The final hurdle to retrieving the full sample of asteroid Bennu collected by OSIRIS-REx – the first asteroid return sample in US history – has at last been overcome. NASA technicians have been able to successfully remove the two fasteners from the sampler head that have been preventing them from opening the canister fully since September. This canister opening has to be conducted under the most pristine conditions to not contaminate the sample‚ so this was quite the issue. Now‚ NASA can get to the pristine material from asteroid Bennu.Since they could just take a circular saw and cut through it‚ once they realized two of the 35 fasteners couldn't be removed with the available and approved tools‚ researchers had to develop new tools that would do the job. “Our engineers and scientists have worked tirelessly behind the scenes for months to not only process the more than 70 grams of material we were able to access previously‚ but also design‚ develop‚ and test new tools that allowed us to move past this hurdle‚” Eileen Stansbery‚ division chief for ARES (Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science) at NASA's Johnson Space Center‚ said in a statement. “The innovation and dedication of this team has been remarkable. We are all excited to see the remaining treasure OSIRIS-REx holds.”             The new tools were made of a specific grade of surgical‚ non-magnetic stainless steel; the hardest metal approved for use in the pristine curation gloveboxes. Before it was used on the precious container it was tested in the rehearsal lab. “In addition to the design challenge of being limited to curation-approved materials to protect the scientific value of the asteroid sample‚ these new tools also needed to function within the tightly-confined space of the glovebox‚ limiting their height‚ weight‚ and potential arc movement‚” said Dr Nicole Lunning‚ OSIRIS-REx curator at Johnson. “The curation team showed impressive resilience and did incredible work to get these stubborn fasteners off the TAGSAM head so we can continue disassembly. We are overjoyed with the success.”Astromaterials processors Mari Montoya‚ left‚ and Curtis Calva‚ right‚ use tools to collect asteroid particles from the base of the OSIRIS-REx science canister in September 2023.Image credit: NASAThe team was able to remove about 70.3 grams of material (2.48 ounces) from asteroid Bennu before even getting to the bulk of the action‚ hidden behind the fasteners. The mission's goal has already been surpassed with that sample alone and the bounty waiting for the scientists will deliver so much more. A portion of the sample is already available for the general public to see.      Asteroid Bennu‚ the most dangerous known asteroid‚ is a window into the very beginning of the Solar System. A primitive space rock that has remained mostly unaltered for billions of years‚ studying its physical and chemical properties could give us hints about the building blocks of planets as they were forming 4.5 billion years ago. 

After a long‚ tiring day‚ nothing feels more rejuvenating than a warm‚ soothing bath. It’s not just about cleanliness; baths can work wonders for your heart health‚ mood‚ hormones‚ and even your bones and joints. It’s a full-body refresh‚ inside and out. Now‚ picture a couple of adorable mini Dachshunds‚ as excited for bath time... The post Mini dachshunds earn 18M views with their adorably funny bathtime routine appeared first on Animal Channel.

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Too much of their ego in a song. The post The Queen song Brian May thought was “too big-headed” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

Happy to promote the devil's music. The post When Christians clashed with Black Sabbath at Ozzfest 1999 first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

Drew Barrymore had some lovely words to say to her former co-star Adam Sandler.

President Joe Biden’s Jan. 5 address at Valley Forge was a lesson in what demagoguery looks like from the wrong guy. On today’s episode of The Spectacle podcast‚ hosts Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay dive into an analysis of Biden’s speech and Scott’s careful analysis of the transcript in his Tuesday column for The American Spectator. They discuss the president’s tone and his (or Obama’s?) apparent decision to appeal to the radical crazies on America’s far left. Meanwhile‚ politicians and analysts on the right continue to turn a blind eye to the specter of mail-in ballots and election fraud. Listen in to catch the full analysis. Order Scott’s new book‚ Racism‚ Revenge and Ruin: It’s All Obama‚ here. Read Scott’s column: A Trashy Speech by a Trashy President: Biden Takes on Valley Forge Read Scott’s and Melissa’s writing here and here. Listen to The Spectacle with Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay on Spotify. Watch The Spectacle with Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay on Rumble.  The post <;i>;The Spectacle<;/i>; Ep. 56: Nobody Pays Attention When Biden Calls for an Insurrection appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.