'Tehran is pleased'

A group of strangers in Tennessee jumped into action‚ banding together to overturn a flipped car and rescue a woman trapped inside. A video filmed near exit 221 of Interstate 40 in Hermitage‚ shows people running towards the silver vehicle that had flipped over in a field alongside the highway. The group of 8 men […] The post Good Samaritans Band Together to Overturn Flipped Car and Rescue Trapped Woman – WATCH appeared first on Good News Network.

Aspiring Maryland Trans Shooter Thwarted

For every atom in the universe that makes up stars‚ planets‚ or gas‚ there is about more than five times as much so-called dark matter. Physicists are very confident it’s there‚ but cannot find it‚ or even work out what makes it up. We won’t know the exact reasons why it’s so hard to see until we answer the question of what dark matter is‚ but that doesn’t mean we know nothing at all.How do we know dark matter is real&;#63;The speed at which objects orbit each other depends on their distance‚ but also on their mass. We know how heavy the Sun is by observing how fast the Earth‚ and other planets‚ go around it. Things get more complex when the mass controlling the orbital speed is spread out‚ rather than at a single point‚ but physicists have got very good at solving those sorts of problems.Consequently‚ when we look at the rates at which stars in nearby galaxies orbit‚ or the speed at which galaxies on the edge of giant galactic clusters are traveling‚ we know how much mass is causing that motion. However‚ when astronomers try to estimate the number of stars in those galaxies‚ and their average masses‚ the figures don’t match. The visible stars don’t provide nearly enough mass to match the effects they are having on objects at the edges. The estimates of stellar mass may be rough – we can’t count every star‚ but the discrepancy is far too large to be simple under-sampling.A small minority of scientists explain this by arguing that gravity works differently at large scales from our models‚ which are based on the movements of planets and moons within the Solar System. One version of this idea has received a lot of publicity‚ but most physicists consider it improbable at best.Almost certainly then there is something out there that has a lot of mass‚ enough to warp space-time in ways that affect the motions of everything else‚ but we can’t see: in other words‚ dark matter.Gravitational lenses provide even more evidence. We see galaxies that are bending light from more distant objects‚ and they bend it a lot more than the visible stars can account for.Once there was widespread agreement that dark matter existed‚ the quest was on to identify its nature. At that point‚ the only things we knew were that dark matter produces gravitational effects – i.e. that it has mass – and that it couldn’t be seen‚ at least with the instruments we had.Why we can’t see it depends on what it isInitially‚ two competing explanations were popular. One proposed dark matter was made up of large objects that emitted no light. They might reflect light if suitably positioned‚ but weren’t close enough to stars to be reflecting useful amounts. Astronomers imagined vast numbers of Jupiter-mass objects roaming the space between stars. These objects were referred to as Massive Compact Halo Objects (MACHOs)‚ the halos here being those belonging to galaxies.The primary alternative was subatomic particles‚ individually light‚ but existing in such unimaginable numbers that collectively they could provide the missing mass. In contrast to the MACHOs‚ these were named WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles) with the massive here meaning “has mass”‚ not “enormous”‚ since they are anything but.These examples make clear why there is no universal answer to the question “Why can’t we see dark matter&;#63;”. If dark matter is MACHOs‚ we can’t see it because we haven’t got close enough to this sort of object. If it’s WIMPs‚ seeing is impossible‚ but with the right sort of detecting device we may be able to confirm the particles’ existence.The MACHO hypothesis is very much out of favor these days. A variety of indicators tell us that these sorts of objects make up a small proportion of the mass we are looking for‚ if any.Without their opposite number WIMPs don’t get called that so much‚ but the possibility there are subatomic particles we don’t know about remains a live one. As time goes on‚ and more and more candidates for suitable particles are ruled out‚ the quest has become a little frustrating. Only once we find these particles‚ if we do‚ will we know what allowed them to elude us for so long.There are some categories of subatomic particles that don’t fit under the WIMP umbrella‚ but might form dark matter‚ such as heavy neutrinos. Still‚ the answer is the same – only by determining which type of particle is responsible can we say why it was so hard to find.There is much more to the search for dark matter than a MACHOs versus WIMPs smackdown. It’s been proposed that there are a lot more black holes in the outer reaches of galaxies than we know about. Famously‚ we can’t see black holes because their gravity is so powerful even light cannot escape. Technically these match the acronym to be MACHOs‚ but they’re considered something different.We find black holes either by looking for the light from their accretion disks‚ or by watching the way they sling stars around them. In the outer parts of galaxies‚ where stars are few and material to form accretion disks is sparse‚ black holes could be abundant‚ and we’d never know. There are lots of problems explaining where these black holes might have come from‚ which is why the idea hasn’t proven as popular as some alternatives. Nevertheless‚ as other possibilities fall over‚ this is one that could come to the fore‚ providing its own explanation of why dark matter is hard to find.

