The Senate passed the first of two government funding packages on Friday ahead of the looming deadline to fund the government at midnight‚ after delays led by Republicans that raised the concern of a…

SEATTLE — A federal judge on Friday rejected a challenge to a Washington state law that cleared the way for lawsuits against the gun industry in certain cases. The measure was one of three bills signed…

As long as it has existed as a genre‚ there has been a notable relationship between science fiction and science fact. Since our awareness of the Universe and everything in it has changed with time‚ so have depictions and representations in popular culture. This includes everything from space exploration and extraterrestrial life to extraterrestrial environments. As scientists keep pushing the boundaries of what is known about the cosmos‚ their discoveries are being related to the public in film‚ television‚ print‚ and other media. In the field of science communication‚ however‚ there is a certain hesitancy to use science fiction materials as an educational tool. In a recent paper that appeared in the Journal of Science Communication (JCOM)‚ a team from the St Andrews Centre for Exoplanet Science and the Space Research Institute (IWF) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences focused on a specific area of scientific study – extrasolar planets. After analyzing a multimedia body of science fiction works produced since the first confirmed exoplanet discovery‚ they found that depictions have become more realistic over time. The team was led by Emma Johanna Puranen‚ a St Leonard’s Interdisciplinary Doctoral Scholar at the University of St Andrews with degrees in astronomy and history. She was joined by Emily Finer‚ a senior lecturer at the University of St Andrews and co-director of the interdisciplinary St Andrews Centre for Exoplanet Science; V Anne Smith‚ a senior lecturer in the School of Biology and associate dean curriculum for the faculty of Science at the University of St Andrews‚ and the IWF Director Christiane Helling. Together‚ they conducted a Bayesian network analysis of exoplanet representations before and after the discovery of actual exoplanets. Artist’s concept of the exoplanet‚ LTT 1445Ac‚ which is a nearby Earth-size world that orbits a red dwarf star in a trinary system. Credit: NASA/ESA/L. Hustak (STScI) The interrelationship between scientific discovery and their portrayal in science fiction is certainly well-known. However‚ that does not mean that the phenomenon is well-understood‚ and attempts to study it are still in their infancy. As part of her thesis work‚ Puranen and her colleagues sought to address this by documenting a key example. As she explained to Universe Today via email‚ it is difficult to pin down when the tradition of science informing science fiction began since its roots go rather deep: “I would say it consciously goes back to the time in the early 20th century when the genre as we know it today was being defined. But in practice‚ it goes back further. Science and SF have always influenced each other. Shelley‚ for example‚ was inspired to write Frankenstein by what she read of contemporary experiments on galvanism [the therapeutic use of direct electric current].” In addition‚ Puranen and her colleagues were motivated by a pervasive trend regarding science communication. This is the hesitancy on behalf of many communicators to avoid using science fiction as an educational tool‚ perhaps owing to a lack of clarity. “I think this happens because what is fact and what is fiction within SF is not clearly marked‚” Puranen added. “One of the biggest challenges in science education already is addressing misconceptions about science that students come into the classroom with‚ so I can understand the hesitancy.” For their study‚ she and her team began by looking at exoplanet representations since 1995‚ when the first exoplanet was discovered. This was the hot Hupiter 51 Pegasi b (Dimidium)‚ a gas giant that orbits very closely to its parent star‚ located about 50 light-years away. The focus on exoplanets was key because of the incredible growth this field of study has experienced in recent years‚ ever since the launch of the Kepler mission (2009-2018). To date‚ 5‚595 exoplanets have been confirmed in 4‚160 systems‚ while another 10‚146 candidates are awaiting confirmation). This artist’s view shows the hot Jupiter exoplanet 51 Pegasi b (Dimidium)‚ which orbits a star about 50 light-years from Earth in the constellation Pegasus. Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser/Nick Risinger (skysurvey.org) Puranen and her teammates consulted 142 science fiction works‚ including novels‚ films‚ television programs‚ podcasts‚ and video games. While some were recommended by team members (based on personal experience)‚ others came from a crowd-sourced Google form‚ from which the team fact-checked entries. These were subjected to Bayesian network analysis‚ a quantitative tool traditionally used to illustrate probabilities based on certain variables – in this case‚ exoplanet discoveries. The parameters they focused on included characteristics like atmosphere‚ presence of native life‚ and so on. Their analysis revealed something very interesting: since 1995‚ the portrayal of exoplanets has undergone a significant shift. Essentially‚ with the growing discovery of exoplanets‚ the way in which they have been represented in science fiction has become less Earth-like. Said Puranen: “One thing that became pretty clear is that lots of SF exoplanets are pretty Earth-like. This makes sense‚ as SF is written by humans‚ for humans‚ usually about humans. Still‚ the Bayesian network showed that since the discovery of real exoplanets‚ both fictional exoplanets with established non-native human populations living there‚ and fictional exoplanets with intelligent native life‚ are becoming less likely. “Both these traits are part of this positive cluster of Earth-like traits‚ so the fact that their negative links are the mediation between that cluster and the variable of before or after real exoplanet discovery is interesting. It