We sat down with Chris and Mika, who told us all about their perilous voyage to the most remote place on Earth. Come for the epic adventure, stay for the story of what attacked them when they got there. 

A new fossil of the partially feathered dinosaur Psittacosaurus has revealed that these animals had bizarre skin that included both bird-like feathers and reptile-like scales. The first-of-its-kind fossil provides new insights into the evolution from scales to feathers, demonstrating that these animals exhibited “zoned development” in their skin.The first Psittacosaurus fossil was discovered in 1922, but a more recent discovery was able to reveal – for the first time – quite how peculiar their skin was. Dating back to the early Cretaceous, between 135 and 120 million years ago, it lived at a time when dinosaurs were starting to evolve into birds.Psittacosaurus is thought to have had feathers only on its tail, and now this new research suggests that the skin across its whole body differed depending on whether it was feathered or not. Softer skin like that of modern birds appears to have been associated with feathered areas, while the bald patches were scaly, demonstrating that retaining reptilian skin during the early stages of feather evolution may have improved the function of the skin.The fossil skin couldn’t be seen by the naked eye, but with the aid of ultraviolet light, a team of researchers were able to identify patches on the Psittacosaurus specimen. They then used X-rays and infrared light to look even closer, revealing details of the skin’s preserved cellular structure.The fossil skin under an electron microscope, showing mineralized cell layers.Image credit: Dr Zixiao Yang“The fossil truly is a hidden gem,” said University College Cork palaeontologist Dr Zixiao Yang in a statement. “The fossil skin is not visible to the naked eye, and it remained hidden when the specimen was donated to Nanjing University in 2021. Only under UV light is the skin visible, in a striking orange-yellow glow.”“What is really surprising is the chemistry of the fossil skin. It is composed of silica – the same as glass. This type of preservation has never been found in vertebrate fossils. There are potentially many more fossils with hidden soft tissues awaiting discovery.”The team states that their discovery indicates that bird-like skin only developed in select, feathery patches of dinosaur skin, while the rest remained scaly and reptile-like. Skin is a large organ that carries out many functions, and so it could be that developing specialized skin specific to feathered and bald regions, these dinosaurs were better able to protect themselves against injury, dehydration, and parasites.The study is published in Nature Communications.

At long last, CBS aired its special featuring anchor Norah O’Donnell’s interview of Pope Francis which, as predicted, ran through the entire leftwing media policy pupu platter. A substantial portion of this interview was devoted, predictably, to the propagation of leftwing talking points on migration and climate change. Watch as O’Donnell leads Francis into advocating for an open border (click "expand" for transcript): NORAH O’DONNELL: In St. Peter's Square sits this monument to migrants. On top of a boat, a young boy fleeing the Irish famine. A Jewish man escaping Nazi Germany. A woman departing the Syrian Civil War. Unveiled by the Pope in 2019, calling on the faithful to "welcome, protect, promote and integrate."  This is a big story in the United States, because there have been so many migrants this year. I've been to the border and many times it is mothers with children who are fleeing violence. And they walk thousands of miles with their families for a better life. And yet, there is a discussion about closing the border, limiting migration. POPE FRANCIS (VIA INTERPRETER): The solution is migration, to open the doors to migration. For an immigration policy to be good, it must have four things. For the migrant to be received, assisted, promoted, and integrated. This is what is most important, to integrate them into the new life. O’DONNELL: I grew up in the state of Texas, which is right on the border with Mexico. The state of Texas is attempting to shut down a Catholic charity on the border with Mexico that offers undocumented migrants humanitarian assistance. What do you think of that? POPE FRANCIS: That is madness. Sheer madness. Over there in Texas, there is a great bishop, Bishop Seitz. He’s right there at the border. That man does the impossible to help the migrants, right? O’DONNELL: We met Bishop Mark Seitz at Annunciation House, a Catholic charity in El Paso Texas, where they are challenging the state's attempt to shut them down for allegedly shielding undocumented migrants from law enforcement. BISHOP MARK SEITZ: This type of accusation puts fear into the hearts of anyone who generously gives of their time because of the Christian concern for people who are truly the poorest of the poor among us, people who have no place to go, nothing to eat, no clothes. The media generally tend to treat faith like a combo menu, picking and choosing the parts they elect to propagate while denigrating those who believe those aspects thereof that the media don’t like. As Exhibit A, I give you the still-ongoing Harrison Butker kerfuffle.  