Euclid telescope spies rogue planets floating free in Milky Way

The Euclid space telescope, launched by the European Space Agency (ESA), has made its first scientific findings, revealing numerous rogue planets detached from their stars. These wandering worlds were observed within the Orion nebula, situated 1,500 light years away, marking a significant milestone for the mission. Euclid’s primary objective is to construct a comprehensive 3D map of the universe during its six-year mission, shedding light … Continue reading Euclid telescope spies rogue planets floating free in Milky Way

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

NASA spacecraft spots dead robot on Mars surface

New images from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter reveal a ‘dead’ robot lying on the Martian surface. Launched in 2005, the orbiter’s mission is to investigate the presence of water on Mars over extended periods. Despite previous findings indicating past water activity, uncertainties persist regarding its duration and potential to support life. Equipped with high-resolution cameras, the orbiter has documented Mars’ dynamic environment, capturing phenomena such … Continue reading NASA spacecraft spots dead robot on Mars surface

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

SpaceX launches first satellites for new US spy constellation

SpaceX successfully launched a group of spy satellites, marking the beginning of a new U.S. intelligence initiative aimed at enhancing the nation’s space-based surveillance capabilities. This project, led by SpaceX in collaboration with the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office and Northrop Grumman, involves deploying hundreds of satellites into orbit to rapidly detect ground targets worldwide. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base … Continue reading SpaceX launches first satellites for new US spy constellation

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Robots at work cleaning trash from Michigan beaches

As Memorial Day signals the start of summer vacation in Michigan, beachgoers may encounter more than just sand—pounds of discarded plastics and trash litter the shores. To combat this issue, some Michigan communities have turned to innovative solutions, employing robots for cleanup efforts. Remote-controlled “BeBots” have been utilized on various Michigan beaches in recent years, with the latest deployment set for Belle Isle beach in … Continue reading Robots at work cleaning trash from Michigan beaches

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

China unveils its first full-size electric running humanoid robot

The Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center recently unveiled Tiangong, a full-size humanoid robot standing at 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 95 pounds. Powered by electric energy, Tiangong boasts advanced sensors and processors, enabling it to jog at a steady pace of 3.7 mph, navigate complex terrain, and execute tasks with precision. Equipped with cutting-edge features like vision perception sensors and a high-precision inertial … Continue reading China unveils its first full-size electric running humanoid robot

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Russian forces may have seized first Estonian ground robot in Ukraine

Two years after a Russian defense think tank offered a cash reward for capturing an Estonian-made THeMIS unmanned ground vehicle in Ukraine, Russian forces appear to have seized one. Photos of a damaged THeMIS, made by Milrem Robotics, were posted on Russian Telegram channels. A Milrem spokesperson confirmed awareness of the images but declined to comment. Federico Borsari from the Center for European Policy Analysis … Continue reading Russian forces may have seized first Estonian ground robot in Ukraine

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Autonomous robot invents the world’s best shock absorber

MAMA BEAR (Mechanics of Additively Manufactured Architectures Bayesian Experimental Autonomous Researcher) is an innovative system that 3D prints small structures, tests their energy absorption by crushing them in a hydraulic press, and records the results. For the past three years, MAMA BEAR has iteratively modified and tested designs over 25,000 times, leading to a new efficiency world record of 75% energy absorption, surpassing the previous … Continue reading Autonomous robot invents the world’s best shock absorber

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

AI Relies On Mass Surveillance

Meredith Whittaker, head of the encrypted messaging app Signal, criticized AI tools for their reliance on mass surveillance and control over our lives, during an interview with AFP on Thursday. Speaking at the VivaTech conference in Paris, she argued that the enthusiasm for AI overlooks its dependence on extensive data collection, a practice rooted in the 1990s US tech industry’s business model. Whittaker, a former … Continue reading AI Relies On Mass Surveillance

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Sales of newly built homes tank in April

