The Biden administration’s National Science Foundation (NSF) is dumping more than $2 million in taxpayer funds to back efforts aimed at diversifying marine biology and climate science‚ deriding the fields as “some of the least diverse STEM disciplines.” The NSF‚ which controls $9.9 billion of federal money and exists to “promote the progress of science‚” “advance the national health‚” and “secure the national defense‚” is backing four different universities engaged in the study aimed at diversifying the two scientific disciplines. “The program supports research and practice projects that investigate how considerations of racial equity factor into the improvement of science‚ technology‚ engineering‚ and mathematics education and workforce‚” the program description reads. The study seeks to discover how to develop “equity-driven and anti-racist educational collaborations‚ infrastructures‚ and pathways” to implement in the scientific fields‚ with a specific focus on “BIPOC storytelling and standpoint centering.” “We are focused on advancing change in structures and sociocultural practices in MCS that can improve their racial equity outcomes‚” said Chrystal George Mwangi‚ an Associate Professor at George Mason University and the principal investigator behind the study. The three-year long study‚ which began in September of 2023 and will conclude in August of 2026‚ seeks to build “a replicable and scalable model for equity-centered support in STEM collaborations” The study claims that the climate and culture in marine and climate sciences “have been identified as actively contributing to the low participation and retention of BIPOC individuals in the disciplines and their disparate academic and professional outcomes‚ through gatekeeping‚ professional barriers‚ and other obstacles.” George Mason University in Virginia is the biggest recipient of government funding for this effort and is slated to receive a whopping $1.2 million to back the DEI program. Philadelphia‚ Pennsylvania’s Temple University comes in second and will receive $400‚000‚ while the University of South Carolina will receive another $375‚000 from the NSF. Another $327‚000 will be given to Salem State University in Massachusetts to fund the DEI effort. The Biden administration’s NSF is not content with only diversifying marine biology and climate science‚ however. Another $323‚000 will be allocated to Florida International University to “transform engineering classrooms towards racial equity‚” a project description explains. “In general‚ engineering professors are not engaging as active change agents for racial equity in their own classroom‚” the grant proposal bemoans‚ adding that the effort‚ which will include DEI training for professors‚ hopes to have a “substantial impact on the formation and professionalization of black‚ latinx‚ and indigenous engineers.” The Daily Wire recently reported that the Biden administration’s NSF pledged to allocate nearly $500‚000 to a study on “Latina resistance” at “predominantly white institutions” as well as over $600‚000 to back a study on “intra minority solidarity.” The NSF is far from the only agency within the Biden administration that has embraced far-left ideologies on race and gender. Millions of taxpayer dollars have been allocated to highly ideological DEI efforts as the Biden administration has worked to embed leftwing ideology throughout the government through executive orders. Daily Wire investigations found that the Department of Defense‚ for example‚ spent as much as $270 million on DEI efforts over the course of three years while the State Department spent at least $77 million taxpayer dollars on DEI initiatives in 2022 and 2023. The Daily Wire also obtained a DEI glossary from the NSA that included terms like “white fragility‚” “queer theory‚” and “settler colonialism.” The National Science Foundation does not appear to be the only agency preoccupied with diversity in marine biology. The Daily Wire recently revealed that the Department of the Interior‚ tasked with the management and conservation of federal land‚ screened a documentary on queer representation in marine biology in honor of transgender day of visibility. Former President Donald Trump has pledged that he will gut the federal bureaucracy through executive orders of his own which aim to remove civil service protections from bureaucrats who occupy a position that impacts policymaking. “We will pass critical reforms making every executive branch employee fireable by the President of the United States‚” Trump said at a rally‚ touting the plan. “The deep state must be brought to heel.” Biden hopes to preempt this move and recently implemented a policy intended to strengthen the civil service protections enjoyed by federal bureaucrats. Trump and his allies are still preparing to gut the bureaucracy‚ however‚ with the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 assembling a personnel database to take the place of outgoing bureaucrats.

