An unlikely pairing of botanists and paramotorists could be a way to map fragile desert plant species and reduce environmental impact at the same time.

The right value for the expansion rate of the universe continues to elude astronomers.

Not only is ABC News biased against conservatives and offer North Korean-levels of support for leftists in the United States, but they’re in the tank for other current and former world leaders as well. Wednesday’s Good Morning America illustrated that with co-host Robin Roberts showcasing her lack of journalistic chops by yet again fawning over former far-left New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for her new role working for Prince William on climate change. Of course, left out of Roberts’s gooey segment was the fact that New Zealand voters were so ready for her Labour Party to be tossed out that right-of-center parties now hold 68 out of 123 seats in Parliament with Labour down at 34 and fellow lefties in the Greens at 14.     Alas, those pesky facts didn’t make it through and Roberts promoted Ardern as an popular icon, celebrating her role as “a trustee for Prince William’s global environmental Earth Shot Prize and a conservation international distinguished fellow.” Roberts added “[i]t is so good — so good — to have you back here” and, after remarking she’s stayed in the U.S. awhile now (nearly a year), she lobbed the first softball: “You delivered a wonderful keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Climate Week and you said it was a rallying cry. That was the title of your speech, so what is your rallying cry?” She gave Ardern a long run way to talk about climate change and insist the issue to addressing it involves — wait for it — money. Thus, the two boasted how important the Earth Shot Prizes are (click “expand”):  ARDERN: In part, my rallying cry is to decision makers as well. I think, for a long time, we’ve assumed climate change policy is somehow polarizing, but a UNDP survey just this year actually found that, in the United States, 66 percent of people wanted to see more press and, globally, 86 percent of people wanted to see countries working together on solutions. And so, I think, you know, we see that when it comes to climate change it really feels like the world is a dumpster fire but, actually, the people of the world are pointing to it and saying, put it out, put it out quickly, we want to see that action and there’s some real opportunities. ROBERTS: Yeah and — and the numbers — cause the numbers that you’re showing about the percentage of people — ARDERN: Yeah. ROBERTS: — it really is encouraging. ARDERN: It is. ROBERTS: You also were at the Earth Shot Prize Innovation Summit. The finalists were named. So, talk about the work that the prize is really focused on. ARDERN: It is both a prize but also a platform and movement. What Prince William wanted to create was solutions that we could scale up quickly to restore our planet, to clean our air, to clean our oceans, to act on climate change, and also waste. So, 2.5 thousand nominees — ROBERTS: Wow. ARDERN: — from over 70 countries narrowed down to 15. And, 0these are solutions that, if we had the investment coming into them — and that’s really what the platform does for these finalists — we could scale those solutions up quickly and make a real difference. It’s a way of sharing the optimism but also the urgency we need on the climate. (....) ARDERN: One million pounds per prize.  ROBERTS: Mmhmm. ARDERN: At the same time, those finalists then move into a fellowship program with us in order to scale up the solutions. And you know, the solutions can be diverse.  With Roberts offering interjections of agreement (and to make herself seem knowledgeable), Ardern explained one such focus is Antarctica since “we know global warming is twice the rate of the rest of the world, an area the size of the EU we are seeking marine protections for,” so it’s necessary to bring countries together to “send a message to the rest of the world that countries can unite at a time when we need them to.” Roberts eventually got a word in and it was nauseatingly lame: I can hear it. Your passion is evident. But as former prime minister, of course I have to talk a little politics with you because you were at the Democratic National convention in August. And you said this could be — it feels like a historic moment. So, with the U.S. elections coming up, how does that reflect on global politics right now? Translation? Isn’t Kamala Harris great and, hopefully, she wins in November. Still a politician, Ardern gave a warm, mealy-mouthed answer dripping with progressivism about “empathetic leadership” and decrying “polarization” in favor of a less “combative approach” to our discourse (click “expand”): ARDERN: Do you know, I hear a lot of discussion here in the U.S. and I feel privileged to be an observer of this time — ROBERTS: Mmmm. ARDERN: — in history around polarization in the world of politics. This is an observation I see globally. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t expect to do this after I left office. I started a fellowship on empathetic leadership because I do think the public is seeking a more human centric approach to policies and decision-making. And so, now, I’m working with leaders to instill in politics to support them, to bring kindness back into the way we do politics because I do think people are seeking that. ROBERTS: It’s kind of like what you are talking about with climate change and the global and just really being unified all of us, whether it’s politics, talking about climate change or — or anything like that? ARDERN: I think something about our system at the moment rewards a combative approach, but I don’t think that’s what the public has voted for. With time winding down, Roberts invoked Ardern finally marrying her “long-time partner”, but Ardern said it hasn’t felt different since she’s been busy, including “writing a book which has taken me away from home a bit more than I would like.” Roberts noted she brought it up last time she was on the show (on September 20, 2023) and invited her to give views a sneak peek on what it’ll cover: “It’s a story of what it feels like to be a leader. So, it’s pretty personal, but I felt like there was no other way to tell a story of leadership than to — to share how it feels.” Roberts came off enthralled with that word salad and made a vague allusion to Ardern’s massive gun confiscation while ignoring how New Zealanders have rejected her ideology: “I know and people were just so — your — the grace in how you handled the situation in New Zealand and your decisions that you made and being here in the U.S. and the work that you’re doing now to bring about change. Really appreciate it.” To see the relevant ABC transcript from September 25, click here.

