In the quest to understand how and where life might arise in the galaxy‚ astronomers search for its building blocks. Complex Organic Molecules (COMs) are some of those blocks‚ and they include things like formaldehyde and acetic acid‚ among many others. The JWST has found some of these COMs around young protostars. What does this tell astronomers? While the molecules in question are complex and organic‚ they’re nowhere near as large as terrestrial COMs. For that reason‚ scientists sometimes call them iCOMs‚ where i stands for interstellar. iCOMS include simple alcohols‚ esters‚ nitriles‚ and ethers. To be a COM‚ a molecule must have at least six atoms‚ one of which must be carbon. Astronomers have found iCOMs inside star-forming regions‚ in clumps called hot cores or hot corinos. These cores and corinos give rise to massive and smaller protostars‚ respectively. As these protostars form‚ they also form protoplanetary disks. So‚ if astronomers can detect iCOMs in these protostars‚ then they can reasonably expect that they’ll be present in the protoplanetary disk on any rocky planets that might form. That means that there’s a plausible pathway from complex organic molecules around protostars to rocky planets and the potential for life. Astronomers have found some iCOMS before using radiotelescopes like ALMA and the VLA to see through the surrounding dust. This image is from 2020 research into hot corinos. Radio telescope observations revealed COMs in the hot corino around a pair of young‚ still-forming protostars. Image Credit: Bill Saxton‚ NRAO/AUI/NSF In new research‚ a team of astronomers examined a pair of young protostars and searched for COMs using the JWST. Their observations are part of the JOYS+ (JWST Observations of Young protoStars) observing program that examined 30 young stars. The observations were obtained with the JWST’s MIRI and MRS instruments. The researchers examined one high-mass protostar and one low-mass protostar from the 30-star sample. They’re called NGC 1333 IRAS 2A and IRAS 23385+6053‚ respectively. NGC 1333 is a star-forming region in the Perseus Molecular Cloud about 960 light-years away. NGC 1333 is an extremely active star-forming region. This Hubble image shows how dust obscures most of the star formation. Radio telescopes have found iCOMs around young protostars in this region‚ and now the JWST has found even more of them. Image Credit: NASA/ESA/STScI Astronomers have detected COMS in the gas phase around protostars before‚ but only smaller ones no larger than CH3OH (methanol.) They expect that these gaseous COMs come from solid phase COMs formed on ice grains‚ but those are tough to detect. But like a host of other issues in astronomy and astrophysics‚ the JWST allows scientists to dig deeper. Its range and sensitivity allow it to detect more icy grain COMs that include oxygen. Oxygen’s significance in the chemistry of life can’t be overstated: there’s no water without it. This figure from the research shows the presence of different chemical ices in the protostar IRAS 2A (above) and IRAS 23385 (below.) Note that the recurrence percentage on the y-axis is a measure of how the data fits. It doesn’t mean‚ for example‚ that there is 100% of any single molecule present in the protostar. Image Credit: Rocha et al. 2023. The molecular ingredients for life spend a significant amount of time as ices. They become more complex over time through chemical processes depending on their environments. Leiden University maintains an ice database containing infrared spectra for a massive number of astrophysical ice analogs at different temperatures and chemical environments. It was built partly in anticipation of the launch of the JWST and its powerful infrared capabilities. The JWST’s Ice Age early-release science program is aimed at tracing the building blocks of life as they form and evolve around young stars and protoplanetary disks. Though these findings are from the JOYS+ program‚ all of these efforts are intertwined. Through all these efforts‚ scientists hope to one day have a well-defined understanding of how COMs form and evolve‚ and how they feed into the appearance of life. “They <;COMs>; are intrinsically important to comprehend the chemical complexity developed in star-forming regions since these materials are the feedstock for future exoplanetary systems‚” the researchers write in their paper. “Once available in primitive planetary systems‚ this material can potentially promote the habitability of planets.” This new research will appear in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. The paper is “JWST Observations of Young protoStars (JOYS+): Detection of icy complex organic molecules and ions. I. CH4‚ SO2‚ HCOO?‚ OCN?‚ H2CO‚ HCOOH‚ CH3CH2OH‚ CH3CHO‚ CH3OCHO‚ CH3COOH.” The lead author is W.R.M. Rocha from the Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands. The post Webb Finds Icy Complex Organic Molecules Around Protostars: Ethanol‚ Methane‚ Formaldehyde‚ Formic Acid and Much More appeared first on Universe Today.

