Humans confirmed the existence of other galaxies surprisingly late. Only 100 years ago, in fact, when Edwin Hubble found a type of star known as Cepheid variables within Andromeda, and used them to measure the galaxy's distance.Since then, astronomy equipment and techniques have advanced, and more and more data has been collected on Andromeda and many of the estimated 2 trillion galaxies within the observable universe. As luck (or, to be more accurate, distance would have it, given that Andromeda is one of our closest neighbors) we soon found evidence that the first galaxy we discovered beyond our own was likely on a collision course with the Milky Way."Traveling at 250,000 mph [402,336 kilometers per hour], the neighboring giant spiral is scheduled to make a head-on encounter with our galaxy about 4 billion years from now," NASA explains. "Subsequent clashes over 2 billion years will give rise to a combined elliptical galaxy, replete with stars scattered in new orbits. It seems Earth, the Sun and planets in our Solar System will survive the crash but take on new coordinates in the cosmos."            But observations of Andromeda and our own galaxy are continuous, and as we get better information we can get a better impression of when this collision will take place, if it will happen at all.In a new study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, one team looked at the latest and most accurate observations conducted by the Gaia and Hubble space telescopes, as well as more recent assessments of the mass of the galaxies within the Local Group. The team attempted to identify the areas of uncertainty in the evolution of the Local Group of galaxies and how it will evolve over the next 10 billion years."Predicting future mergers requires knowledge about the present coordinates, velocities, and masses of the systems partaking in the interaction," the team explained in their paper. "In addition to the gravitational force between galaxies, dynamical friction is the dominant process in the lead-up to galactic mergers. It describes a transfer of orbital kinetic energy to internal energy of the objects involved, and consequently leads to the decay of galactic orbits."Though these forces all play a part in the final stages of a merger, gravity is what plays the largest role in determining whether galaxies collide. The team looked for areas of uncertainty which could affect the evolution of the group, finding that uncertainty around Andromeda (M31) and Messier 33 significantly alter the chance of a merger between Andromeda and the Milky Way."While including M33 increases the merger probability, the orbit of the Large Magellanic Cloud runs perpendicular to the Milky Way-Andromeda orbit and makes their merger less likely," the team explained. "In the full system, we find that uncertainties in the present positions, motions, and masses of all galaxies leave room for drastically different outcomes, and a probability of close to 50 percent that there is no Milky Way-Andromeda merger during the next 10 billion years."The team are, of course, cautious about their findings, and say that more observations are needed to determine whether Andromeda will collide with our galaxy. But "as it stands, proclamations of the impending demise of our Galaxy appear greatly exaggerated."The study is posted to preprint server arXiv.

Renowned futurologist Ray Kurzweil suggests that the merging of artificial and human intelligence is inevitable, potentially leading to a significant increase in human life expectancy. The concept of singularity, which refers to the fusion of human intelligence and AI, is borrowed from the world of quantum physics. Futurologists have long debated when this technological singularity will occur, a moment that could propel humanity to a new level of development and possibly extend our lifespans. American computer scientist and futurist Ray Kurzweil has consistently argued that this singularity is likely to happen by the middle of the 21st century. With the rapid advancement of AI, his predictions are becoming increasingly plausible, as noted by Popular Mechanics. In July of this year, Kurzweil released his latest book, The Singularity Is Nearer, a sequel to his 2005 book The Singularity Is Near. In this new work, Kurzweil asserts that human intelligence will be amplified a million times through the use of nanobots implanted in our brains. While many predictions by futurologists have not come true, others have materialized. Regardless, such forecasts broaden our understanding of what the future might hold. Kurzweil has long maintained that humanity is on the path to a technological singularity, where humans and machines will merge. Twenty-five years ago, he predicted that by 2029, AI would be capable of performing a trillion calculations per second. This idea was initially met with skepticism, with some scientists suggesting such advancements were at least a century away. However, recent breakthroughs in AI indicate that Kurzweil’s theory might become a reality much sooner than expected. In his new book, Kurzweil not only reaffirms his earlier predictions about AI’s development but also posits that by 2045, humans will be able to enhance their intelligence a millionfold through nanobots implanted in their brains. He envisions a future where natural and cybernetic intelligence work in harmony as a single entity. Previously, Kurzweil suggested that reaching singularity would grant humans superintelligence, enabling the creation of revolutionary technologies and transforming people into biomechanical beings. Some scientists, like Marcus du Sautoy from the University of Oxford, agree that the merging of humans and AI is inevitable and has already begun. Du Sautoy believes that humanity is moving toward a hybrid future where AI and human intelligence can coexist and complement each other. However, this hybrid existence raises numerous challenges and questions. How will it affect human behavior? Could it lead to immortality? And how might it redefine what it means to be human? Kurzweil is optimistic that AI will bring about unprecedented advances in medicine, making the concept of immortality a plausible reality. He predicts that by the early 2030s, technologies will emerge that could gradually extend human life expectancy. However, he cautions that this does not guarantee humanity will achieve eternal life. The post Path to Eternal Life: Scientist Believes Humans Will Reach Singularity in 21 Years appeared first on Anomalien.com.