Sales of newly built homes fell 4.7% in April compared to March and dropped 7.7% from the previous year, according to the U.S. Census. March sales were also revised significantly lower. Higher mortgage rates are affecting sales, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rising from the high 6% range at the end of March to 7.5% in April, reducing affordability. The median price of … Continue reading Sales of newly built homes tank in April

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Crypto bill clears the House, heads to Senate

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act” (FIT21) on Wednesday evening, aiming to regulate the cryptocurrency industry. The bill classifies cryptocurrency as a commodity, exempting it from securities regulations, and outlines whether the SEC or CFTC should oversee it. The Republican-led bill, the first of its kind, passed with a 279-136 vote, supported by 71 Democrats, … Continue reading Crypto bill clears the House, heads to Senate

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Mortgage rates dip below 7%

Mortgage rates declined for the third consecutive week, dropping below 7% for the first time in over a month amid ongoing home affordability challenges. According to Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey released Thursday, the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 6.94% from 7.02% last week. A year ago, the rate was 6.57%, Fox Business reported. The average rate on a … Continue reading Mortgage rates dip below 7%

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Dow slides 600 points, S&P 500 retreats from record

Stocks fell on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping over 600 points, marking its largest single-day decline since April 30. The Dow fell by 1.5%, led by a 6.7% drop in Boeing shares. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also decreased by 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively, despite hitting record highs earlier. Nvidia’s shares surged over 8% following better-than-expected first-quarter results and a 10-for-1 … Continue reading Dow slides 600 points, S&P 500 retreats from record

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Companies Put Record Amount In Shareholders’ Pockets

In the first quarter of 2024, companies paid a record $339.2 billion in dividends, a 2.4% increase from the same period in 2023, according to a report by asset manager Janus Henderson. This growth was bolstered by Alibaba and Meta making their first-ever dividend payments, contributing significantly with $2.6 billion and $1.1 billion respectively. The banking sector, with a 12% increase, was a major driver, … Continue reading Companies Put Record Amount In Shareholders’ Pockets

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Meloni, Le Pen hint at combining EU right wing forces

Marine Le Pen and Giorgia Meloni, prominent figures in Europe’s far-right, are hinting at a potential alliance following the upcoming EU elections, as Le Pen’s French party announced a split from its radical German ally AfD. This move could reshape nationalist party alliances in the European Parliament after the June 6-9 elections, where far-right groups are projected to gain around 37 percent of seats. Le … Continue reading Meloni, Le Pen hint at combining EU right wing forces

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Hearing in Trump classified docs case devolves into shouting match

A day of legal proceedings in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case turned tumultuous, with a morning hearing marked by a shouting match among attorneys and an afternoon session where the judge questioned the jurors’ ability to grasp legal complexities. The morning hearing, originally intended for arguments on selective charges against one of Trump’s co-defendants, spiraled into a dispute over alleged coercion by the prosecutor. Judge … Continue reading Hearing in Trump classified docs case devolves into shouting match

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Greene Claims DOJ, FBI Planning to Assassinate The Don

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene accused President Joe Biden of planning to assassinate former President Donald Trump in a tweet. Trump, facing charges in New York, made the claims about the Department of Justice authorizing lethal force during a search of his property Mar-a-Lago. Greene amplified Trump’s accusation, suggesting she informed him about the alleged plot and condemning the Biden administration’s actions, Mediaite reported. Despite the … Continue reading Greene Claims DOJ, FBI Planning to Assassinate The Don

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

13 conservative counties in Oregon approve ballot measures to join Idaho

Thirteen discontented counties in Oregon, frustrated with the state’s liberal policies, have voted in favor of exploring the possibility of seceding and joining Idaho, a more conservative state. The movement, known as the ‘Greater Idaho Measure,’ aims to redraw the Oregon-Idaho border, incorporating 14 counties and parts of others into Idaho. Supporters argue that this shift would offer residents lower taxes and better governance, free … Continue reading 13 conservative counties in Oregon approve ballot measures to join Idaho