Who knew that a giggling baby‚ a flashlight‚ and a dog would create the perfect recipe for a video that will have you in stitches all day&;#63; A parent on TikTok shared the most adorable footage of their little one playing with the family pet. It all started when the baby got her hands on an ordinary flashlight. Once the pooch caught sight of the beam emanating from the device‚ they couldn’t resist chasing it around&;#33; When the baby saw her pet dog scrambling on the ground trying to catch the ray of light‚ she started giggling like this was the funniest thing in the world. She kept waving the flashlight around as the pooch became more and more engrossed in the chase. This has to be one of the cutest things on the internet&;#33; @m.tothea.d.i When these two find a flashlight #toddlersoftiktok #bellylaughs #dogsofttiktok #giggles #babygiggle #dogandbaby #bestfriends #babylaugh ♬ original sound – Madi Although this pooch was certainly very invested in trying to capture the beam of light‚ they never tried to take the flashlight from the toddler’s hands or knock her over. One commenter pointed out that the light shone on the child’s face and leg at some points‚ but the pup only chased it while it was on the floor or wall. “Dog is so careful around the baby and just goes at the light when it’s in safe distance‚” another user added. Screengrab from TikTok Being a parent‚ to children or to pets‚ can be a lot of hard work. However‚ moments like this giggling baby having the best time with her dog make it all worthwhile&;#33; You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Precious: Giggly Baby Can’t Stop Cracking Up At Dog’s Antics appeared first on InspireMore.

Our partner Rob Brezsny‚ who has a new book out‚ Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle‚ provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology‚ is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote […] The post Your Weekly Horoscope – ‘Free Will Astrology’ From Rob Brezsny appeared first on Good News Network.

This week‚ a physicist studying the SARS-CoV-2 virus believes he’s found evidence that we’re living in a simulation‚ a newly discovered species of titanosaur is one of the smallest ever found‚ Stonehenge may be aligned to a rare lunar event‚ and a donor heart successfully makes it nearly 7‚000 kilometers across the Atlantic for the first time. Finally‚ we explore why the philosophy of science matters.Subscribe to the IFLScience newsletter for all the biggest science news delivered straight to your inbox every Wednesday and Saturday. New Species Of Prehistoric Snake May Be Largest To Have Ever Slithered The EarthA new species of prehistoric snake may be one of the largest snakes to have ever slithered the Earth. With an estimated body length of up to 15 meters (over 49 feet)‚ the extinct species might even rival the size of Titanoboa‚ the current title holder of the world's largest-ever snake. The newly discovered snake‚ a member of the extinct Madtsoiidae snake family‚ lived in the Indian subcontinent around 47 million years ago and has been named Vasuki indicus. Read the full story herePhysicist Studying SARS-CoV-2 Virus Believes He Has Found Hints We Are Living In A SimulationA physicist studying mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus claims to have found evidence for a new law of physics termed the &;quot;second law of Infodynamics&;quot;‚ and that it could indicate we are living in a simulated universe. On top of that‚ he suggests the study appears to imply that the theory of evolution is incorrect‚ with mutations not being entirely random. Read the full story hereAnyone For A Mini Titanosaur&;#63; New Species Is One Of The Smallest Ever FoundA new species of titanosaur has been described from Argentina. Found in rocks dating back almost 70 million years‚ the mini job has been named Titanomachya gimenezi and was 10 times smaller than its largest titanosaur relatives‚ making it one of the smallest ever described. Read the full story hereVaccine Breakthrough Could Mean Future-Proof Shots With No Need For BoostersA new vaccine platform could see us waving goodbye to boosters for some diseases‚ as one shot could cover every possible future strain of a virus. So far‚ it’s only been tested out in mice‚ but the scientists behind it are optimistic. The vaccine uses a live‚ attenuated version of the virus. While lots of existing vaccines use a similar method‚ the new vaccines will not rely on the body’s immune system mounting a response to the injected virus. Read the full story hereStonehenge May Be Aligned To This Rare Lunar Event – And Scientists Can Soon Test It OutStonehenge is famously aligned with the sunrise on the summer solstice and sunset on the winter solstice‚ yet archaeologists suspect that the Neolithic monument may also have been designed to capture the lunistices‚ otherwise known as lunar standstills. In particular‚ the major lunar standstill – which is next due to occur in January 2025‚ allowing scientists to investigate – seems to have had an influence over the layout of the iconic ancient landmark. Read the full story hereWorld-First As Donor Heart Travels Nearly 7‚000 Kilometers Across Atlantic For Successful TransplantFor the first time‚ a donated heart has been flown 12 hours and 6‚750 kilometers (4‚194 miles) across the Atlantic Ocean and successfully transplanted into its recipient. The donor heart came from a 48-year-old man in the French West Indies who had a stroke and‚ three days later‚ was declared brain dead. After a routine procedure to collect the heart‚ it was transported via a commercial airline to Paris‚ France‚ marking the first time a donated heart has flown across the Atlantic. Read the full story hereTWIS is published weekly on our Linkedin page‚ join us there for even more content.Feature of the week: Why The Philosophy Of Science MattersIn recent years‚ there has been a shift in the public perception of science. The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it a modest but noticeable increase in mistrust of scientists and science as an institution‚ especially in the US. According to a new editorial‚ the issue may relate to the public understanding of the philosophy of science‚ an understanding that scientists often take for granted. Read the full story hereMore content:Have you seen our e-magazine‚ CURIOUS&;#63; Issue 21 April 2024 is out now. Check it out for exclusive interviews‚ book excerpts‚ long reads‚ and more.PLUS‚ the entire season 3 of IFLScience's The Big Questions Podcast is available now.