It’s pretty clear when we humans are aging; gray hair‚ wrinkles‚ mysterious creaking noises when getting out of bed in the morning. Those signs make it a lot easier to guess roughly how old we are‚ but when it comes to wild birds‚ they lack such obvious clues. So how long do wild birds actually live for&;#63;Techniques such as bird ringing or banding‚ though not a flawlessly accurate system‚ have helped scientists along the way in figuring out the answer to that question.Backyard birdsMany of our favorite backyard visitors also happen to have some of the shortest lifespans when it comes to wild birds. A staple of British gardens and Christmas cards alike‚ the robin‚ for example‚ typically only lives for about 2 years. Across the pond‚ it’s the same story for the black-capped chickadee – though the oldest ever recorded is thought to have lived for over 11.5 years.Bald eaglesThe bald eagle might be best known as an American icon – though Benjamin Franklin apparently wasn’t a fan – but arguably that’s not the most impressive thing about it. On top of having a wingspan longer than most adult men are tall‚ bald eagles living in the wild typically have a lifespan anywhere between 20 to 30 years.Up to 30 years is quite the achievement‚ but that’s only an average; the oldest known wild bald eagle lived to an even more impressive 37 years old.The reigning champBut what about the oldest living wild bird&;#63; That title goes to a Laysan albatross known as Wisdom. This species can live for more than 50 years‚ which is certainly nothing to be sniffed at‚ but Wisdom appears to have taken a look at the number and said‚ “Bet.”Believed to have hatched in 1951‚ Wisdom is now a whopping 74 years old. In that time‚ she’s believed to have mothered somewhere between 30 to 36 chicks‚ even hatching one at the tender age of 70.Unfortunately‚ living to such a mighty age also comes with an increased risk of outliving your mate. Albatrosses normally mate for life‚ but it’s now been three years since her partner Akeakamai – Hawaiian for &;quot;lover of wisdom&;quot; – has been spotted at their nesting site‚ with many suspecting that he had died.It’s not all bad news though‚ as she was recently spotted getting back in the game.Why do wild birds live so long&;#63;Wild birds live for a surprisingly long time. Great for them‚ but it doesn’t make much sense when you take a look at the rest of the animal world. Bigger body size equaling longer lifespan isn’t exactly an unbreakable rule‚ but it does stand true the vast majority of the time – but many birds live two to three times longer than mammals the same size as them.Many birds also have super-fast metabolisms‚ which is also normally attributed to faster aging in animals because of the damage it causes to cells. Some research suggests that birds are able to live longer than expected under these conditions because they could have mechanisms that mitigate such damage.Others propose that their longevity comes down to their ability to fly. “They’ve had to be so highly engineered to succeed at flight‚” Steven Austad‚ a biologist who studies aging‚ told Audubon magazine. “That kind of physiological integrity has allowed them to stay healthy much longer than another animal.”However they manage to do so‚ living so long against the odds is an impressive feat – and one that might provide some clues to our own aging process‚ too.