A man recently admitted to law enforcement that he is a member of the gang Tren de Aragua after he was reportedly caught on surveillance footage storming through a Colorado apartment complex with several other armed individuals, according to a New York Post report.In August, a viral video showed a group of five men, four of whom were carrying firearms, banging on the door to a residence at the Edge at Lowry, an apartment complex in Aurora, Blaze News previously reported. Former residents and locals have sounded the alarm about TDA gang members taking over the property after Venezuelan nationals started moving in. TDA members have also reportedly expanded their presence to other apartments in the Aurora area.Three men were arrested in connection with the August video. One of those individuals has reportedly confessed to being a TDA gang member, law enforcement sources told the Post.Three other men who were captured in the video have not yet been identified.During an interview with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, 20-year-old Niefred Serpa-Acosta allegedly admitted to being in TDA. Sources also told the Post that Serpa-Acosta has crown tattoos, a symbol frequently associated with the gang.Aurora police Chief Todd Chamberlain has claimed that the department's investigation into the incident has not found any gang ties."There's a lot of limitations, a lot of rules, a lot of regulations that relate to identifying someone as a specific gang member or an affiliate of a gang," Chamberlain said. "Many of these individuals we're talking about come from a country which does not have a strong relationship with the United States, come from a country that does not have a database that they are going to share." All three of the suspects have lengthy rap sheets in the state, according to sources.KCNC-TV previously reported that the men were also involved in a deadly shooting approximately 10 minutes after the surveillance footage was captured.There is currently no confirmed evidence that the two other arrested suspects — 25-year-old Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco and 21-year-old Naudi Lopez Fernandez — are affiliated with the gang. Sources told the Post that Zambrano-Pacheco and Lopez Fernandez crossed illegally into the U.S. and were quickly released by border authorities. Since they have been in the country, they have been arrested multiple times.Acosta was reportedly arrested at least three times for theft, and, on one of those occasions, he was also charged with resisting arrest and obstructing an officer, according to the Post's sources. He is currently in ICE custody.The Aurora Police Department and ICE did not respond to a request for comment from the Post.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Former NASCAR star Danica Patrick told a crowd of Republican supporters that she is tired of being judged for her patriotism, and she is only going to become more vocal about it.Speaking at a Donald Trump-JD Vance event, the former driver referenced a December 2023 appearance she made at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest. During the event, she posted photos of herself and videos of conservative commentators like Brandon Tatum and Tucker Carlson.Some were disappointed in her appearance and let her know in the comments. One reply from a viewer said they "lost all respect" for Patrick and said her attendance at the event was "super disappointing." Another commenter claimed to be "horrified" and "speechless" over the photos.'I won't be judged for it. In fact, instead of quieting down, I'm going to get louder.'In a video posted to X, Patrick revealed that she decided to attend the event after her father suggested it.“The lineup of speakers was just so stellar, and I thought, 'This looks fun. I'm local.' So I said to my dad, 'Hey, Dad, you want to go,' because he's been into politics since forever. And he said, 'You know what. You should bring your sister,'" Patrick said. The photos that triggered many included some with her sister."So my sister flew out. We had a great time. I posted a bunch of pictures. And I'm not going to lie; red is my favorite color. I don't wear it because I'm Republican, I wear it because it is my favorite color, it just works well," she continued at the campaign event. "So the photos definitely had a color theme. And I posted the photos, and I said, 'I love America; let's make America great again.'""People didn’t like that," Patrick continued. "People looked at me like I was some radical, right-wing, MAGA. Right? Like MAGA's got this awful connotation with so many people. And you know what? All it did was light a fire," she explained.The former athlete concluded by saying that she would not be silenced into hiding her patriotism: "I will not be judged for living in America, being an American, being a proud American, saying I love America, and wanting to make America great again. I won't be judged for it. In fact, instead of quieting down, I'm going to get louder."Attached to the video of Patrick's empowering words was the caption, "I love america. Let's make it great again," a nod to her original post in December.Like her previous comments, this similar statement made some readers tremble with resentment."Can you tell us why you support a felon?" one reader wrote. Another said, "Oh you will be judged."Some other comments claimed that the United States is already a great country, and it needs to keep Trump out of office.Patrick did not reveal if she planned on doing further events or how she plans to escalate her vocal support.