The media had no choice but to cover Butker’s comments because they quickly went viral, as opposed to simply ignoring Francis when he says similar things on family, life, and marriage. Inasmuch as Francis’ stance on migration (open borders) is aligned with the Regime, Francis gets maximum exposure. This is why the interview, which encompassed such matters as… Gaza/Ukraine College campus protests Migration Climate Change Ordination of women Surrogacy/IVF Transgender/LGBTQ issues Blessing LGBTQ individuals versus same-sex couples Sex abuse scandal Francis’ health, intent to retire …featured ZERO questions on abortion. O’Donnell broached the issue of Life by coming at it from the surrogacy and IVF angle, wherein Francis’ harshest denunciation was reserved for the for-profit surrogacy industry. Abortion never made it on the air. On this issue, Pope Francis is not convenient to the Regime. Which leads us back to migration. Here again, O’Donnell frames the issue in a light most likely to tug on Francis’ heartstrings. Hence, the evocation of mothers and children arriving at the border as opposed to hordes of military-aged men from hostile countries.  There is also the verbal sleight of hand related to the Catholic charity currently being sued by the Texas AG. O’Donnell complains to Francis about the Texas AG trying to shut down the charity “that offers humanitarian assistance”. When introducing the bishop in charge of Annunciation House, she then clarifies that it’s “for allegedly shielding undocumented migrants from law enforcement”. But Annunciation House is accused of failing to comply with Texas law regarding access to facilities and production of documents, in addition to the charges of (at minimum) abetting human trafficking.  The interview trudges on before doing a hard segue from migration to climate change, that other issue where the media gleefully echo Francis (click "expand"): CBS's Norah O'Donnell segues into Pope Francis' obligatory climate homily by linking climate to migration. We pollute, therefore we must open the border pic.twitter.com/pKjAoJYa90 — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) May 21, 2024 O’DONNELL: One factor driving an increase in migration is global warming. How worried are you about climate change? FRANCIS: Unfortunately, we have gotten to a point of no return. It's sad, but that's what it is. Global warming is a serious problem. Climate change at this moment is a road to death. A road to death, eh? And it is an artificial climate change, no? Something provoked, not the normal climate change, right? O’DONNELL: You have placed blame on wealthy countries. POPE FRANCIS: In great measure, yes, because they are the ones that have more of an economy and an energy based on fossil fuels that are creating this situation, right? They are the countries that can make the most difference, given their industry and all, aren't they? But it is very difficult to create an awareness of this. They hold a conference, everybody's in agreement, they all sign, and then bye-bye. But we have to be very clear. Global warming is alarming. O’DONNELL: So alarmed, he put the imagery of the climate crisis on full display and is the first Pope to issue official Vatican documents warning in his words that the world in which we live may be, quote, "nearing the breaking point."  What do you say to the deniers of climate change? POPE FRANCIS: There are foolish people, and even if you show them the statistics, still the fool will not believe. Why? Generally, it is either because they don't understand the situation or out of a vested interest. But climate change is real. The warming of the Earth has already increased by two degrees. That is a lot. O’DONNELL: You've talked about what St. Francis called "Sister Mother Earth." That protecting our planet is the most pressing issue today? POPE FRANCIS: Yes, because it is the future, it is life. We say, at the most, "Stepsister Earth," not "Sister." Protecting the planet. How many young people today will not get to see so many things? It is a lack of conscience to use a plastic bottle and then throw it to the sea. This makes the sea unhealthy. We have to be conscientious about repurifying nature. Here, again, is an issue where Francis’ stances align with those of the Regime, unlike abortion and same-sex marriage (individual non-couple benedictions notwithstanding). More curious minds would have presented Francis with the idea of climate advocacy as a Malthusian enterprise, and asked him to square that with his pro-life positions and teachings.  But the Regime can’t have that. Nor can its Media. Which is how we end up with this interview.  