Producer wasn't prepared for their initial meeting. Continue reading…

Racist gathering causing backlash among anti-segregationists

Tagline for film is "All Empires Fall"

The office of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu mistakenly sent holiday party invitations — meant only for city council "Electeds of Color" — to the entire city council‚ prompting a white city council member to call the move "divisive."What are the details?Denise DosSatnos — director of city council relations in the mayor's administration — sent an email to the council’s “honorable members” that read‚ “On behalf of Mayor Michelle Wu‚ I cordially invite you and a guest to the Electeds of Color Holiday Party on Wednesday‚ December 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the Parkman House‚ 33 Beacon Street‚” WFXT-TV reported. — (@) About 15 minutes later‚ DosSatnos sent a follow-up email to council members apologizing for the previous message‚ the station said: “I wanted to apologize for my previous email regarding the Holiday Party for tomorrow. I did send that to everyone by accident‚ I apologize if my email may have offended or came across as so. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.” Councilor Frank Baker‚ who is white‚ called the decision to exclude some members “unfortunate and divisive" but said he wasn't offended‚ Boston Patch reported. Here's a look at the 13-member council: Image source: City of Boston Image source: City of BostonWu on Wednesday afternoon told WFXT that the group has been in existence for many years and compared the holiday party to Boston’s various multi-faith holiday celebrations. “I mean‚ again‚ this is a group that has been in place for many‚ many years. We celebrate all [kinds] of connection and identity and culture and heritage in the city. Just yesterday we hosted in the city our official Hannukah celebration‚ we have had tree lightings‚" Wu said‚ according to the station. “We want to be a city where everyone’s identity is embraced … and there are spaces and communities we can help support.” How have folks been reacting?Commenters under the Libs of TikTok post on X about the faux pas were incredulous. "I guess segregation is good again‚" conservative social media figure Ian Miles Cheong wrote. "Nice."Here's a sampling of similar reactions:"If paid by the city‚ I'm pretty sure that's illegal‚" another commenter said."This is really outrageous — it’s discriminatory and morally offensive‚" another user noted. "Isn’t this illegal? Imagine if a politician did a whites-only Holiday Party. Democrat politicians like Wu are the people responsible for race tensions in America.""The white ones should show up since they received an invitation‚" another commenter declared. "Make them ban them because of the color of their skin.""Sheesh‚ I'm old enough to remember when segregation was a bad thing‚" another user noted. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Allie Beth Stuckey‚ an outspoken Christian and pro-life advocate who hosts "Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey" on BlazeTV‚ took to social media‚ asking for the opportunity to honor parents who made the brave choice to give their unborn babies life despite devastating prenatal diagnoses.Stuckey's tweet came in response to the story of Kate Cox‚ a 31-year-old Texas woman going to great lengths for the chance to kill her unborn child via abortion. Cox's unborn child has been diagnosed with full trisomy 18‚ or Edwards' syndrome‚ a genetic condition which‚ though survivable‚ leads to death within one year in 90% of cases. New pro-life laws in Texas protecting the unborn do not permit abortion in cases of fetal anomaly. The lone exception to the heartbeat bill is "a life-threatening physical condition aggravated by‚ caused by‚ or arising from a pregnancy that places the [mother] at risk of death or poses a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function unless the abortion is performed or induced." Cox has argued that carrying her child to term may threaten her future fertility.On Monday‚ the state supreme court determined that Cox could not legally obtain an abortion in Texas. Pro-life laws there "reflect the policy choice that the Legislature has made‚ and the courts must respect that choice‚" the court said in its decision. Cox has reportedly decided to head out of state to have an abortion elsewhere.While the court's ruling focused mainly on the nuances of the statute‚ Stuckey decided to focus on the importance of valuing all human life‚ including unborn babies‚ such as Kate Cox's child‚ who may have a traumatic condition."It is possible to treat bab[ies] with fatal diagnoses with dignity‚" Stuckey tweeted on Wednesday. "Parents do it every day. They deliver them‚ hold them‚ and tell them that they love them‚ allowing the baby to die in their arms. "Stuckey then invited parents with such stories to share them with her on X‚ "[w]ith a photo if you're willing." — (@) Users did not disappoint. Stuckey's post has been flooded with stories of all sorts‚ some of hopeful perseverance‚ others of heartbreaking loss‚ all with the joy and love that comes with the gift of life: — (@) — (@) — (@) — (@) — (@) — (@) As of Wednesday afternoon‚ Stuckey's post has 1‚700 likes and over 100 comments‚ many of which agree with Stuckey's call to treat fatally ill babies "with dignity" by allowing them to pass away naturally‚ surrounded by loved ones‚ not at the hands of an abortionist.Stuckey also directed users to Abel Speaks‚ an organization dedicated to assisting "parents who have chosen to carry a child with a life-limiting diagnosis.""Every child’s life can be beautiful and meaningful‚ no matter the length‚" the organization's website reads. "On this road where you never thought you’d find yourself‚ you are not alone. We are here to walk with you."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Those on the left may claim to be part of the peaceful political party — the party that welcomes everyone under the banner of acceptance‚ tolerance‚ and inclusivity — but that welcoming attitude disappears quickly if your version of different doesn’t look like theirs. For example‚ if you’re an innocent Jewish patron trying to use a public bathroom at a coffee shop‚ you just might get the boot. This recently happened at a coffee shop in Oakland where three clearly woke employees refused to let a Jewish woman use the public restroom. Dave Rubin plays the clip of the incident. “I’m a patron here‚ and I need to go to the restroom‚” she calmly and politely said while the three workers physically blocked the door. “I know Israel loves taking private property and saying it's their own‚” one employee spat at her. “I need you to leave‚ please‚” another chimed in. “I was a patron here‚ and I have a right to go into the restroom‚” the customer calmly repeated. “And we have a right to refuse service.” “I should not be excluded‚ and other people allowed‚” the customer pressed before asking if they were afraid that she would take a picture of what was in the bathroom. That got their attention‚ apparently‚ because they finally opened the door. “Actually‚ please‚” an employee fired at her as she entered the bathroom. On the mirror was written “Zionism=facism‚” while other anti-Jewish phrases were scrawled on the children’s changing table. “Free Palestine‚” two employees said as she exited the restroom. “They've all been fired; so actually there's a nice ending to this story‚” says Dave‚ who’s disgusted by the flagrantly anti-Semitic behavior. Want more from Dave Rubin?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.