A lava tube in Saudi Arabia sheltered ancient humans for at least 7‚000 years‚ new research has hinted. A treasure trove of archaeological finds – including artifacts‚ rock art‚ and skeletal remains – suggests for the first time that the extensive cave system was used by human pastoralists and their livestock for several millennia.The Umm Jirsan lava tube is situated in the Harrat Khaybar volcanic field in northwestern Saudi Arabia and stretches for 1‚481 meters (4‚859 feet) beneath the landscape‚ making it the longest lava tube in the country. Such caves and lava tubes are prevalent in Arabia but have barely been explored‚ meaning they could well be hiding a wealth of secrets about the evolution and cultural development of prehistoric human populations in the region. And the latest discovery at Umm Jirsan has not disappointed.Ancient rock art and faunal records reveal numerous phases of human occupation at the site‚ spanning from the Neolithic through to the Chalcolithic/Bronze Age (approximately 10‚000-3‚500 years ago).&;quot;Our findings at Umm Jirsan provide a rare glimpse into the lives of ancient peoples in Arabia‚ revealing repeated phases of human occupation and shedding light on the pastoralist activities that once thrived in this landscape‚&;quot; lead researcher Dr Mathew Stewart said in a statement.&;quot;This site likely served as a crucial waypoint along pastoral routes‚ linking key oases and facilitating cultural exchange and trade.&;quot; The cave‚ the team conclude‚ was likely not used as a permanent residence‚ but instead became a much-needed stopping point for weary travelers to shelter and rest as they traversed the desert.The entrance to Umm Jirsan cave.Image credit: Green Arabia ProjectPreviously‚ archaeologists had discovered hundreds of thousands of bones‚ including human remains‚ at Umm Jirsan‚ which had amassed over a period of 7‚000 years. Looking more closely at these remains in the new study‚ the team deduced that the humans occupying the cave maintained a protein-rich diet‚ with a notable increase in the consumption of certain types of plants‚ such as cereal and fruit‚ over time. This‚ they say‚ supports the emergence of oasis agriculture in the Bronze Age.Analysis of animal remains‚ meanwhile‚ indicated that the livestock these humans shared the cave with grazed primarily on wild grasses and shrubs.Animals identifiable in the rock art of Umm Jirsan include sheep (A)‚ goats (B)‚ cattle (C)‚ and ibex (D).Image credit: Stewart et al.‚ 2024‚ PLOS ONE‚ CC-BY 4.0Rock art depicting cattle‚ sheep‚ goats‚ and dogs alongside humans further supports the idea that the tubes were used by livestock herders.“Exploring Arabia’s hidden past‚ our study uncovers millennia of human occupation within and around the Umm Jirsan lava tube‚ shedding light on ancient lifestyles and adaptations to environmental change in this harsh desert environment‚” the study authors said in a second statement.The study is published in the journal PLOS ONE.

