It’s surprising for Sinema and others to blast critics for peddling misinformation when they have yet to release the text of what they say they’ve agreed to.

President of El Salvador Dunks on Rep. Ilhan Omar

Joe Biden is Touting an Economic Victory While Americans Still Find Themselves Under Water

Seth MacFarlane Sounds Alarm With Bill Maher Over Reaction to Israel-Hamas Conflict (WATCH)

A long-lost painting of Moses by Italian Baroque master Guercino has been acquired by the Jacob Rothschild Foundation for the permanent collection of Waddesdon Manor. It will make its English debut on March 20th at a new exhibition dedicated to the artist‚ Guercino at Waddesdon: King David and the Wise Women. The exhibition will feature five paintings by Guercino‚ including Waddesdon’s own King David. The painting was rediscovered in November 2022 when it came up for auction in Paris attributed to a nameless painter of the Bologna school. The auction house’s experts hypothesized it may have been the work of a student of Guido Reni’s. Guercino was another possibility‚ based on comparisons with a known work of his‚ Head of an Old Man‚ at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford that has a very similar composition: an old man with a cottony white beard looking up‚ his face bathed in light. There was also a copy of the same Moses by a pupil of Guercino’s‚ Bendetto Zalone‚ that sold at auction in 2001. The presale estimate was a modest €5‚000-6‚000 ($5‚175–$6‚200)‚ but when the hammer fell‚ the buyer had paid 10 times that amount‚ likely rolling the dice that the unattributed work could be a lost work by the Baroque master. Paintings by Guercino don’t come up for auction often‚ and the current record for one of his paintings‚ set in 2010‚ is £5.2 million ($6.6 million)‚ even more than 10 times the €590‚000 ($610‚000) Moses went for. In September 2023‚ Moses re-emerged at the Moretti Fine Art gallery. It turned out that Fabrizio Moretti‚ owner of the gallery and Old Master expert‚ was the mystery buyer. He rolled the dice happily‚ believing at first glance that Moses was an authentic Guercino. In the ten months since the auction‚ the painting was professionally cleaned and thoroughly researched to establish its provenance. Experts Letizia Treves‚ formerly of London’s National Gallery‚ and Keith Christiansen‚ formerly of the Metropolitan Museum of Art‚ conclusively attributed the painting to the Baroque master. Moses is a masterpiece of Guercino’s Prima Maniera – used to describe the paintings he produced in Cento outside Bologna before a sojourn to Rome in 1621-23 – and is datable to about 1618-19‚ a time in which the young Guercino was greatly in demand producing altarpieces for churches in Cento as well as easel paintings for an ever-growing private clientele. The light‚ fluid and painterly touch in Guercino’s Moses may be compared to that in his King David‚ datable to a year or two earlier (c. 1617-18‚ Musée des Beaux-Arts‚ Rouen) and the Head of an Old Man (c. 1619-20‚ Ashmolean Museum‚ Oxford)‚ which shares Moses’s tightly cropped bust-length format. Guercino appears to have used the same model for the painting as the figure of Elijah in Elijah Fed by Ravens (1620‚ National Gallery‚ London)‚ likely using a tracing or cartoon of Moses’s head for the figure of Elijah‚ reversing it in the process and turning it slightly. Moses is first recorded in 1624‚ in the eminent collection of cardinal Alessandro d’Este (1568–1624) in Rome‚ a patron of Guercino who almost certainly knew him during the period the painter resided in the city 1621–23. Although this period post-dates the execution of Moses‚ Guercino may have sold or given the painting to the cardinal to strengthen ties with him and his family. Indeed‚ from 1630 for a period spanning two decades‚ Guercino enjoyed the patronage and support of the Este in the form of the Duke Francesco I d’Este (1610–1658)‚ the cardinal’s nephew. Following the death of cardinal Alessandro d’Este‚ the painting entered the renowned Este ducal collections in Modena and remained there until the Napoleonic era‚ whereupon it was taken to France during the Napoleonic occupation of the Duchy of Modena (1796–97) and all trace of the painting was lost. Prior to its rediscovery‚ Guercino’s Moses was known through seventeenth-century painted copies‚ a drawing and engravings‚ all of which attest to the work’s art historical significance. The painting‚ restored to its former brilliance and to its identity‚ was displayed at Moretti Fine Art’s Paris gallery with a new price tag of €2 million ($2.2 million). The Jacob Rothschild Foundation snapped it up so Moses can keep King David company in the exceptional art collection at Waddesdon Manor‚ the palatial estate purpose-built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in the late 19th century to house his art collection.