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Ryan Wesley Routh was indicted by a federal grand jury in Miami late Sept. 24 on five counts related to the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump at his Florida golf club on Sept. 15. The indictment includes charges of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, assaulting a federal officer, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Routh, 58, of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Kaaawa, Hawaii, faces up to life in prison if convicted of the attempted assassination charge. The other counts carry prison terms of five to 20 years each. At a federal court hearing Sept. 23 in West Palm Beach, a magistrate judge ordered Routh detained pending trial on the two firearms charges. The criminal case based on the indictment was randomly assigned to U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon, who recently dismissed the classified documents case brought against Trump by the Department of Justice. 'In our country, we have to hold accountable people who resort to violence.' The indictment identified the federal officer who was assaulted during the incident as “Secret Service Special Agent #1.” Routh is accused of pointing an AK-47 rifle at the agent from outside the fence near the sixth green at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump was playing the fifth hole at the time. “Violence targeting public officials endangers everything our country stands for, and the Department of Justice will use every available tool to hold Ryan Routh accountable for the attempted assassination of former President Trump charged in the indictment,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. “Routh is charged with attempted assassination of a presidential candidate, which strikes at the very heart of our democratic system,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. “The FBI is continuing our investigation into this alleged plot and will use the full weight and resources of the FBI to uncover and provide as much information as possible about what led to the events in West Palm Beach,” Wray said. “In our country, we have to hold accountable people who resort to violence.” Routh was charged in an earlier federal criminal complaint with the two firearms violations, which were wrapped into the indictment. Federal prosecutors filed notice that upon conviction, Routh would forfeit any assets traceable to the assassination attempt, including “any property, real or personal, which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to such offense,” the indictment said. About 1:30 p.m. Sept. 15, a Secret Service agent doing a perimeter sweep of the golf course “saw the partially obscured face of a man — later identified as Routh — in the brush along the fence line near the sixth hole,” the DOJ said in a news release. The agent fired at Routh when he saw a rifle aimed at him through the chain-link fence. Routh reportedly fled the scene in a black Nissan Xterra. A witness who saw Routh running across the road took photographs of the vehicle and license plate. Routh was pulled over about 45 minutes later on Interstate 95 by deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. Agents searching the fence line at Trump International found a sniper’s nest with an AK-47 rifle outfitted with a scope and extended magazine. A backpack and a reusable shopping bag hanging on the fence each contained “a plate capable of stopping small arms fire,” the DOJ said in a news release. In a Sept. 23 court filing, prosecutors released an undated, handwritten letter allegedly from Routh that predicted he would fail at assassinating the former president and offered $150,000 to “whomever can complete the job.” The letter was in a box that prosecutors said Routh dropped off “several months prior” at the residence of a person they described only as a “civilian witness.” Prosecutors said Routh traveled from Greensboro to West Palm Beach on Aug. 14. On “multiple days and times” between Aug. 18 and Sept. 15, Routh’s cell phone accessed towers near Trump International Golf Club and Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. Routh apparently arrived at the fence line location where he made his sniper’s nest about 12 hours before he was fired upon by the Secret Service. During a search of the Nissan Xterra, FBI agents found six cell phones, 12 pairs of gloves, Routh’s Hawaii driver’s license, a U.S. passport, and a handwritten list of dates and locations where Trump had appeared or was scheduled to appear in August, September, and October. One of the cell phones had a Google search on how to travel from Palm Beach County to Mexico, the FBI said. Routh, who spent much of the past two years as a mercenary recruiting men to join the Ukraine military in its war against Russia, has an extensive North Carolina criminal record dating to the mid-1980s. He was convicted in 2002 of possessing an explosive device referred to in court papers as a “weapon of mass death.” His prison sentence in that case was stayed, and he was given probation. Routh’s son, Oran Alexander Routh, 35, was charged in a federal criminal complaint Sept. 23 with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of receiving child pornography. The FBI said it found pornographic images on the younger Routh’s phone during a search of his Greensboro residence as part of the attempted assassination investigation of his father. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Not only did Ryan Routh attempt to take Donald Trump’s life, but the would-be assassin placed a $150,000 bounty on Trump’s life. Law enforcement has been contacted by a civilian witness who explained that Routh dropped off a box at his residence that contained ammunition, a metal pipe, miscellaneous building materials, tools, four phones, and various letters. The civilian witness claims he didn’t open the box until he had learned of the assassination attempt. “This was an assassination on Donald Trump, but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job, and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job,” Routh wrote in one of the letters. Routh went on to complain that Trump does not “embody the moral fabric that is America" and called our current leaders "selfless." “So he thinks that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, at bare minimum, embody the moral fabric that is America and that they are kind, caring, and selfless,” Sara Gonzales of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered” comments. “Joe’s real selfless, all right, to the tune of millions and millions of dollars that he raked in,” she continues. “But I just really want to know where did Ryan Routh get, or where would he have gotten, $150,000?” “It’s a lot of money for someone who’s poor, who has no assets except like two pickup trucks to his name,” she says, noting that the rhetoric the left uses to talk about Trump likely is responsible. “You see this rhetoric, you know that it’s amping people up,” Gonzales adds. “You see this guy releasing a freaking $150,000 bounty on Donald Trump’s head.” Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred take to news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Springfield, Ohio, residents are sounding the alarm on the increase in traffic accidents — some of them deadly — as a result of the flood of approximately 20,000 Haitian arrivals.Springfield received national attention last year after an unlicensed Haitian immigrant hit a school bus on the first day of school in August 2023, causing the death of 11-year-old Aiden Clark. Twenty other students were hospitalized. Locals say that the tragic incident has left the community shaken and some of the children traumatized.'It’s not normal for little kids to have to go to funerals for their little kid friends.'Blaze News’ Julio Rosas returned to Springfield and Tremont City this week to speak with locals about the new arrivals' impact on the community.David Cook, owner and operator of the Plastic Lumber Store in Springfield, Ohio, told Rosas that the most significant consequence has been the increase in traffic accidents. He mentioned a video that circulated online of a green Kia running a stop sign and smashing into the side of a police cruiser. Cook stated that the Haitian nationals have not been properly assimilated into the community. Some have even managed to avoid the requirement to undergo driver’s education before obtaining a permit, he said. Cook told Blaze News that he had family members on the school bus the day of the fatal crash. “This is middle-town America, and we just don’t see this kind of accident ever,” Cook told Rosas. “Really, it’s the trauma of the whole thing. It’s kind of akin to PTSD.”Cook explained that one child he knows told his mother that he did not want to get back on the school bus after the crash.“The only way he could get back on the bus is if she followed him to school,” Cook said. He noted that some children have had nightmares since the incident. Tremont City Mayor Tony Flood II told Rosas that the fatal bus crash impacted a few of the students he was coaching on the football team.Flood said, “It’s PTSD.”“It’s not normal for little kids to have to go to funerals for their little kid friends,” Flood added.In another similar incident that occurred in December, Kathy Heaton, a Springfield grandmother, was struck and killed by a Haitian driver with an expired license while she was outside collecting her garbage cans. Prosecutors declined to charge the driver.Cook told Rosas, “I’ve heard the comments about, ‘Oh, well, we brought all these Haitians in to try to help turn Springfield around.’ I don’t think it needed turned around."He explained that the Springfield area was previously a “strong manufacturing base” until the 1960s and 1970s.“We started to lose that base, and we fell on some tough times. And I think, to a large degree, people who have lived here and lived through that still kind of think of Springfield as struggling,” Cook told Rosas.“I mean, yeah, who doesn’t like cheap labor? But as far as its viability as a city and things that you can do here — I’ve traveled the country. I’ve been to 49 states. I’ve been to various countries," he continued. “This is as good as it gets anywhere in America,” Cook declared. “I think our quality of life here is as good as anywhere.” Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Who is she?

She once wanted to preserve it to check Republican power. Now that she might become president, she wants to toss it to gain more for herself.