SpaceX Elon Musk is adamant that his space company will eventually make humanity interplanetary by establishing a permanent presence on Mars.It's an extremely ambitious plan, and one that intimately involves the company's massive Starship rocket. If his characteristically unrealistic timelines are anything to go by, the first crewed trip to the Red Planet could take place "as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely," he asserted in a March 15 tweet.But not everybody would agree with that assessment."Were a good 15 years away from going to Mars, not five years as Elon Musk alludes to," former NASA astronaut Jos Hernndez told The Hill.To Hernndez, who traveled to space in 2009 onboard NASA's Space Shuttle, there's vastly more work required before we're ready to send the first crew to the planet some 140 million miles away."As Ive always said... space travel is not trivial, and so what we need to do next is, were going to retire the International Space Station, invest that that operational money in developing a lunar base where technologies that are needed to go to Mars need to be developed and tested and proved, because right now, theres too many technical hurdles," Hernndez said.The news comes the same week as the return of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded on board the International Space Station since last June due to the failure of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.Hernndez may have a point when it comes to the many technical hurdles SpaceX is facing. Its development of Starship has run into serious roadblocks as of late, with two consecutive prototypes blowing up in mid-flight.Put simply, the Musk-led firm is still a long way from boarding astronauts. SpaceX has yet to publicly address its progress when it comes to life support systems, on-orbit refueling, and extraterrestrial landing procedures, to name just a few aspects of a future mission to Mars.In the meantime, NASA is still hoping to use Starship during its Artemis III mission, the first crewed trip to the lunar surface in over half a century.Last year, SpaceX tested a lunar lander docking system to safely transfer NASA astronauts from the agency's Orion capsule to the Starship Human Landing System (HLS) while in orbit around the Moon. In 2023, NASA astronauts also tested a concept for a SpaceX elevator to take crews from the towering rocket down to the surface.Other than that, we've heard little else from the company about the readiness of its landing system for NASA's mission, which is still tentatively scheduled for 2027.To make the jump from there to Mars which would go against Musk's wishes of skipping the Moon altogether a planet that's roughly 500 times further away from Earth than the Moon, will be an immense step up in complexity and difficulty. The journey could easily take several months, requiring a highly complex life support system that's never been developed before.Experts have also warned of the immense amount of space radiation future space travelers would be exposed to. Microgravity could also have undesirable effects on human health, as previous research has shown.Before risking the lives of astronauts, Musk is planning to send uncrewed Starships to the surface of Mars. But whether that will happen "well before 2030," as the billionaire has promised in the past, remains unclear at best.Others have also questioned Musk's justification for colonizing the Red Planet in the first place."Even after a nuclear war, Earth would be more liveable than Mars, even if we didn't do anything about [climate change] it would still have oxygen as far as we can tell, Mars does not," former president Barack Obama said during an event last year, asquoted byAgence France-Presse.And if humans ever make it there, the trip will likely be grueling, as Musk has admitted himself."Not for the faint of heart," the mercurial CEO said during a 2020 summit. "Good chance youll die. And its going to be tough, tough going, but itll be pretty glorious if it works out."More on Starship: Elon Musk Is Not Taking the Latest Starship Explosion WellShare This Article

Oculus founder-turned-defense-contractor Palmer Luckey is opening up about his relationship with mercurial CEO Elon Musk and about the politically incorrect stuff they discuss.In an appearance on theWall Street Journal's "What's News" podcast, the intelligenceweapons maker said that although he's not quite sure the billionaire considers him a friend, the pair do text each other pretty regularly.Despite both being major donors to president Donald Trump, their most recent text exchange wasn't explicitly political."The last thing we were talking about was the fact that the Black Eyed Peas' Grammy-winning song, 'Let's Get Retarded,' has been taken off every single music platform," the Hawaiian shirt aficionado recounted, "and replaced with the child-safe version that was for children's sports games, 'Let's Get It Started.'""So that was the last thing that we were talking about," he continued, "and how it's an example of memory-holding that nobody even really talks about, despite everyone agreeing that it has happened."AsBusiness Insider noted in its write-up of Luckey's comments, the stridently "anti-woke" defense contractor was wrong on several counts. For one, the lyrics were initially changed to "Let's Get It Started" in 2004 just a year after the one with the ableist slur dropped on Black Eyed Peas' third album, "Elephunk" for an NBA ad. For another, it was that "child-safe" version that won a Grammy in 2005, not the original that included the so-called "R-word."Aside from revealing that he ascribes to half-baked "Mandela effect" conspiracy theories, Luckey did not say who began the conversation or which of them said what about the original title for that 20-year-old hit.However, we don't need text message transcripts to know that Musk is very fond of using the "R-word," and deploys it with aplomb on his Nazi-boosting social network.From using