Classic mobster movie "Goodfellas" was slapped with a trigger warning by network AMC, which warned that the movie did not live up to "today's" standards of what is considered inclusive and tolerant.Television viewers of the 1990 crime drama starring Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, and Robert De Niro were greeted by a sensitivity warning, of all things, for a true story about members of the Italian mafia. "This film includes language and/or cultural stereotypes that are inconsistent with today's standards of inclusion and tolerance and may offend some viewers," the message read.However, as the New York Post reported, similar movies on the channel didn't get such a warning. Strangely enough "The Godfather" only received a standard message of "viewer discretion," along with a warning about nudity, strong language, and "intense violence."'This is how life was back then. It was not a clean beautiful thing. You can’t cleanse history.' — (@) A former NYPD police officer, Bo Ditel, who played a policeman in "Goodfellas," said that political correctness is ruining everything."The f***ing political correctness has f***ing taken everything away,” he told the New York Post. "This is how life was back then. It was not a clean beautiful thing. You can’t cleanse history. If you want to tell true history, you gotta tell it the way it is."A former captain of the Colombo crime family also told the outlet that the mob doesn't need protecting."It's crazy," he said."Lemme speak for all of us Italian Americans: We don't need any coddling," one self-described Italian chef remarked.Lemme speak for all of us Italian Americans:We don’t need any coddling.— Cooking With Sal Minella (@SalMinellaUtube) May 18, 2024 "This is why I own physical media. I won't have to put up with this nonsense," another reader said.This is why I own physical media. I won't have to put up with this nonsense.— iBolski ?? ✝️ (@iBolski) May 20, 2024 Other reactions included several social media users pointing out that the movie is based on the true story of mobster turned FBI informant Henry Hill and, therefore, shouldn't receive a warning.Warning: May include lasagna, garlic, wine, and Joe Pesci.— App (marv) (@appalachiafrog) May 18, 2024 Trigger warnings for movie classics are nothing new in recent years. Disney put lengthy content warnings on its platform Disney+ for films like "Dumbo" and "Peter Pan" in 2020.In early 2024, classic James Bond movies were presented with trigger warnings by the British Film Institute. The two films in question were 1967's "You Only Live Twice" and "Goldfinger" from 1964. Both films star iconic Scottish actor Sean Connery.Warnings read that the "films contain language, images or other content that reflect views prevalent in its time, but will cause offence today (as they did then).""The titles are included here for historical, cultural or aesthetic reasons and these views are in no way endorsed by the BFI or its partners," the institute added.The newer film, "You Only Live Twice," also received its own specific warning of "outdated racial stereotypes," the Independent reported.The AMC channel is owned by AMC Networks, which also operates the IFC, Acorn TV, and Shudder.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Michael Cohen's former attorney Robert Costello returned to the witness stand on Tuesday morning to testify for the defense in the New York criminal trial against Donald Trump, according to live updates from the courthouse.On Monday, Costello was called as the defense's second witness. The lawyer clashed with Judge Juan Merchan after expressing frustration over the judge's decision to sustain multiple objections from the prosecution during his testimony, Blaze News reported.Merchan briefly cleared the courtroom after Costello rolled his eyes, audibly sighed, and remarked, "Ridiculous.""You don't give me a side eye and you don't roll your eyes. ... When there's a witness on the stand, if you don't like my ruling, you don't say 'jeez.' You don't say 'strike it,'" Merchan told Costello.'Judge Merchan has so restricted my testimony that the defense has decided not to call me.'During Costello's direct examination by Trump's attorneys on Monday, he testified that Cohen told him that the former president had nothing to do with the $130,000 settlement payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels. Costello claimed Cohen made the payment on his own to regain favor with Trump and increase his chances of securing a position at the White House. According to Costello, Cohen told him approximately 10 to 12 times during a meeting in April 2018, "I swear to God, Bob, I don't have anything on Donald Trump."During Costello's cross-examination on Tuesday, the prosecution tried to paint Costello as having "animosity" toward Cohen. Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked Costello whether he had attempted to push Cohen to retain him as his lawyer because he could provide a backchannel through Rudy Giuliani to President Trump. Costello denied the claim.Hoffinger then showed Costello an email he had sent to Cohen allegedly referring to the backchannel."The email speaks for itself, right sir?" Hoffinger asked."No, not quite. There are circumstances about that email, which I would be delighted to tell you," Costello responded."That's alright, let's move on to the next one," Hoffinger stated.The prosecution also accused Costello of attempting to "intimidate" Cohen by providing testimony last week before a House committee."That's ridiculous, no," Costello remarked.After Costello concluded his testimony on Tuesday, Merchan instructed the jury regarding timing. "I've considered all the permutation ... at the end of the day, I think the best thing that we can do is to adjourn now until next Tuesday. At that time you will hear summations from the attorneys. Probably Wednesday I'll ask you to come in ... hear jury charge and then I would expect that you will begin your deliberations hopefully at some point on Wednesday," Merchan concluded.Anything else?On Monday, the defense requested that former Federal Election Commissioner Brad Smith testify to similar topics addressed by the prosecution's expert witness. Merchan decided to limit the defense's request, arguing that it would lead to a "battle of the experts" that would "only confuse and not assist the jury."Smith published a thread on X in response to the judge's decision to reject portions of his testimony in the trial."Judge Merchan has so restricted my testimony that the defense has decided not to call me. Now, it's elementary that the judge instructs the jury on the law, so I understand his reluctance," Smith wrote. "But the Federal Election Campaign Act is very complex. Even Antonin Scalia — a pretty smart guy, even [if] you hate him — once said 'this [campaign finance] law is so intricate that I can't figure it out.'""Part of the state's case is that they wrongly reported what they knew to be a campaign expenditure in order to hide the payment until after the election," Smith continued. "Cohen even testified they just wanted to get past the election.""We were going to go over the reporting schedules, showing that even if they thought it was a campaign expenditure to be reported, an expenditure made on October 27 (when $ sent to Daniels atty) would not, under law, be reported until Dec. 8, a full 30 days after election," he explained. — (@) 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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