No one wants Kamala Harris to run for president‚ or to take over for Joe Biden‚ recent focus groups in Arizona and California have confirmed. Who could possibly listen to that wretched laugh or listen…

Can tidal forces cause an exoplanet’s surface to radiate heat&;#63; This is what a recent study accepted to The Astronomical Journal hopes to address as a team of international researchers used data collected from ground-based instruments to confirm the existence of a second exoplanet residing within the exoplanetary system‚ HD 104067‚ along with using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission to identify an additional exoplanet candidate‚ as well. What’s unique about this exoplanet candidate‚ which orbits innermost compared to the other two‚ is that the tidal forces exhibited from the outer two exoplanets are potentially causing the candidates’ surface to radiate with its surface temperature reaching as high as 2‚300 degrees Celsius (4‚200 degrees Fahrenheit)‚ which the researchers refer to as a “perfect tidal storm”. Here‚ Universe Today discusses this fantastic research with Dr. Stephen Kane‚ who is a Professor of Planetary Astrophysics at UC Riverside and lead author of the study‚ regarding the motivation behind the study‚ significant results‚ the significance of the “tidal storm” aspects‚ follow-up research‚ and implications for this system on studying other exoplanetary systems. So‚ what was the motivation behind this study&;#63; “The star (HD 104067) was a star known to harbor a giant planet in a 55-day orbit‚ and I have a long history of obsessing over known systems‚” Dr. Kane tells Universe Today. “When TESS detected a possible transiting Earth-size planet in a 2.2-day orbit (TOI-6713.01)‚ I decided to examine the system further. We gathered all RV data and found that there is ANOTHER (Uranus mass) planet in a 13-day orbit. So‚ it started with the TESS data‚ then the system just kept getting more interesting the more we studied it.” Dr. Kane’s history of exoplanetary research encompasses a myriad of solar system architectures‚ specifically those containing highly eccentric exoplanets‚ but also includes follow-up work after exoplanets are confirmed within a system. Most recently‚ he was the second author on a study discussing a revised system architecture in the HD 134606 system‚ along with discovering two new Super-Earths within that system‚ as well. For this most recent study‚ Dr. Kane and his colleagues used data from the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) and High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES) ground-based instruments and the aforementioned TESS mission to ascertain the characteristics and parameters of both the parent star‚ HD 105067‚ and the corresponding exoplanets orbiting it. But‚ aside from discovering additional exoplanets within the system‚ as Dr. Kane mentions‚ what are the most significant results from this study&;#63; Dr. Kane tells Universe Today‚ “The most amazing outcome of our work was that the dynamics of the system causes the 2.2-day period to experience enormous tidal effects‚ similar to those experienced by Io. In this case though‚ TOI-6713.01 experiences 10 million times more tidal energy than Io‚ resulting in a 2600K [2‚300 degrees Celsius (4‚200 degrees Fahrenheit)] surface temperature. This means the planet literally glows at optical wavelengths.” Jupiter’s moon‚ Io‚ is the most volcanically active planetary body in the solar system‚ which is produced from tidal heating caused by Jupiter’s massive gravity throughout Io’s slightly eccentric (elongated) orbit lasting 1.77 days. This means that Io gets closer to Jupiter during certain points and farther away from Jupiter at other points causing Io to compress and expand‚ respectively. Over millions of years‚ this constant friction within Io’s interior has led to the heating of its core‚ resulting in the hundreds of volcanoes that comprise Io’s surface and no visible impact craters‚ as well. As Dr. Kane mentions‚ this new exoplanet candidate “experiences 10 million times more tidal energy than Io”‚ which could raise additional questions regarding its own volcanic activity or other geologic processes. Therefore‚ what is the significance of the “tidal storm” aspects of TOI-6713.01&;#63; Dr. Kane tells Universe Today‚ “The reason TOI-6713.01 experiences such strong tidal forces is because of the eccentricity of the outer two giant planets‚ forcing TOI-6713.01 into an eccentric orbit also. Thus‚ I referred to the planet as being caught in a perfect tidal storm.” The HD 104067 system with its two outer giant exoplanets forcing the innermost TOI-6713.01 into a “perfect tidal storm” is slightly reminiscent of Jupiter’s first three