could indicate a few things—it could be that writers are reading about discoveries of all these wildly un-Earth-like planets in real life and are writing less habitable worlds in their fiction‚ or it could be that they’re focusing more on worlds with unintelligent ecosystems. Either way‚ it’s definitely showing that SF worldbuilding responds to scientific discovery.” The prospect of alien invasion has sent shivers down the spines of science fiction fans ever since H. G. Wells published his classic “The War of the Worlds” in 1897. Credit: Henrique Alvim Correa (cover art for the 1906 edition). According to Puranen‚ this trend demonstrates how science fiction responds to scientific discovery. Past examples also demonstrate this close relationship. For example‚ how Mars has been portrayed in popular media has closely mirrored what scientists knew about the planet at the time. Prior to the Space Age‚ astronomical observations during the 19th century revealed several similarities between Mars and Earth‚ such as polar ice caps and contrasts in surface albedo (which was mistaken for land masses and oceans). Along with linear fat were mistaken for canals and infrastructure‚ these observations led to the popular myth of a Martian civilization. Examples of this can be found in everything from The War of the Worlds (1898) and the Barsoon Series (1917-1948) to The Martian Chronicles (1950). But once robotic missions like Soviet Mars and NASA Mariner probes‚ and NASA’s Viking missions revealed the harsh nature of the Martian landscape‚ these myths were dispelled. After that‚ science fiction books focused on how Mars might someday become a second home for humanity‚ as exemplified by Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars Trilogy. The renewed interest in the human exploration century has also found representation in SF‚ such as Andy Weir’s The Martian. This interrelationship makes SF a potentially useful tool for illustrating the history of science and our evolving understanding of the Universe. As Puranen summarized‚ the study she and her team conducted could help this process by clarifying the nature of SF and how it has historically portrayed scientific discoveries in an accurate way: “Evidencing that SF responds to scientific discovery is a first step towards incorporating it into curricula—a lot more work needs to be done‚ particularly I think more work in analyzing the scientific content of SF. There are people out there using SF texts in their science classrooms‚ mostly on a case-by-case basis—I think what our study allows people to do is place works within a broader context of the genre. “The Bayesian network can help people compare how various texts address various scientific contexts‚ how SF reflects the contemporary science of the time in which it was written‚ and tailor their use of SF in the classroom. Personally‚ I think it has the potential to be an excellent tool to introduce concepts and inspire readers to want to learn more.” Further Reading: Space Daily‚ Journal of Science Communication The post Science Fiction is Learning About Exoplanets From Science appeared first on Universe Today.

The Pentagon office in charge of investigating UFO reports — now known officially as unidentified anomalous phenomena‚ or UAPs — today provided its most detailed explanation for what it said were false or misconstrued claims of alien visitations over the decades. The first volume of a historical record report released by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office‚ or AARO‚ in response to a congressional mandate did include a fresh disclosure: During the 2010s‚ U.S. government officials considered a proposed program code-named “Kona Blue” that would have looked into the possibility that extraterrestrial technology could be reverse-engineered. But the Department of Homeland Security rejected the idea because it lacked merit‚ the report said. “It is critical to note that no extraterrestrial craft or bodies were ever collected — this material was only assumed to exist by Kona Blue advocates and its anticipated contract performers‚” according to the report. The same assumptions were made by outside investigators who delved into UAP reports as part of an earlier Pentagon-funded program‚ AARO said. One of the investigators involved in that program — which was known as the Advanced Aerospace Weapons System Application Program or the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AAWSAP/AATIP) — made clear that he’d continue trying to keep the alien angle in the public eye. “Today the Pentagon and its current UAP investigative program‚ AARO‚ issued a public report that is intentionally dishonest‚ inaccurate and dangerously misleading‚” Lue Elizondo‚ who helped spark renewed interest in UFO reports in 2017‚ said in a posting to X / Twitter. “Myself and others who are aware of the truth are going to keep working to help Congress in their efforts to achieve disclosure.” But Mick West‚ a retired software engineer who specializes in analyzing UFO/UAP reports‚ said the newly released report shows how a belief in alien phenomena can be self-reinforcing. “A belief in the supernatural … is what led to the current UFO flap that AARO is trying to pour cold water on‚” West said on X / Twitter. The ups and downs of UFOs The 63-page report traces government-funded efforts to investigate sightings of unidentified flying objects going back to before the 1947 Roswell UFO incident‚ which was the subject of a “Case Closed” report on the 50th anniversary in 1997. Pages and pages are devoted to recounting projects that are well-known to the UFO community‚ including Project Blue Book and the Condon Report. AARO acknowledged that there was “about a 40-year gap” in official efforts to investigate UAP sightings after Project Blue Book was terminated in 1969. The efforts resumed in earnest in 2009‚ primarily due to the interest of the late Sen. Harry Reid‚ a Nevada Democrat who was Senate majority leader at the time. For several years‚ the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency funded the AAWSAP/AATIP’s investigation into anomalous