Despite being one of the largest predatory fish in the ocean and having a range that spans throughout the Pacific‚ little is known about the Pacific sleeper shark. In an effort to tackle the most pressing gaps in our knowledge – and thus how the species can be conserved – a team of scientists has stepped in to create a “one-stop shop” of information about the sluggish shark species.Pacific sleeper sharks are closely related to Greenland sharks‚ to the point that they can interbreed‚ and from what we do know or have theorized about them‚ have similar characteristics. They can reach up to 14.1 feet (4.3 meters) in length‚ though it’s speculated that adults living in deeper parts of the ocean might even reach 23 feet (7 meters). It’s also suspected they are similarly long-lived.However‚ unlike their relations‚ they are notoriously understudied‚ which the study authors attribute to their lack of commercial value compared to Greenland sharks‚ the inaccessibility of their habitats‚ and the safety and logistics in capturing and handling such a large animal. It’s also rare to spot an adult Pacific sleeper.Without a significant body of knowledge in hand‚ it’s difficult to know how to best manage and conserve the sharks‚ which are currently listed as decreasing in number and near threatened on the IUCN Red List.“We don’t have a lot to go on for managing this species. Right now they are managed based on historical catch. That’s not ideal‚ especially for a highly vulnerable species‚” said study co-author Cindy Tribuzio in a statement. “The more information we can gather‚ the better we can develop and apply alternative methods that will do a better job of assessing this and other data-limited species.”And so the team began a deep dive into the scientific literature on the mysterious shark species‚ borrowing bits of information about their close relations along the way – and made several new discoveries that could inform conservation.One of the most significant findings came from genetic studies‚ which suggested there might actually be more Pacific sleeper sharks than previously thought‚ thanks to some sharks in disguise.“We used to think there were three large species in the genus: Pacific sleeper shark‚ southern sleeper shark‚ and Greenland shark‚” said lead author Beth Matta. “Now we know the southern sleeper shark is not genetically distinct.”They also uncovered a plethora of evidence about the potential lifespan of the sharks‚ supporting the existing theory that they can reach an impressive age (though maybe not as old as the 400-year-old Greenland sharks). A study using radiocarbon dating to analyze an eye lens‚ for example‚ found they had a growth rate that was twice as fast as Greenland sharks‚ but still significantly slower than many other fish. Another catch and analysis of an immature female shark suggested it was at least 35 years old. “That indicates not only extreme longevity‚ but also delayed maturity‚” Tribuzio explained.If you didn't know what the lens of a Pacific sleeper shark's eye looked like‚ well now you do.Image credit: NOAA FisheriesWith the findings from the study‚ the team hopes to not only have highlighted the remaining gaps in scientific knowledge‚ but also use what is known to inform better management of the species.“With the information we compiled in this study‚ we were able to demonstrate the need to prioritize Pacific sleeper shark assessment efforts‚” said Tribuzio. “And that we need to think out of the box on how to manage this species given its vulnerability and challenges to assessing it.”For example‚ the evidence suggesting that Pacific sleeper sharks have slow growth‚ delayed maturity‚ and long lifespans could make them more susceptible to overfishing – providing a target for management.“The more we learn about these sharks‚ the more we care about keeping them around into the future‚” added Matta. “And there is so much more to learn.”The study is published in Polar Biology. 

MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough had a meltdown on “Morning Joe” about the left’s favorite boogeyman — the right. “This is the world they give their viewers‚ anything to try to make America look bad. They are obsessed with trashing America‚ when America is stronger‚ more powerful than ever before. Its economy is strong and more powerful than ever before‚” Scarborough yelled as his panel sat stunned. “So‚ what do they do&;#63; They find a trans athlete in Utah‚” he continued‚ before mocking concerned Americans. “Our world’s coming to an end‚ help us‚ Jesus. The country ain't the country I was raised in‚” he joked as he continued his childish rant. He then claimed that the Americans who feel that way are “fed a steady stream of hate‚ America First rhetoric.” Dave Rubin believes that what Scarborough said was “profoundly dishonest.” “They’re constantly telling you how bad America is‚” Rubin tells Dennis Prager. “But when he tells you that America is stronger now militarily than ever before or economically than ever before‚ does that sound right to you in light of recent world events&;#63;” “It’s another example of ‘truth is not a left-wing value‚’” Prager says. “The bad actors on planet Earth are less scared of the United States than at any time in my lifetime or your lifetime‚” he adds. Want more from Dave Rubin&;#63;To enjoy more honest conversations‚ free speech‚ and big ideas with Dave Rubin‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

A well-told take on a figure hated and adored‚ plus George Bush’s angst art.

As conservatives debate Trump’s recent abortion comments‚ the Biden administration has made clear that it views abortion as a national priority.