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins probably expected a friendly and sympathetic audience when she traveled over to CBS and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday, but, for a brief moment, Collins and Colbert were caught off guard when the studio audience laughed at the idea CNN is an objective news source. Collins observed Donald Trump’s campaign ever since President Biden announced he would not seek re-elect, “He really has struggled with how to go after someone who's 20 years younger than him, who is a different gender, a different race. It's kind of been this moment where he has not been able to coalesce around a single attack line.”     Colbert then tried to switch topics to the reaction inside CNN HQ when Biden made his announcement, “I know you guys are objective over there, that you just report the news as it is.” As the audience started laughing, Colbert tried to defend the network, “No, CNN makes a—” At the same time, a somewhat surprised Collins asked, “Is that supposed to be a laugh line?” Colbert claimed, “It wasn't supposed to be, but I guess it is.” While the duo would go on to discuss whether CNN was surprised Biden stepped down and how reporters should not make bets about the future, Colbert’s defense of CNN is a bit odd. Even Colbert himself was surprised when Don Lemon told him that CNN isn’t liberal nearly two years ago. The audience reaction, however, does prove that CNN’s insistence that it is a straightforward news channel isn’t fooling anyone, and simply insisting it is will not change that perception. Here is a transcript for the August 12-taped show: CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 8/13/2024 12:07 AM ET KAITLAN COLLINS: He really has struggled with how to go after someone who's 20 years younger than him, who is a different gender, a different race. It's kind of been this moment where he has not been able to coalesce around a single attack line. STEPHEN COLBERT: I know you guys are objective over there, that you just report the news as it is.  [Audience Laughs] No, CNN makes a— COLLINS: Is that supposed to be a laugh line? COLBERT: It wasn't supposed to be, but I guess it is. What I wanted to ask is that you guys still have your own feelings and your own bets about what’s going to happen on a daily basis. Did you think Biden was going to step down? Did that take everybody over at CNN by surprise? COLLINS: I don’t think it took us by surprise. I think as a political reporter, the way to be smart and have a long career is you don't make bets or assumptions. You just follow the story as it happens and, yes, it seemed like the signs were pointing to President Biden stepping down. COLBERT: So, you weren’t surprised. COLLINS: Based on what we hearing, but you never really know and Biden, I covered him, he's quite stubborn, and he often feels he's right and other people try to convince him of something and so he will stick it out a little longer than maybe someone else would.