Galilean moons‚ Io‚ Europa‚ and Ganymede‚ regarding their gravitational effects on each other throughout their orbits. There are some differences‚ however‚ since Jupiter’s massive gravity is the primary force driving Io’s volcanic activity‚ and all three moons are in what’s known as orbital resonance‚ which means the orbits are ratioed with each other. For example‚ for every four orbits of Io there are two orbits of Europa and one orbit of Ganymede‚ making their orbital resonance 4:2:1‚ which results in each moon causing regular gravitational influences on each other. Therefore‚ with the tidal storm aspect on TOI-6713.01 being caused by the eccentricities of the two outer giants‚ how does this compare to the relationship between Io‚ Europa‚ and Ganymede&;#63; Dr. Kane tells Universe Today‚ “The Laplace resonance of the Galilean moons creates a particularly powerful configuration‚ whereby regular alignments of the inner three moons regularly force Io into an eccentric orbit. The HD 104067 system is not in resonance but is still able to produce a power configuration by virtue of the b and c planets being so massive and is therefore more of a “brute force” effect of forcing the inner transiting planet into an eccentric orbit.” As noted‚ TOI-6713.01 was discovered using the radial velocity method‚ also known as Doppler spectroscopy‚ meaning astronomers measured the miniscule changes in the movement of the parent star as it’s slightly tugged by the planet during the latter’s orbit. These slight changes cause the parent star to wobble as the two bodies tug on each other‚ and astronomers use a spectrograph to detect changes in these wobbles as the star moves “closer” and “farther away” from us to find exoplanets. This method has proven to be very effective in finding exoplanets‚ as it accounts for almost 20 percent of the total confirmed exoplanets to date‚ and the first exoplanet orbiting a star like our own was discovered using this method‚ as well. However‚ despite the effectiveness of radial velocity‚ the study notes how TOI-6713.01 “has yet to be confirmed”‚ so what additional observations are required to confirm its existence&;#63; Dr. Kanes tells Universe Today‚ “Because the planet is so small‚ it’s difficult to detect it from the radial velocity data. However‚ the transits look clean‚ and we have ruled out stellar contamination. Additional transits will help‚ but we’re quite confident in the existence of the planet at this point.” This study comes as the total number of exoplanetary systems is almost 4‚200 with the number of confirmed exoplanets exceeding 5‚600 and more than 10‚100 exoplanet candidates waiting to hopefully be confirmed‚ as well. These system architectures have been found to vary widely from our own solar system‚ which is comprised of the terrestrial (rocky) planets closer to the Sun and the gas giants orbiting much farther out. Examples include hot Jupiters that orbit dangerously close to their parent star‚ some in only a few days‚ and other systems boasting seven Earth-sized exoplanets‚ some of which orbit within the habitable zone. Therefore‚ what can this unique solar system architecture teach us about exoplanetary systems‚ overall‚ and what other exoplanetary systems mirror it&;#63; Dr. Kane tells Universe Today‚ “This system is a great example of extreme environments that planets can find themselves in. There have been several cases of terrestrial planets that are close to their star and heated by the energy from the star‚ but very few cases where the tidal energy is melting the planet from within.” The potential discovery of an exoplanet orbiting in a “perfect tidal storm” further demonstrates the myriad of characteristics that exoplanets and exoplanetary systems exhibit while contrasting with both our own solar system and what astronomers have learned about them until now. If confirmed‚ TOI-6713.01 will continue to mold our understanding regarding the formation and evolution of exoplanets and exoplanetary systems throughout not only our Milky Way Galaxy‚ but throughout the cosmos‚ as well. “The universe is an amazing place&;#33;” Dr. Kane tells Universe Today. “The fun thing about this particular project is that it all started with ‘Hmm … this might be interesting’ then turned into something far more fascinating than I could have imagined&;#33; Just goes to show‚ never miss the chance to follow your curiosity.” How will this tidal storm exoplanet teach us about other exoplanets and exoplanetary systems in the coming years and decades&;#63; Only time will tell‚ and this is why we science&;#33; As always‚ keep doing science &; keep looking up&;#33; The post Radiating Exoplanet Discovered in “Perfect Tidal Storm” appeared first on Universe Today.