sightings. The review of aerial sightings by military personnel was conducted by Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies‚ which was created by Nevada billionaire Robert Bigelow. When the funding for AAWSAP/AATIP ended in 2012‚ some of the people who were associated with the project — including Elizondo — continued their work in other roles. They also unsuccessfully tried to convince the Department of Homeland Security to set up the Kona Blue program. It took until 2020 for the Department of Defense to get back into the business of official UFO/UAP investigations. A series of initiatives focused on the possibility that some anomalous sightings might be due to novel technologies developed by Russia or China that might pose a threat to national security. Perhaps the best-known sightings of that type were last year’s reports about a Chinese spy balloon that crossed the U.S. and was eventually shot down by an Air Force fighter jet. Highlights from the UFO files In its previous reports‚ AARO has said it found no evidence of extraterrestrial explanations for UAP sightings. Instead‚ the office has traced all but a few of the sightings to more mundane causes such as balloons‚ drones‚ aerial clutter and natural phenomena. It said that some of the alien claims misconstrued sensitive national security programs — and that a small number of sightings remained unexplained‚ but did not merit being considered evidence of extraterrestrial activity. “All investigative efforts‚ at all levels of classification‚ concluded that most sightings were ordinary objects and phenomena and the result of misidentification‚” the Pentagon’s press secretary‚ Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder‚ said today in a statement about today’s report. “AARO assesses that all of the named and described alleged hidden UAP reverse-engineering programs provided by interviewees either do not exist; are misidentified authentic national security programs that are not related to extraterrestrial technology exploitation; or resolve to a disestablished program.”  Today’s report addressed some oft-debated UAP cases: One of the people interviewed by AARO claimed that a military officer explained in detail how he touched an extraterrestrial spacecraft. But the officer‚ now retired‚ recounted a story about touching an F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter — and said that tale could have been misconstrued by the person who heard the story. Another interviewee claimed that he witnessed what he believed to be the testing of extraterrestrial technology at a government facility. AARO said that “almost certainly was an observation of an authentic‚ non-UAP-related technology test that strongly correlated in time‚ location and description provided in the interviewee’s account.” Yet another claim had to do with a metallic material that was reportedly tested by Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies. Some suggested that the material couldn’t be identified by scientists and might have had extraterrestrial origins. But the AARO said further tests found that the material was a “manufactured‚ terrestrial alloy and does not represent off-world technology or possess any exceptional qualities.” AARO said the sample is possibly of U.S. Air Force origin — and is primarily composed of magnesium‚ zinc and bismuth‚ plus trace elements including lead. What’s next on the UAP frontier AARO said that it’s continuing to investigate unresolved UAP cases. The historical review in today’s report takes the story only as far as Nov. 30 — and information gathered since that time will be addressed in a second volume to come. Today’s report notes that UAP investigations have been challenged by insufficient data and the limitations of sensor technologies. “In terms of military reporting the sensors on which UAP most frequently are captured are calibrated and optimized for combat‚” AARO explained. “UAP are not routinely captured by exquisite‚ high-definition‚ multi-capability‚ intelligence‚ surveillance and reconnaissance collection platforms — a threshold which is often required to successfully resolve a case.” To address that shortcoming‚ AARO is developing a new surveillance capability known as the Gremlin System‚ which should be able to track anomalous phenomena with hyperspectral imaging. “We’re working with some of the government labs‚ such as the Department of Energy labs‚ and we have a great partner with Georgia Tech‚” DefenseScoop quoted acting AARO Director Tim Phillips as saying. “And what we’re doing is developing a deployable‚ configurable sensor suite that we can put in Pelican cases.” Phillips said the portable kit is being tested in Texas and will enable long-term collection of hyperspectral data in the field. There’s also a chance that Congress will schedule a sequel to last summer’s House subcommittee hearing on UAPs‚ during which witnesses claimed that the Pentagon knew more than it was telling lawmakers. Today’s AARO report said such claims were in large part “the result of circular reporting from a group of individuals who believe this to be the case‚ despite the lack of any evidence.” But Rep. Tim Burchett‚ a Tennessee Republican who was in on last year’s hearing‚ criticized the report in a posting to X / Twitter: So the people doing the cover up of #ufo #uap say they find no cover up classic self fulfilled prophesy. https://t.co/jrC8ZLuYTF— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) March 8‚ 2024 The post Pentagon Report Rules Out UFO Coverup‚ But the Debate Goes On appeared first on Universe Today.

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The Republican National Committee elected its new senior leadership team Friday at the party‘s annual spring meeting‚ closing the book on Ronna McDaneil’s longtime stewardship of the Republican Party. Taking the reins of the RNC are Chairman Michael Whatley and Co-Chair Lara Trump‚ who were handpicked by former President Donald Trump for the election-year takeover of the GOP after he forced out Ms. McDaniel. The 168 RNC members unanimously elected Mr. Whatley and Ms. Trump in a voice vote...