A recent study accepted to The Planetary Science Journal investigates how the organic hazes that existed on Earth between the planet’s initial formation and 500 million years afterwards‚ also known as Hadean geologic eon‚ could have contained the necessary building blocks for life‚ including nucleobases and amino acids. This study holds the potential to not only help scientists better understand the conditions on an early Earth‚ but also if these same conditions on Saturn’s largest moon‚ Titan‚ could produce the building blocks of life‚ as well. Here‚ Universe Today discusses this recent study with Dr. Ben K. D. Pearce‚ who is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Morton K. Blaustein Department of Earth &; Planetary Sciences at Johns Hopkins University and lead author of the study‚ regarding the study’s findings‚ potential follow-up research‚ NASA’s upcoming Dragonfly mission to Titan‚ and whether he thinks there’s life on Titan. Dr. Pearce tells Universe Today about how past lab studies involving Carl Sagan discovered that the highest dilution (or addition of a solvent like water) to make the chemical reactions work was 100 micromolar‚ or approximately 10 parts per million (ppm). If the dilution is too strong‚ the molecules in the chemical mixture wouldn’t find each other‚ he says. “After all‚ early Earth was a hazy place‚ much akin to Saturn’s Moon Titan‚” Dr. Pearce tells Universe Today. “This is because over 4 billion years ago‚ Earth had an atmosphere rich in hydrogen‚ methane‚ and nitrogen‚ similar to Titan! What’s interesting about these haze particles‚ is that they are essentially biomolecule snowflakes‚ i.e.‚ big aggregates of life’s building blocks bonded together. When these particles settled onto Earth’s surface‚ over 4 billion years ago‚ and fell into ponds‚ the bonds would break‚ and you could get a pond rich in life’s building blocks. We wanted to know if this source could exceed the 100 micromolar threshold in ponds‚ which could be concentrated enough for them to react and begin the process of forming the first information molecules like ribonucleic acid (RNA).” Artist’s impression of a hazy and ancient Earth. (Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Francis Reddy) For the study‚ the researchers created organic hazes in a laboratory setting under atmospheric conditions containing between 0.5 percent and 5 percent methane and analyzed the hazes for traces of amino acids and nucleobases using a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). Additionally‚ they heated samples up to 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit) to simulate the samples resting on an uninhabitable surface‚ as well. The team then compared their results to computer models to investigate the number of nucleobases that would be present in these same environments. Artist’s illustration of a very violent early Earth. (Credit: NASA) “When we modeled the pond concentrations of nucleobases from organic hazes (making use of our experimental data)‚ we discovered that this source may be the richest‚ most long-lasting source that we’ve modeled to date‚” Dr. Pearce tells Universe Today. “As a reminder‚ all sources we’ve studied to date (meteorites‚ interplanetary dust‚ and atmospheric HCN) have led to below 100 micromolar concentrations; however‚ now we have finally found a source that breaches up towards this threshold.” In the end‚ the team discovered that nucleobases could exist in “warm little ponds” on Earth during the Hadean geologic eon. With the heating experiment‚ the team ascertained that such samples could not survive on a hot surface. Finally‚ they concluded that organic hazes could produce the building blocks of life only in a methane-rich atmosphere on ancient Earth‚ “but not so rich as to create an uninhabitable surface‚” Dr. Pearce notes to Universe Today. Given these incredible findings‚ what follow-up research is being conducted or planned? “I am presently building a new experimental setup to be used in my laboratory in the Department of Earth‚ Atmospheric‚ and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University‚ which opens this fall 2024‚” Dr. Pearce tells Universe Today. “This lab is called the Origins and Astrobiology Research Laboratory. This experiment will allow my new research group to simultaneously model the atmospheric chemistry (e.g.