Author: bcbegley

Space

Astronomers confirm 40,000 near-Earth asteroids within striking distance

Astronomers have now cataloged over 40,000 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), ranging from a few yards to several miles wide, enhancing both scientific knowledge and planetary defense. NEAs are closely monitored because even small asteroids can cause serious regional damage if they impact Earth, with software predicting their paths decades or centuries in advance. Discovery rates surged in the 1990s and 2000s and continue to grow with … Continue reading Astronomers confirm 40,000 near-Earth asteroids within striking distance

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Archaeology

Archaeologists Uncover Massive 2,250-Year-Old Monument Beneath Ancient Roman City

Archaeologists at Gabii, an ancient city east of Rome, have uncovered a large stone-lined basin dating to around 250 B.C., offering insights into early Roman city planning. The basin, located near the city’s central crossroads, may have been part of a monumental forum, illustrating how early Romans adapted Greek architectural ideas for public spaces. Gabii’s largely preserved streets and foundations provide a rare view of Roman … Continue reading Archaeologists Uncover Massive 2,250-Year-Old Monument Beneath Ancient Roman City

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Space

At The Edge Of Our Solar System, NASA’s Voyager 1 Found A ‘Wall Of Fire’

The Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977, are the farthest human-made objects from Earth, traveling over 12 billion miles at speeds of 38,000 mph. Originally tasked with studying the outer planets, they now journey into interstellar space, providing insights into the solar system’s boundary. Both spacecraft encountered a “wall of fire” at the heliosphere’s edge, where temperatures reached up to 90,000°F, marking the transition from solar … Continue reading At The Edge Of Our Solar System, NASA’s Voyager 1 Found A ‘Wall Of Fire’

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Space

Photographer captures eerie red halo hovering over the Italian Alps

Over northern Italy, a rare atmospheric phenomenon known as an “elve” appeared as a glowing red ring above the Alps, captured by photographer Valter Binotto on November 17. Elves are brief, disk-shaped flashes caused by powerful electromagnetic pulses from lightning striking the ionosphere, lasting less than a thousandth of a second and spanning hundreds of miles. The event Binotto photographed was triggered by a massive … Continue reading Photographer captures eerie red halo hovering over the Italian Alps

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Space

Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) breaks apart in incredible telescope photos

Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) has begun breaking apart after its close approach to the sun on October 8, with images showing multiple fragments of its icy nucleus. Astronomer Gianluca Masi captured animations from stacked exposures taken between November 11 and 18, revealing three, possibly four, distinct pieces. Earlier observations from Italy’s Asiago Observatory showed two fragments about 1,200 miles apart, with hints of a smaller … Continue reading Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) breaks apart in incredible telescope photos

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Technology

China’s humanoid robot dribbles, passes, and shoots like a pro basketball player

The Unitree G1 humanoid, nicknamed “Little Potato,” demonstrated advanced basketball skills, including dribbling, passing, and a clean three-step layup, at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Its abilities come from SkillMimic, an AI framework that learns from imperfect human motion data, creating smooth transitions and robust skills through simulation. SkillMimic-V2 uses techniques like Stitched Trajectory Graphs, State Transition Fields, and Adaptive Trajectory Sampling to … Continue reading China’s humanoid robot dribbles, passes, and shoots like a pro basketball player

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Technology

China’s humanoid robot dodges arrow with a side flip, nails spin kicks

Chinese robotics company MagicLab showcased its humanoid MagicBot Z1 performing backflips, martial arts moves, dancing, and even dodging arrows, highlighting impressive agility and balance. The 1.4-meter, 40-kg robot features up to 50 degrees of freedom, high-torque joints, 3D LiDAR and vision sensors, and can carry up to 3 kg per arm while walking at 2.5 m/s and climbing obstacles. MagicBot Z1 also demonstrated industrial potential, … Continue reading China’s humanoid robot dodges arrow with a side flip, nails spin kicks

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Technology

Meet Memo, a home robot that can grab wine glasses and load the dishwasher

Sunday Robotics has developed Memo, a home robot capable of performing routine household chores such as clearing a table, loading a dishwasher, folding socks, and operating an espresso machine. The wheeled robot uses Lego-like hands and can lift delicate objects, like wine glasses, without breaking them. Memo is trained on real human data, gathered from over 500 participants wearing specially designed gloves that record grip … Continue reading Meet Memo, a home robot that can grab wine glasses and load the dishwasher

