impact: Could impair radar/comms (if hits the island superstructure) or elevators, reducing the carrier’s ability to launch/recover aircraft for hours to days. In a worst-case hit on critical systems, it might force a retreat for repairs, but the ship has redundancies. Mitigations: Carriers have layered defenses (Aegis radars, CIWS guns, missiles, fighter patrols) making direct hits unlikely. The drone’s slow speed and large size make it an easy target for interception, as in this incident. Comparison: Less damaging than anti-ship missiles (e.g., Iranian Ghadir with 150-200 kg warheads) but more than small quadcopters. If unarmed (pure surveillance), damage would be like a light aircraft crash—superficial but disruptive. In summary, while lethal against softer targets, the Shahed-139 poses a harassment-level threat to a fortified warship like the Abraham Lincoln, potentially causing localized damage and casualties but not existential harm. And let’s end with a look inside the USS Abraham Lincoln…. What an incredible ship! Your thoughts?

A team of researchers in Japan is developing a vaccine for Nipah virus in humans and plans to conduct a clinical trial in April. The University of Tokyo researchers will test the vaccine candidate in Belgium. There is currently no vaccine for Nipah virus, which has an estimated fatality rate between 40 and 75 percent. Nipah virus vaccine from University of Tokyo set for April clinical trial https://t.co/N1hgltjmld — Nikkei Asia (@NikkeiAsia) January 31, 2026 Reports of a Nipah virus outbreak in an Indian state prompted airports across Asia to implement COVID-style screenings. Airports introduced precautionary measures after two Nipah virus cases were confirmed in India’s West Bengal. Deadly Illness Reportedly Detected In Asia, Prompting Airports To Implement Screening Measures Similar To COVID-19 NDTV has more: The new vaccine is reportedly being developed by inserting a portion of the Nipah virus's genetic information into the measles virus. “When the vaccine is introduced in humans, antigen proteins similar to those of the Nipah virus are produced. The immune system's response is seen strengthening the body's defenses, helping to prevent the onset of symptoms,” the report said. “The modified measles virus, widely used globally for measles vaccines,” it added. The team has already established the vaccine's efficacy and safety in animal trials with hamsters. To confirm the vaccine's safety in humans, the Phase 1 clinical trial will involve 60 subjects. Separately, a team from Oxford University began Phase 2 clinical trials with a Nipah vaccine candidate in Bangladesh in December. About 300 people aged 18 to 55 are expected to participate. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance suggested Nipah virus may be the "next test of how prepared we really are." A deadly virus with no cure. A 75% fatality rate. Outbreaks have been small so far, but climate change is shifting that risk. The virus? Nipah. And now, for the first time, two vaccines for Nipah are heading into human trials, with scientists racing to stay ahead of the… pic.twitter.com/bUr77O6opV — Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (@gavi) December 28, 2025 The entire Nipah virus response in Asia is hauntingly reminiscent of COVID-19. Newsmax explained further: In response, officials launched aggressive contact tracing, placing family members, classmates, and hospital staff into home isolation or supervised quarantine. Entire apartment buildings and school groups in affected areas have been ordered to remain indoors while health workers conduct door-to-door symptom checks. Other countries across Asia, including Pakistan, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, have activated contingency plans developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures include isolation wards for suspected cases, mass testing in targeted areas, and renewed airport screening for travelers arriving from affected regions. Nipah, a bat-borne virus, has long concerned scientists, but its profile has risen sharply in recent years because of its deadly nature and limited treatment options. The WHO has formally designated Nipah as a "priority pathogen," a label reserved for viruses that could trigger a global outbreak and require accelerated research and vaccine development.

Newly released Epstein files have sparked some new questions after exposing both Epstein’s and Bill Gates’ links to a ‘pandemic simulation’. The new Epstein files have revealed that Gates was discussing a “strain pandemic simulation” [...] The post Epstein Files Reveal That He & Bill Gates Were Planning ‘Pandemic Simulation’ In 2017 appeared first on The People's Voice.