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Rishi Sunak announces UK general election for Thursday 4 July

Rishi Sunak, aiming for a fifth term for the Conservatives, surprised many by calling an early UK general election for July 4th. Despite Labour’s leads in opinion polls, Sunak pledged to “fight for every vote.” The announcement, made outside 10 Downing Street amidst rain, diverged from expectations of an autumn poll. Sir Keir Starmer of Labour emphasized the need for change away from “Tory chaos.” … Continue reading Rishi Sunak announces UK general election for Thursday 4 July

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Justice Department sues Oklahoma over a new immigration law

The Justice Department has sued Oklahoma over a new immigration law that penalizes migrants without legal documentation with fines and jail time. Filed in U.S. District Court, the lawsuit argues that the law infringes on the federal government’s constitutional authority over immigration and border control. Additionally, the law is said to violate a constitutional clause limiting state regulation of international movement. Set to take effect … Continue reading Justice Department sues Oklahoma over a new immigration law

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Man charged with murder in deaths of 3 Oregon women found in different locations days apart

A grand jury indicted 39-year-old Jesse Lee Calhoun on murder charges for the deaths of three Oregon women whose bodies were found in 2023, according to the Multnomah County District Attorney. Calhoun faces three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of second-degree abuse of a corpse for the deaths of Charity Lynn Perry, 24, Bridget Leanne Webster, 31, and Joanna Speaks, 32. Their bodies … Continue reading Man charged with murder in deaths of 3 Oregon women found in different locations days apart

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Hunter Biden tax trial postponed to September

Hunter Biden’s criminal tax trial in California has been moved from June to September by Judge Mark Scarsi of the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The delay came after Hunter Biden’s attorneys requested more time during a pre-trial hearing, arguing against the initial June 20 start date. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to three felonies and six misdemeanors related … Continue reading Hunter Biden tax trial postponed to September

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Missing Kansas women’s bodies found in ice chest buried in cow pasture, according to court documents

The bodies of two Kansas women, Veronica Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, who disappeared in the Oklahoma Panhandle in March, were discovered in a chest freezer buried in a cow pasture, according to court records. They vanished on March 30, and their remains were found on April 14 on a property in Texas County, Oklahoma, about ten miles from where they were last seen. … Continue reading Missing Kansas women’s bodies found in ice chest buried in cow pasture, according to court documents

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

At least 5 killed, dozens injured by Iowa tornadoes as powerful storms slam Midwest

At least five people were killed and dozens injured as powerful tornadoes hit Iowa, particularly devastating the small city of Greenfield, officials said Wednesday. The tornadoes destroyed homes, businesses, and trees, following a previous series of tornadoes that had already struck other parts of the state. Nebraska also experienced severe weather, including torrential rain, high winds, and large hail. The Iowa Department of Public Safety … Continue reading At least 5 killed, dozens injured by Iowa tornadoes as powerful storms slam Midwest

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Congo names third American in a foiled coup plot as mourners gather in Utah to remember plot leader

Congo’s army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Sylvain Ekenge, revealed the third American involved in the foiled coup plot in Kinshasa as Taylor Thomson, though it was unclear if he was arrested or killed during the weekend attack on the presidential palace. Family in Utah mourned Christian Malanga, the eccentric leader of the failed coup, who was killed after resisting arrest. The State Department could not confirm … Continue reading Congo names third American in a foiled coup plot as mourners gather in Utah to remember plot leader

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024

Russia begins exercises for battlefield nuclear weapons

Russian troops have commenced major exercises to prepare for the potential deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, citing threats from Western allies. The Russian Ministry of Defense shared a video showing troops affixing missiles and warheads onto fighter jets and armored trucks. This marks the first stage of “practical testing” of these weapons in Russia’s southern military district, which includes regions bordering Ukraine. The training involves … Continue reading Russia begins exercises for battlefield nuclear weapons

bcbegleyMay 23, 2024