The effort to put Donald Trump behind bars is relentless — or as Mark Levin says‚ “Grotesque.” And it’s only escalating. The Supreme Court has now announced that it will hear an appeal that could have a big effect on the January 6-related case against him. But while this case has to do with charges of obstruction of an official proceeding‚ there’s another case that the Supreme Court could hear. Special counsel Jack Smith is demanding the Supreme Court rule on Trump’s claim of executive immunity as soon as possible. “These dimwits‚ they say‚ ‘Okay‚ we’ll consider your argument. Trumps’ lawyers‚ you have one week to respond‚ go‚’” Levin tells Glenn Beck angrily. “This guy‚ Jack Smith‚ the courts are bending over backwards to accommodate this guy. He wins every single motion‚ Trump loses every single motion in front of this radical Obama judge‚” he continues. One of Levin’s bigger concerns regarding the Supreme Court is John Roberts‚ who he says is a “huge problem.” “John Roberts is like this guy Michael Luttig. They hate Trump. They’re Republicans‚ but you know‚ they’re proper Republicans. They don’t like the tweeting‚ you know? They don’t like the language‚” Levin explains. At the end of the day‚ Levin does not believe the Supreme Court should involve itself. “The Supreme Court should not take this case up‚” Levin says definitively. “They sure as hell don’t speak for 80 million people. And so the judiciary‚ I would argue‚ is doing severe damage to this country allowing incredible interference in this election process.” John Roberts isn’t the only one on the Supreme Court Levin is worried about. “You really have three tremendous constitutionalists‚ then you’ve got a couple of RINOs‚ and then we got the hardcore-left Democrats‚” Levin tells Glenn. At the end of the day‚ all the cases brought against Trump are being brought for a very specific reason. “The problem with all this is this lower court judge and this prosecutor all know that they’re setting Donald Trump up for a conviction. So when he runs for office as president in the general election‚ the media and everyone else will keep calling him a convicted felon‚” Levin says. Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling‚ thought-provoking analysis‚ and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

Freedom School‚ which has occupied a hall on Penn’s campus since November 14‚ has violated university policy by remaining in the building beyond sanctioned hours.

All 221 Republicans in the House supported adopting the impeachment-inquiry resolution‚ while 212 Democrats opposed the measure.