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Technology

This unmanned underwater robot can remove ocean trash

Marine litter poses serious environmental risks, from harming wildlife to introducing microplastics into the food chain. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich developed the Smart Grapple, an autonomous diving robot that can identify, grasp, and lift underwater trash up to 250 kilograms, depositing it onto an autonomous boat for recycling. The robot uses AI and 3D imaging to distinguish litter from natural objects, navigating … Continue reading This unmanned underwater robot can remove ocean trash

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Technology

A Chinese humanoid robot walked 66 miles in 3 days, sets world record

A Chinese humanoid robot, AgiBot A2, set a Guinness World Record by walking 66 miles over three days from Suzhou to Shanghai. Standing 5’6”, the robot navigated highways and city streets while following traffic rules, completing the longest reported distance ever walked by a humanoid machine. AgiBot designed the A2 for customer service, equipping it with chat and lip-reading functions. The achievement comes amid growing … Continue reading A Chinese humanoid robot walked 66 miles in 3 days, sets world record

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Business

Best Buy earnings beat Wall Street’s forecasts

Best Buy beat Wall Street expectations in Q3, with same-store sales up 2.7% and adjusted EPS of $1.40 on $9.67 billion in revenue. The retailer raised its full-year outlook, now expecting same-store sales growth of 0.5%-1.2% and revenue between $41.65 billion and $41.95 billion. Strong performance came from computing, gaming, and mobile phones, with particularly high demand for Nintendo’s Switch 2. US same-store sales rose … Continue reading Best Buy earnings beat Wall Street’s forecasts

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Business

Gas prices near lowest level in 4 years ahead of Thanksgiving

Gas prices are hovering near four-year lows ahead of Thanksgiving, with the national average at $3.07 per gallon and 28 states averaging below $3. The drop is driven by falling crude oil prices — down about 17% since June — and the end of refinery maintenance, which is boosting fuel production. Gas demand has also eased after summer, helping keep prices low despite a temporary … Continue reading Gas prices near lowest level in 4 years ahead of Thanksgiving

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Business

Consumer confidence falls sharply as Americans worry about the economy

Consumer confidence fell sharply in November, dropping to 88.7 — its lowest level since April and well below economists’ expectations. The Conference Board noted that consumers expressed growing concerns about inflation, tariffs, politics, and a potential government shutdown. Confidence declined across nearly all income, political, and age groups, with only the lowest-income bracket and adults under 35 showing slight improvement. Expectations for inflation over the … Continue reading Consumer confidence falls sharply as Americans worry about the economy

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Business

Dick’s Sporting Goods to shutter some Foot Locker stores to protect profits

Dick’s Sporting Goods plans to close an unspecified number of Foot Locker stores as part of a restructuring aimed at boosting profitability by fiscal 2026. Executives said they are taking aggressive steps—such as markdowns, asset impairments, and selective closures—to streamline Foot Locker’s operations. The restructuring will pressure Foot Locker’s near-term sales and margins, even as Dick’s core stores posted stronger-than-expected comparable sales growth. Dick’s raised … Continue reading Dick’s Sporting Goods to shutter some Foot Locker stores to protect profits

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Business

Campbell Soup executive called its products food for “poor people,” lawsuit claims

A Michigan lawsuit claims Campbell Soup executive Martin Bally made offensive remarks about Indian workers and called Campbell’s products food for “poor people” during a salary meeting with cybersecurity analyst Robert Garza in November 2024. Garza says he reported the comments to his manager, who discouraged involving HR, and was then abruptly fired. A recording of the conversation later aired on local TV; Campbell’s says … Continue reading Campbell Soup executive called its products food for “poor people,” lawsuit claims

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Space

Moss survived 9 months in space, could still reproduce after return to Earth

A new study from Hokkaido University found that moss spores survived nine months in outer space on the exterior of the International Space Station. Despite harsh exposure to radiation, vacuum, extreme temperatures, and UV light, more than 80% of the spores remained viable, though their chlorophyll degraded. Different moss species showed unique stress-resistance traits, including protection against UV radiation and intense heat. After returning to … Continue reading Moss survived 9 months in space, could still reproduce after return to Earth