A caught-on-camera suspect broke into former President Donald Trump's Virginia campaign office over the weekend.The suspect was described by Northern Virginia's Loudoun County Sheriff's Office as a "white adult male, wearing dark clothing, a dark cap, and a backpack."Surveillance video captured the suspect breaking into the location and walking through the office, according to a sheriff's office spokesperson. The sheriff's office was contacted about the break-in at around 9:00 p.m. on Sunday.Photographs of the suspect have been released to the public in an attempt to identify him as he remains at large. The images appear to show the man either opening or placing items into his backpack. However, authorities have not confirmed whether anything was taken from the office. Sheriff Mike Chapman stated, "It is rare to have the office of any political campaign or party broken into.""We are determined to identify the suspect, investigate why it happened, and determine what may have been taken, as well as what may have been left behind," Chapman added.The campaign office also serves as the headquarters of the Virginia 10th District Republican Committee.Neither the Trump campaign nor the committee responded to a request for comment from the Associated Press. — (@) Anything else?The reported break-in comes just one day after the campaign confirmed that an Iranian group hacked its internal communications in June, Blaze News previously reported. As part of the breach, hackers released a 271-page document that listed publicly available information about vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio). The document noted Vance's previous criticisms of Trump, which were labeled as "potential vulnerabilities." Hackers also leaked part of a similar report regarding research on Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who was one of Trump's top potential running-mate picks. Microsoft released a report Friday that claimed an "Iranian group, this one connected with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, sent a spear phishing email in June to a high-ranking official on a presidential campaign." However, the report did not identify the targeted presidential campaign.Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung told Politico, "These documents were obtained illegally from foreign sources hostile to the United States, intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process.""The Iranians know that President Trump will stop their reign of terror just like he did in his first four years in the White House," Cheung added. "Any media or news outlet reprinting documents or internal communications are doing the bidding of America's enemies and doing exactly what they want."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Boston Red Sox star outfielder Jarren Duran was suspended for two games after he responded to a heckling fan with a disparaging remark.The Red Sox were losing 10-0 against the Houston Astros in the sixth inning when Duran was up to bat. As he was adjusting his equipment, a heckler could be heard giving the All-Star a hard time."Tennis racket, tennis racket, you need a tennis racket!" the fan can be heard yelling.Duran then turned to the crowd and was heard saying "shut up, you f***ing faggot!"The Red Sox ended up losing 10-2 after giving up nine runs in the fourth and fifth innings.'During tonight's game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan.'The audio was captured on the live broadcast, which Duran said he immediately realized and quickly apologized to home plate umpire Jordan Baker and Astros catcher Yainer Diaz."They were right there; they heard me say it. I'm assuming they cut the mic because of my inappropriate word," Duran said.The 27-year-old said in a statement that he apologized for using a truly "horrific word" in response to the heckler."During tonight's game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan.""I feel awful knowing how many people I offended and disappointed. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community. Our young fans are supposed to be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility."As is typical with these sorts of incidents, Duran said he plans on being re-educated."I will use this opportunity to educate myself and my teammates and to grow as a person."The Californian said that there was no intent behind his choice of words; rather he simply said it in "the heat of the moment," and he noted that the fan was heckling him "the entire game.""I said something I shouldn't have said," Duran added.The Red Sox announced that his lost salary from the two games ($8,172) will be donated to a gay activist organization called PFLAG, formerly called Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, according to ESPN.On its "what we stand for" page, PFLAG touts supporting transgenderism, race-based activism, and the inclusion of gay-centric education in schools.The Red Sox president and CEO called the day "difficult" and "disappointing" after Duran's suspension. He also said that he was proud of how the organization handled the situation and proud of Duran for "acknowledging his horrific mistake."Red Sox manager Alex Cora said, "There's a lot of work to be done, and I'm here to help him out.""He made a big mistake; he's living with it, right?" Cora told reporters. "As a manager, I've got to do my job. As a person, there's more from my end. ... It's what I can do as a person to support him and help him to be better."It was previously reported by a journalist from the Boston Herald that Boston Mayor Michelle Wu had requested a meeting with Duran over his words, but the post on X has since been deleted and the report has not been verified.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