Natasha Long‚ a mother in Pennsylvania‚ is calling Taco Bell Manager Becky Arbaugh her “guardian angel” after she saved her 11-month-old son who stopped breathing. Long was out running some errands with her son when she pulled into a Taco Bell drive-thru in Richboro when she realized that something was wrong. &;quot;I ran out of the car and ran around and opened the car door‚&;quot; Long told ABC affiliate WPVI. &;quot;I pulled him out and he turned completely blue and was lifeless. At that point‚ I just completely blacked out. I didn't know what to do.&;quot;Arbaugh‚ who was busy working the lunch rush‚ heard Long call out for help. &;quot;I heard a scream‚ and then someone yelled out‚ 'Call 911‚ the baby isn’t breathing&;#33;'&;quot; she told Good Morning America. Arbuagh wasted no time running to Long’s aid while one of her employees dialed 911.&;quot;I threw my headset and ran outside to the baby. The mom was panicked. I told her to give him to me and I performed CPR‚&;quot; Arbaugh recalled. &;quot;I was trying to calm her down and comfort her and reassure her that he will be fine.&;quot;&;quot;The baby finally started to breathe. The ambulance came pretty quickly and then they took over‚&;quot; Arbaugh said. &;quot;The EMT said I saved his life.&;quot;Pennsylvania Taco Bell manager helps save baby who couldn't breatheArbaugh‚ a mother of 2 boys and 2 girls‚ was well-versed in how to perform infant CPR and understood the importance of staying calm. &;quot;When my kids were little‚ my daughter had a similar incident‚ so I knew what she was feeling‚&;quot; she told WPVI. &;quot;I knew if I kept her calm and I stayed calm‚ there was no thought in my mind that the baby wasn't going to breathe again.&;quot;Taco Bell’s employees are proud of Arbaugh’s heroic deed. &;quot;We are incredibly proud of Becky from the Taco Bell brand’s Richboro‚ PA‚ location for her heroic act earlier this week. We are getting in touch to express appreciation for her quick actions and kindness‚” the company said in a statement to People.Since the incident‚ the women have been in contact with each other and are friends on Facebook. Long has been sharing pictures and videos of her son with Arbaugh to remind her of the precious life she saved. Even though Arbaugh performed the ultimate good deed‚ saving a baby’s life‚ she doesn’t consider herself a hero—just another mom looking out for her own.&;quot;I’m just a mom helping a mom. I didn’t do anything different from what anyone else should be doing‚&;quot; Arbaugh told NBC. &;quot;I knew how that was‚ and I heard it‚ and I felt it instantly and I had to go and help her cause I knew it’s painful. You’re just so helpless as a mom when that happens.&;quot;This incredible story out of Pennsylvania is a reminder for every one of the importance of learning CPR. You never know when—just like Arbaugh—you may find yourself in the position to save a life.To sign up for a class and learn how to perform CPR‚ visit RedCross.com. &;quot;The baby finally started to breathe. The ambulance came pretty quickly and then they took over‚&;quot; Arbaugh said. &;quot;The EMT said I saved his life.&;quot; [Video] Arbaugh‚ a mother of 2 boys and 2 girls‚ was well-versed in how to perform infant CPR and understood the importance of staying calm. &;quot;When my kids were little‚ my daughter had a similar incident‚ so I knew what she was feeling‚&;quot; she told WPVI. &;quot;I knew if I kept her calm and I stayed calm‚ there was no thought in my mind that the baby wasn't going to breathe again.&;quot; Taco Bell’s employees are proud of Arbaugh’s heroic deed. &;quot;We are incredibly proud of Becky from the Taco Bell brand’s Richboro‚ PA‚ location for her heroic act earlier this week. We are getting in touch to express appreciation for her quick actions and kindness‚” the company said in a statement to People. Since the incident‚ the women have been in contact with each other‚ becoming friends on Facebook. Long has been sharing pictures and videos of her son with Arbaugh to reminder of the precious life she saved. Even though Arbaugh performed the ultimate good deed‚ saving a baby’s life‚ she doesn’t consider herself a hero—just another mom looking out for her own. &;quot;I’m just a mom helping a mom. I didn’t do anything different from what anyone else should be doing‚&;quot; Arbaugh told NBC. &;quot;I knew how that was‚ and I heard it‚ and I felt it instantly and I had to go and help her cause I knew it’s painful. You’re just so helpless as a mom when that happens.&;quot;This incredible story out of Pennsylvania is a reminder for every one of the importance of learning CPR. You never know when—just like Arbaugh—you may find yourself in the position to save a life. To sign up for a class and learn how to perform CPR‚ visit RedCross.com.