‚ HCN and organic haze production) and pond chemistry of early Earth. Our initial goal will be to use this to demonstrate the production of the first information molecules of life‚ such as RNA‚ in a simulated early Earth environment.” This study comes as NASA is planning to send its Dragonfly mission to Titan‚ which currently has a planned launch date of July 2028 and landing on Titan’s surface sometime in 2034 in the “Shangri-La” dune fields. Dragonfly is a quadcopter whose goal will be to “hop” around Titan searching for evidence of Titan’s potential habitability‚ and currently has a planned mission timeline of 10 years with the science phase comprising 3.3 years. Its scientific payload will consist of a mass spectrometer‚ gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer‚ geophysics and meteorology package‚ and a suite of microscopic and panoramic cameras. Dragonfly is slated to operate during the Titan day and remain on the ground at night‚ with each lasting approximately 8 Earth days or 192 hours. It is currently hypothesized that Dragonfly will be capable of flying up to 16 kilometers (10 miles) on a single battery charge‚ with its batteries consisting of a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) that will charge during the night. MMRTGs have a successful history on space missions‚ as they are currently used to power NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers on Mars. But how will Dragonfly contribute to or refute this study’s findings? Artist’s impression of NASA’s Dragonfly quadcopter exploring the surface of Titan. (Credit: NASA) Dr. Pearce tells Universe Today‚ “Given that there are tons of organic haze on Titan‚ we could expect that the surface contains preserved organic haze particles rich in life’s building blocks. Dragonfly will contain a mass spectrometer and will be able to characterize the building blocks of life in these particles to potentially validate our laboratory studies.” Titan has a rich history of exploration‚ as numerous spacecraft over several decades have allowed us to gain greater insights into this mysterious world‚ which is not only the second-largest moon in the entire solar system but the only moon with a thick atmosphere. While the cameras onboard NASA’s Pioneer 11‚ Voyager 1‚ and Voyager 2 spacecraft were unable to image Titan’s surface due to the moon’s thick and hazy atmosphere‚ NASA’s Cassini spacecraft successfully used its infrared cameras to image Titan’s surface for the first time. It was these images that confirmed previous hypotheses that Titan possessed lakes of liquid methane and ethane that can only exist in extremely cold temperatures‚ with Titan’s surface temperature being minus 179 degrees Celsius (minus 290 degrees Fahrenheit). Images of Titan obtained by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft on April 16‚ 2005: natural color composite (left)‚ monochrome (center)‚ and false-color composite (right). (Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute) Cassini carried with it the European Space Agency’s Huygens probe‚ which detached from the orbiting spacecraft and landed on Titan’s surface‚ sending back surface features of rounded rocks that could have only formed under liquid conditions. But‚ given that Titan could resemble an early Earth with its methane atmosphere and liquid lakes‚ will we find life on Titan? “The only habitable environment on Titan is deep in the subsurface‚ which is not easy to get to without a drill or a geyser spewing stuff onto the surface‚” Dr. Pearce tells Universe Today. “Thus‚ I’m not sure we will even be looking in the best places for decades beyond Dragonfly. It is also hard for me to imagine an origin of life on Titan‚ given that our current best hypotheses involve wet-dry cycles of ponds that would not be available on -180 C Titan. However‚ if I have learned anything from science in the past decade‚ it’s that we are often proven wrong by new findings‚ and I absolutely welcome it! It’s always better to look‚ just in case!” How will this recent study contribute to finding life on Titan‚ and what will Dragonfly teach us about Titan’s habitability in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell‚ and this is why we science! As always‚ keep doing science &; keep looking up! The post How Did Life Get Started on Earth? Atmospheric Haze Might Have Been the Key appeared first on Universe Today.