All eyes are turning to Chicago as the city gears up to host the Democratic National Convention, which starts next week on Monday and ends on Thursday. Unlike when the Republican National Convention took place in nearby Milwaukee last month, the concerns over the expected protests becoming violent outside the Democrats' event is much higher. That is because the far-left groups who have been organizing for months are much angrier at President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris since they have been in charge during the Israel-Hamas war. After Hamas terrorists attacked Israel and killed around 1,200 people, anti-Israel protests have swept throughout the U.S., demanding the U.S. enforce a ceasefire, put an arms embargo on Israel, and give Palestinians a true state at a minimum. Since those demands have not been met, protesters are planning on taking out their months-long rage while the DNC is happening at the United Center and McCormick Place. The March on the DNC represents the main umbrella under which hundreds of far-leftist organizations are planning to participate or give their support next week. The coalition has two main protests: Monday at 12:00 p.m. at Union Park when the DNC starts and Thursday at 5:00 p.m. at the same location when Harris is expected to accept the nomination. Other groups have been advertising their actions to "make it great like '68!" "The Coalition to March on the DNC stands in unconditional solidarity with the Palestinian resistance, and we demand an end to the use of US tax dollars to fund Apartheid Israel's occupation and genocide in Palestine," the group stated on its website. March on the DNC is predicting over 20,000 people for its protests. While the main focus in on Israel and Gaza, the coalition says people are marching in support of the following: Money for jobs, school, health care, housing, and the environment, not for war; Immigrant rights and legalization for all; LGBTQIA+ and reproductive rights; The right to unionize and strike; Stopping police crimes, having community control of the police; and Justice, peace, and equality. The March on the DNC has been in a lengthy legal battle with the city to be able to protest "within sight and sound" of the DNC. Initially, Chicago gave the march permits for a route that was miles away from the United Center. While the city is now giving permits for a march around the venue, there is a dispute over the exact route. Organizers say the side streets and sharp turns proposed by the city will create bottlenecks, while the Secret Service and Chicago Police Department said the longer route that would take marchers farther along the security perimeter will create a "crush zone" due to the fencing not being flexible, according to WTTW. U.S. District Court Judge Andrea Wood ruled on Tuesday the city's proposed route is adequate. While it is hard to say what the turnout will be for the protests throughout the week, it is expected to draw a much larger crowd than the couple thousand that showed up for one day during the RNC. WGN9 reported leaders of four Muslim organizations say they’re expecting up to 100,000 demonstrators to be in Chicago. March on the DNC is predicting over 20,000 people for its protests. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling reiterated this week his department will not tolerate any violence and will quickly clamp down on any lawbreaking: "We will not allow people to come here and destroy this city." Chicago Police have been training for months on crowd control, but the riots outside the 1968 DNC in the Windy City hangs over the whole event. "We're not going to allow you to riot. Protesting and rioting are two different things," Snelling explained. "The moment that starts, we are going to intervene. I am not going to wait until [it's] out of control and then try to bring it back in." While Snelling has made his stance clear, Democrats have worried behind closed doors how Mayor Brandon Johnson will react should things get out of control given his sympathies lie with protesters and is far from an ally of the police. "There’s already a joke going around Democratic strategist circles that the main difference between 2024 and 1968 is that the Chicago mayor this year will be on the side of the protesters, not the cops," Politico reported in May. In the same story, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) predicted the National Guard will not be needed, but he is willing to deploy troops if “the city asks us to — it would be completely inappropriate to just march into a city.” Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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Google just took the wraps off of the Pixel 9 series during its Made by Google event. If you were wondering, yes, all the rumors were accurate. The Pixel 9 series comes in four variants, including a foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold. They feature a few new, exciting Gemini AI powers and cost more than you'd like. Google is throwing a few freebies your way, however, so preordering one of the four handsets might work in your favor. Here, we'll cover everything you need to know about Google's new Pixel 9 series smartphone lineup. Continue reading... The post Google unveils Pixel 9 series with Gemini AI: Everything you need to know appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $229 iPad, $300 off Samsung foldables (last chance), $20 label maker, HP laptop sale, more Today’s deals: $299 Apple Watch Series 9, $50 off PS5, $200 off PSVR, $100 Hoover carpet cleaner, more Today’s deals: $224 iPad, New back to school blowout, $198 Sony XM4 headphones, $98 eufy smart lock, more Today’s deals: $699 Apple Watch Ultra 2, self-bagging trash can, $349 Dyson V8 Plus vacuum, more