An unexpected admirer. The post Leonard Bernstein on the “sheer originality” of The Beatles’ ‘Revolver’ first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

Days of sun‚ days of writing on the beach. Days of getting pissed off with everyday things. Let’s see. Manufacturers enjoy testing our patience. That is the only explanation for how the more slippery the contents of a cosmetic product the more complicated they make the cap. Sometimes people stop me on the street to compliment me on my tan. I smile and try not to arouse suspicion. I don’t want them to know the real reason: that I haven’t managed to open the sunscreen yet.  The sun lotion industry is divided into two main groups: the ones with unopenable bottles and those with unsealable bottles. Both make our lives livelier‚ either on the beach or inside our suitcases. That all too familiar feeling of sticky luggage with a strange smell of aloe vera‚ only comparable to that other feeling of seeing how half a fingernail is ends up in the middle of the sand and subsequently in a neighboring towel as a result of another failed attempt to remove the security seal. The cosmetics industry definitely knows how to make us happy. It just doesn’t want to. (READ MORE from Itxu D&;iacute;az: A Guide to Getting Drunk in Style) The Aloe Let’s be clear once and for all: If aloe vera is really good for everything and anything else in the world is bad for everything‚ as I have learned from watching commercials on TV‚ I don’t know why we waste our time buying so many varied products in the supermarket. I came to this conclusion a long time ago. I have now planted aloe vera all over the house. When I want to feed myself safely‚ I eat aloe vera salad; when I need to soothe an itch‚ I rub aloe vera on it — watch out for the prickles; and when I feel like sunbathing without getting sunburned‚ I stand in the shade of a large aloe vera plant. New Formula Each “new formula” of a cosmetic product includes — or consists of — a redesign of its packaging‚ its external appearance. And‚ therefore‚ a new cap. I imagine that there are a thousand Chinese workers laughing their heads off in some lost factory on the other side of the world‚ designing caps that are impossible for normal people to open. I am sure they are manufactured by the CCP. I can imagine the theorists on the matter at a work meeting: “That will make them value the product more.” I have even seen false-nail makers going into the highest office of a multinational cosmetics company saying‚ “We could have a joint venture&;#33;” Application on the Beach When applying any sunscreen‚ the local customs must be taken into account. In general‚ it is awkward to ask a stranger to help you apply sunscreen to your back‚ and the responses can be offensive and frustrating. About 90 percent of people who try it get “no” for an answer and burn their backs. The remaining 10 percent are Bella Hadid‚ Scarlett Johansson‚ and Taylor Swift. 24-Hour Protection For strange reasons‚ consumers throw themselves passionately into products that claim 24-hour protection or efficacy. I’ve seen some that even promised 48 hours‚ but I think you have to download an app and make extra payments inside. Anyway‚ deodorant‚ after-sun‚ and all kinds of ointments now promise long duration and maximum resistance to the elements‚ among which mainly are included water‚ and implicitly beer. All are questions when it comes to understanding the benefits of this persistence on the skin.  And I guess somewhere in there are the answers. For the moment‚ all this means is that when you come back from the beach‚ to remove your sunscreen‚ you’ll have to use a cotton swab soaked in acetone‚ some sandpaper‚ and a blowtorch.  The Screw The purpose of this upward indentation is to make the stopper rise above the bottle and produce the miracle of opening. Because of its extraordinary effectiveness‚ most manufacturers have banished it from the market. I am sure that somewhere in the world‚ there is a group of politicians sitting around a round table considering banning the screw cap because it is “too easy to open.” Special Anti-Drip Among the most extraordinary devices that the capping industry has invented is the so-called anti-drip cap. It is now a triumph among all sunscreens‚ but the truth is that its origin was in the urgency to put an end to the ketchup drips that all clumsy people carried around upon on their shirts when they left hamburger restaurants. Once the ketchup stopped dripping‚ it was easy to stop the typical summer lotions from dripping. However‚ I have not been affected by the change‚ except for the price increase of the product‚ because many years ago I found my own anti-drip technique: keep the jar upright with the opening upward. Quite a find that perhaps I should have registered as “ecological and sustainable anti-drip solution.” Especially sustainable‚ because if you don’t hold it right‚ it drips. The Spray Many products now come in a spray version. This adds new incendiary components to the lotion‚ which increases the risk of explosion or death by self-combustion in bathers heading for very hot destinations. The advantage of the spray is that it is very convenient to apply. The disadvantage is that it has an extra security seal. This is made of plastic and‚ as the name suggests‚ is impossible to remove without the help of a plastic surgeon. Cover and Top The difference between the top and the stopper is that the former can be opened and the latter cannot be closed. Lotion and Sand The purpose of applying a cream to the skin is often to apply cream to the skin. If during the process wind and sand have risen‚ it is possible that the situation may be distorted‚ and you will have to be aware of your new status: You may have become a croquette without knowing. For what may happen‚ stay away from the beach bar; there are always very hungry people. The One to Blame for Everything You always have to look for a culprit. In this case‚ his name is Johann Wilhelm Ritter and he discovered ultraviolet rays in 1801. Until then‚ the sun did not burn‚ skin was not damaged‚ nobody used to apply greasy creams‚ and‚ of course‚ nobody thought of opening earplugs on the beach.  