Universe Today has explored the potential for sending humans to Europa‚ Venus‚ Titan‚ and Pluto‚ all of which possess environmental conditions that are far too harsh for humans to survive. The insight gained from planetary scientists resulted in some informative discussions‚ and traveling to some of these far-off worlds might be possible‚ someday. In the final installment of this series‚ we will explore the potential for sending humans to a destination that has been the focus of scientific exploration and science folklore for more than 100 years: Mars aka the Red Planet. Dr. Jordan Bretzfelder‚ who is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Earth‚ Planetary‚ and Space Sciences at the University of California‚ Los Angeles (UCLA)‚ shares her insights on the viability of sending humans to Mars and how we should do it. So‚ should we send humans to Mars? “Yes‚ I think there is immense value in sending humans to engage in scientific exploration on Mars‚” Dr. Bretzfelder tells Universe Today. “Humans can make quick decisions about sampling and data acquisition and can move around certain obstacles and terrain with more ease and freedom than many types of robotic vehicles. This would also provide opportunities to study and develop technology to facilitate future planetary exploration.” Countless robotic pioneers have explored the surface and atmosphere of Mars in incredible detail and continue to teach us whether Mars once had—or currently has—life. However‚ humans could provide an extra level of exploration since they won’t be hindered by waiting for instructions from Earth ground controllers‚ which can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes one way. If something goes wrong‚ human explorers can make on-the-spot decisions to find solutions‚ whereas robot explorers are faced with waiting for engineers back on Earth to find solutions‚ followed by sending instructions‚ and more waiting. Regarding technological advancements‚ a human mission will undoubtedly teach us how to live and work on Mars‚ and this includes testing shelters‚ food‚ bathroom facilities‚ and even combating the mental fatigue from being so far from Earth for a prolonged period. All things considered‚ what are the pros and cons of sending humans to Mars? Dr. Bretzfelder tells Universe Today‚ “Pros are as above‚ and many examples of the benefits of humans in the field can be found in the history of the Apollo missions; instances where certain scientifically valuable rocks were collected due to the quick thinking and judgement of the astronauts. Cons include the difficulties involved in keeping astronauts alive and safe on a distant and environmentally complicated planetary surface. Additionally‚ the possibility of accidentally introducing terrestrial microbes to Mars is a potential risk.” Whether it’s a robotic or human mission‚ NASA’s Office of Planetary Protection is responsible for ensuring that microbes don’t hitch a ride and contaminate extraterrestrial environments that we wish to explore‚ but especially to protect us from any microbes that could potentially be brought back to Earth. Regarding the ongoing robotic exploration of Mars‚ there are presently seven active Mars orbiters from several nations teaching us more and more about the Red Planet and unlocking its secrets. On the surface‚ there are currently three active missions: NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers‚ and China’s Zhurong rover. Past successful surface missions include NASA’s Viking 1 and Viking 2 landers‚ Mars Pathfinder‚ Spirit and Opportunity rovers‚ Phoenix lander‚ and InSight lander. From marsquakes to finding evidence for past surface liquid water‚ each of these missions spent years unlocking the secrets of Mars‚ both above and below the surface. But what additional science could be conducted by a human mission compared to a robotic mission? “As above‚ humans (within limits based on their suits and other equipment) have the ability to navigate terrain that may not be suitable for a rover or helicopter‚” Dr. Bretzfelder tells Universe Today. “They also can make real time decisions in the field about sampling etc.‚ meaning there is less delay in waiting for signals from mission control to guide the rovers. Humans are also very adaptable to changing conditions and can respond quickly to address any issues or unexpected situations during a mission.” In terms of an actual human habitat on Mars‚ countless images‚ videos‚ movies‚ and television shows have depicted a human habitat on the Martian surface‚ with very little depiction of a human habitat below the surface. While this depiction might be for aesthetics‚ a habitat on the surface would provide ideal surveying and sampling conditions‚ along with far better communications with Earth. However‚ a habitat on the surface would also expose the crew to dangerous amounts of solar radiation since Mars does not possess either an ozone layer or magnetic field like the Earth‚ both of which protect us from solar storms and other cosmic rays. Artist’s concept for a crewed mission on Mars. (Credit: NASA/Clouds AO/SEArch) In contrast‚ another type of human habitat could be below the surface‚ with past studies identifying the use of lava tubes for human settlements to shield them from the harmful solar radiation. However‚ any surface ventures could become tedious‚ along with communications with Earth becoming more complicated‚ even if a communications array was above-ground. Therefore‚ if humans were to travel to Mars‚ should it be above the surface or below? Dr. Bretzfelder tells Universe Today‚ “An above surface mission‚ similar to the Apollo and upcoming Artemis missions would be the most feasible given the technology available and would limit impact to the Martian surface by simply operating above ground rather than excavating below ground. Samples or cores taken from depth may be scientifically valuable though.” This discussion comes as NASA prepares to send humans back to the Moon as part of its Moon to Mars Architecture while SpaceX develops its Starship with the goal of sending humans to Mars‚ someday. China announced plans in 2021 to send their own astronauts to the Red Planet in 2033‚ with follow-up launches occurring every two years afterwards. Additionally‚ NASA has the goal of sending humans to Mars sometime in the 2030s. “It is an exciting time to be able to seriously consider this type of exploration‚ and as we return to the Moon‚ we will likely learn valuable lessons to enable human exploration of Mars‚” Dr. Bretzfelder tells Universe Today. Will we ever send humans to Mars? Will such a mission achieve greater scientific objectives than the myriad of robotic missions sent to the Red Planet‚ and what could a human mission to Mars teach us about living and working so far from Earth? Only time will tell‚ and this is why we science! As always‚ keep doing science &; keep looking up! The post Should We Send Humans to Mars? appeared first on Universe Today.

It's highly infectious‚ and mostly preventable.

The following article‚ Illegal Crimes: Biden’s Screwed Up Priorities‚ was first published on Conservative Firing Line. A 28 second video posted on X.com garnered quite a bit of attention Saturday evening because it showed surveillance footage of a group of 9 men attacking two NYPD officers at Times Square near a migrant shelter on W 42nd in Manhattan. They were kicked in the head and punched in the body. One officer … Continue reading Illegal Crimes: Biden’s Screwed Up Priorities ...