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Business

Tyson Foods to close major beef plant, scale back operations

Tyson Foods announced it will close its large beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska, in January and scale back operations at its Amarillo, Texas, facility due to declining U.S. cattle supplies. The shutdown affects about 3,200 workers in Nebraska and 1,700 in Texas, though Tyson says it will help employees find positions elsewhere and offer relocation support. The company said consolidating operations will help maintain production … Continue reading Tyson Foods to close major beef plant, scale back operations

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U.S. News

Woman set ablaze on Chicago transit train is identified

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy publicly identified the woman set on fire on a Chicago CTA train as 26-year-old Bethany MaGee, blaming what he called Chicago’s lenient handling of repeat offenders for the attack. The suspect, 50-year-old Lawrence Reed, has a long history of mental illness and 72 prior arrests and had repeatedly violated electronic monitoring after being released over prosecutors’ objections. Mayor Brandon Johnson declined … Continue reading Woman set ablaze on Chicago transit train is identified

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World News

Volcano in Ethiopia erupts for first time in nearly 12,000 years

The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted on Sunday for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending ash plumes up to nine miles high, according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre. Ash clouds drifted across Yemen, Oman, India, and northern Pakistan as the subtropical jet stream carried the plume eastward. Volcanologist Simon Carn confirmed that Hayli Gubbi has no known eruptions … Continue reading Volcano in Ethiopia erupts for first time in nearly 12,000 years

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Politics

Trump signals plan to designate Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization

President Donald Trump said he plans to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, claiming the move will be issued “in the strongest and most powerful terms.” His statement follows Texas’s recent designation of the group and a new 200-page ISGAP report alleging the Brotherhood has expanded its influence in U.S. government agencies, education, and social media. ISGAP leaders praised Trump’s stance, arguing that … Continue reading Trump signals plan to designate Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization

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Politics

Australian senator wears burqa after move to block her face-covering ban bill

Australian Senator Pauline Hanson sparked chaos in Parliament by wearing a burqa after being blocked from introducing a bill to ban face coverings in public. The stunt prompted outrage from Muslim lawmakers and other senators, leading to the suspension of the session. Labor and opposition leaders condemned Hanson’s actions, while Green and independent senators denounced it as racist and disgraceful. Hanson defended her act, claiming … Continue reading Australian senator wears burqa after move to block her face-covering ban bill

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Technology

Trump signs executive order launching AI initiative being compared to the Manhattan Project

President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the “Genesis Mission,” a federal initiative to accelerate American artificial intelligence research, development, and scientific applications. The program aims to expand computational resources, centralize access to federal datasets, and apply AI to critical scientific challenges, including advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and nuclear energy. Michael Kratsios will lead the effort, while the Department of Energy will create the “American … Continue reading Trump signs executive order launching AI initiative being compared to the Manhattan Project

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U.S. News

DOJ asks judges to authorize release of Epstein and Maxwell grand jury material

The Department of Justice has asked two federal judges in the Southern District of New York to authorize the release of grand jury transcripts and exhibits from the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell prosecutions, citing a 30-day deadline under the newly enacted Epstein Files Transparency Act. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton filed the motions seeking permission to disclose the materials with appropriate redactions, including sensitive victim … Continue reading DOJ asks judges to authorize release of Epstein and Maxwell grand jury material

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Politics

Trump administration moves to reinterview refugees admitted to US under Biden

The Trump administration plans to reinterview tens of thousands of refugees admitted under President Biden, an unprecedented move in its broader immigration crackdown. An internal memo says the review aims to confirm that refugees still meet admission criteria and pose no security threat. Critics, including major refugee organizations, call the plan cruel, unnecessary, and politically motivated, noting that the administration is simultaneously prioritizing admissions of … Continue reading Trump administration moves to reinterview refugees admitted to US under Biden

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Politics

White House formally designates Venezuela’s Maduro as member of a foreign terrorist organization

The Trump administration has designated “Cartel de los Soles,” a term often used to describe allegedly corrupt Venezuelan officials rather than a formal organization, as a foreign terrorist organization, giving the U.S. expanded authority to impose new sanctions. While the designation does not explicitly allow lethal force, officials argue it could broaden military options as the U.S. deploys significant naval and troop presence for “Operation … Continue reading White House formally designates Venezuela’s Maduro as member of a foreign terrorist organization

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