Translated by Joel Dalmau. Buy Itxu D&;iacute;az’s new book‚ I Will Not Eat Crickets: An Angry Satirist Declares War on the Globalist Elite‚ here today&;#33; The post Exegesis of the Beach Creams and Bottle Tops Issue appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Another Tax Day has come and gone‚ and most Americans believe they pay too much. One recent poll revealed that 56 percent say they pay more than their fair share. Unfortunately‚ I fear this is just the beginning considering the insane level of debt Washington policymakers have accumulated over the years. With this in mind‚ here are some important facts about our tax system that you might not know. READ MORE from Veronique de Rugy: Washington’s ‘Job Creation’ Circus Is Hitting the Road The payroll tax is the heaviest burden for most taxpaying Americans‚ but the income tax is more visible and painful to a lot of people. While we are accustomed to it — and while it affects some Americans’ decisions about how much to work‚ invest or save — the income tax didn’t exist for most of our country’s life. In 1895‚ the Supreme Court ruled against a direct tax on the incomes of American citizens and corporations‚ something that had been included in the previous year’s Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act. The court found that such a tax violated the constitutional requirement that tax apportionments among the states be based on population. It took a constitutional amendment — the 16th — to eventually change that and pave the way for the modern income tax. The very first Internal Revenue Service Form 1040‚ introduced in 1913 after the ratification of the 16th Amendment‚ was remarkably straightforward compared to what we know today. It was only four pages long‚ including instructions‚ and the top tax rate was 7 percent on incomes above $500‚000‚ which is over $15 million in today’s dollars. Some people were horrified by a 7 percent tax and warned that it could put us on a slippery slope to higher rates — maybe even above 10 percent (&;#33;) — imposed on a vast majority of people. They were called crazy for fearing such a thing. And yet‚ as predicted by a few realists‚ the income-tax rate not only increased‚ but the threshold at which it’s applied went down. During the 1950s and the Eisenhower administration‚ the top marginal tax rate on incomes reached 91 percent for individuals. This rate applied to incomes over $200‚000 (about $2 million today) for single filers and $400‚000 (about $4 million today) for married couples filing jointly. These high taxes were part of a broader policy to manage post-war fiscal adjustments and fund federal programs. These rates also failed to raise as much money as you would think due to many loopholes in the tax code. While the top marginal rate is much lower today‚ the income-tax code remains remarkably complicated. Will McBride‚ a scholar at the Tax Foundation‚ recently wrote that “As of 2021‚ the U.S. income tax code was 4.3 million words long and growing. That’s much longer‚ and presumably much more complicated‚ than tax codes found in other countries.” There are several reasons for this. First‚ many welfare programs are administered through the tax code. In recent testimony before the Senate Budget Committee‚ the Cato Institute’s Chris Edwards wrote: “The tax code is an increasing mess. The number of official tax expenditures has risen from 53 in 1970 to 205 today‚ making IRS administration and enforcement ever more difficult. We know from experience that complex tax expenditures‚ such as the low-income housing tax credit and earned income tax credit‚ generate substantial errors and abuse.” In addition‚ contrary to common belief‚ the U.S. income-tax system is actually quite progressive. According to the Tax Foundation‚ “though the top 1 percent of taxpayers earn 19.7 percent of total adjusted gross income‚ they pay 37.3 percent of all income taxes. Just 3 percent of taxes are paid by the lowest half of income earners.” Maintaining this progressivity through all kinds of tax provisions increases the complexity of the code. This progressivity is generally ignored by those who argue that taxing the rich is the solution to reducing the burgeoning U.S. national debt. Soaking the rich‚ while perhaps appealing in its simplicity‚ misses the scale of the problem. Brian Riedl‚ a Manhattan Institute senior fellow‚ noted that if we were to confiscate 100 percent of the income of everyone making over $500‚000 per year‚ it would fund the government for less than a year. This puts into perspective the enormity of the $34 trillion national debt versus the income of the rich. Taxing the rich is a convenient distraction hiding the reality that if spending isn’t cut‚ taxes will have to be raised on everyone‚ a lot. On this tax week‚ I suggest Congress start cutting. Veronique de Rugy is the George Gibbs Chair in Political Economy and a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. To find out more about Veronique de Rugy and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists‚ visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM The post Tax Time Myths and Truths appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.