The Trump campaign and Republican National Committee have announced an election integrity initiative meant to place more than 100‚000 volunteers and attorneys around battleground states to help combat election fraud‚ according to a press release.&;quot;RNC Chairman Michael Whatley‚ Co-Chair Lara Trump and Chief Counsel Charlie Spies‚ together with the Campaign‚ designed this new program to have over 100‚000 dedicated volunteers and attorneys deployed across every battleground state as part of the RNC’s commitment to ensuring transparency and fairness in the 2024 elections‚&;quot; the press release reads.&;quot;To empower poll watchers‚ poll workers‚ and attorneys‚ comprehensive training sessions will be conducted every month on the monitoring of not only voting sites but also ballot tabulation centers‚&;quot; the release notes. &;quot;Attorneys will be stationed at every single target processing center where mail ballots are tabulated. This program starts with lawyers committing to battleground state polling sites‚ county boards of elections‚ secretaries of state offices‚ and in the Republican Party War Rooms.&;quot;The undertaking comes as former President Donald Trump‚ who has claimed that the 2020 presidential contest was rigged‚ takes on Democratic President Joe Biden for a second time. Biden previously defeated Trump in 2020 when the Republican unsuccessfully sought a second term in office.&;quot;Every single battleground state is operating its own 'Election Integrity Hotline.' The State Republican War Room is the command center where lawyers will field all incoming questions and issues reported by poll watchers and voters statewide. Lawyers will guide poll watchers through the appropriate election code and provide clarity on how various issues should be answered‚ resolved‚ or escalated. This system will be operational from the first day of early voting through election day – and afterward if necessary‚&;quot; the press release states.Like Blaze News&;#63; Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here&;#33;

The Helldivers 2 galactic war system is supposed to have the successful liberation of certain planets directly impact the status of others‚ according to Arrowhead Game Studios. This system currently doesn’t work outright in the live game‚ but it turns out that Arrowhead will still honor it under what the team is calling the “Martale gambit‚” where the liberation of said planet will end the defense event of an adjoining one. Continue reading Helldivers 2 multi-planet liberation isn’t working as intended yet MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Helldivers 2 weapons‚ Helldivers 2 servers‚ Helldivers 2 system requirements

The exploration of the wreck of the 15th century Danish royal warship Gribshunden has uncovered a unique late medieval weapons chest. It is a zeuglade‚ an ammunition storage and production toolbox that we know from illustrations around that time often accompanied armies on battlefields. Gribshunden sank in the Blekinge archipelago after a fire broke out when it was anchored off the Baltic coast of southern Sweden in 1495. The royal flagship was carrying King Hans of Denmark and Norway‚ but he and his retinue had already disembarked on their way to meet with the regent of Sweden when the ship caught fire. About 100 German mercenaries were still on board and went down with the ship. The zeuglade was likely theirs. The wreck was discovered in 1971 by scuba divers‚ but archaeologists didn’t begin to explore the site until 30 years later. The cold Baltic waters had preserved the organic remains of the ship and its cargo in good condition. In 2002‚ it was identified as the Gribshunden by its unusually large size‚ carvel construction and heavy armaments. Dendrochronological analysis and radiocarbon dating of the timbers confirmed the identification. The ship made international news in 2015 when the dramatic figurehead was raised from the seabed. Excavations have been ongoing for more than two decades. The weapon chest was first spotted by archaeologists exploring the wreck in 2019. They returned to the spot in 2023 to document it thoroughly with new high-resolution photos and create a 3D photogrammetry model of the chest. It is approximately 2.3 feet long by one feet wide and is located on the port side of the bow. There is a corrosion crust on the surface and the contents are also heavily corroded‚ but archaeologists were able to distinguish sharp flint pieces from canister shot ammunition‚ two elongated pieces of lead plate with holes on the side and three stone molds to manufacture lead bullets of different calibers for handheld firearms and arquebuses. Small cylindrical objects in the chest are believed to be the remnants of crucibles‚ powder chambers and/or cartridges. Here’s an illustration of a zeuglade in action on the battlefield from Diebold Schilling’s Amtliche Berner Chronik‚ Vol. 1‚ the three-volume official chronicle of Bern completed in 1483. The chest contains paper cartridges and balls to load the arquebuses the infantrymen are shooting. This illustration from a ca. 1500 combat and warfare manual by German knight Ludwig VI von Eyb shows different types of arquebuses and their corresponding ammunition in a zeuglade. The work to reconstruct the Gripen/Griphund has been going on since 2013. Right now the efforts are focused on the superstructure. In his doctoral thesis‚ Rolf Warming is also working on clarifying the ship’s combat capabilities and the role of the soldiers on board. “The ship is an important piece of the puzzle in the ‘military revolution at sea’ in early modern times where the primary tactic shifted from close combat to the difficult naval artillery. The ship will therefore also be compared with other important warships to understand the development‚ for example Mars (1564) and Vasa (1628)‚” says Rolf Warming.

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