it to insult the intelligence of an astronaut he disagreed with to poking fun at himself with the slur, the world's richest man seems quite taken with the offensive epithet. What's more: his usage of the term dovetails with (and likely spurred on) an increasing trend online that seeks to normalize the slur, which was until recentlyconsidered taboo thanks to successful awareness-raising campaigns about intellectual disabilities.It's worth noting that despite his love affair with the "R-word," Musk also insisted in 2023 that the term "cis" or "cisgender," which simply means not transgender or identifying with one's assigned gender at birth, would be considered a slur on his social network.That policy change, like so many others on the site formerly known as Twitter, seems to be enforced haphazardly. Still, it's both outrageous and ironic that the same billionaire who got upset about that "heterophobic word" is now tweeting the ableist slur so regularly that he's even acknowledged that he "used that word too many times."As with so many other disparities in Musk's fractured worldview, it appears that he's fine with certain slurs so long as he finds them amusing and he's preoccupied enough with the "R-word" that he's talking to fellow billionaires about it during his downtime.More on Muskian messaging: Elon Musk Defends Hitler, Mao and StalinShare This Article

When Universal Studios Florida opened in Orlando on June 7, 1990, it offereda couple dozenof rides, shows, and attractions.Out of all of them, only two remain in operation today: E.T. Adventure and the Horror Make-Up Show. The rest have all gone tothat great theme park in the sky (where, one assumes, there are no lines and no upcharge for using Express Passes). Through the years, Universals parks in Florida,Hollywood, and Japanhave closed tons of rides to make room for newones evena fewthat are (or now were)inextricably linkedwith the Universal brand.Here is a list of 20 such attractions, along with videos of each one in action so you can relive them one more time 3D glasses and flying DeLoreans not included.Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making MoviesThese days, Universals theme parks are exclusively devoted to immersive rides and environments that let guests feel like they have stepped inside their favorite movies and shows. Thats a stark contrast to their parks initial concept, which was a place where tourists learned the secrets of a film and TV production, witha couple bigger rides thrown in for some extra oomph. One of the best examples of old-school Universal was Alfred Hitchcock: The Art of Making Movies. After a 3D highlight package of Hitchcockfilmswasinterrupted by the stars ofThe Birds, guests were ushered into a soundstage where a director and his crew explained how Hitchcock shotPsychos shower scene. The finale of the attraction was an interactive area where guests who participate in demonstrations of the practical movie magic behind Hitchcock movies likeStrangers on a Train,Rear Window, andSaboteur.It was like a cross between a thrill ride and a museum and for a budding cinephile, it was a paradise.Back to the Future: The RideThe unforgettable Back to the Future: The Ride was a simulator that let visitors board an impressively detailed copy of the franchises DeLorean time machine for a aerial chase through the centuries. (The story of the ride, which played out in pre-show videos featuring Christopher Lloyd and Thomas F. Wilson, was about Biff stealing a time machine and Docsending tourists inhis new eight-seater, remote-controlled DeLorean to catch him.) Withspecial effects by2001: A Space Odyssey legend Douglas Trumbull, BTTF:TR lived up to the old Universal slogan that promised a vacation where you could ride the movies. Its closure was inevitable; the future of theBack to the Future franchiseis 2015, which is now a decade old. The two American versions of the attraction closed by the late 2000s, although Universal Studios Japans version managed to hang on until 2016 one yearafter Marty and Doc went back to the future.READ MORE: 15 Beloved Disney Rides That No Longer ExistBackdraftAnother of Universals early how-they-do-it-style attractions wasBackdraft, based on the 1991 Ron Howard film about a crew of heroic firefighters. This show, which played at Universal Studios Hollywood from 1992 to 2010, and at Universal Studios Japan from 2001 to 2020,includedseveral behind-the-scenes videos featuring Howard and theBackdraftcast and then apractical fire effects demonstration on one of the Universal soundstages. Backdraft never got a sequel (at least until a direct-to-video one in 2019) and the rise of CGI gradually made practical wizardry like the stuff on display inBackdraft and its accompanying attraction, far less exciting to tourists. The buildings that once housed this attraction is now the home of an elaborate 3D dark ride inspired byTransformers.Beetlejuices Rock and Roll Graveyard RevueThe history of Universals parks is littered with all kinds of stage shows, often quite elaborate and musical in nature, most of which are now as dead as Doctor Frankensteins signature creation. For many years the Universal parks in Hollywood and Florida were home to a song-and-dance extravaganza featuring Beetlejuice and the companys famous movie monsters like Frankenstein, the Phantom of the Opera, and the Wolfman. Because when you think of bio-exorcists, undead ghouls, and assorted other horror icons, you also think of the classic disco anthem I Will Survive. Technically, this one isnt totally extinct if you visit Universal Studios Japan you can still seethe Universal Monsters singtheir Graveyard Revue. But thats quite a trek just to hear Draculado a spooky rendition of Livin La Vida Loca.Dynamite Nights StuntSpectacularStunt shows were another cornerstone of the old school Universal Studios. In Hollywood, the classicWaterworld stunt show is still going strong, but in Florida, there isnt really a comparable attraction. When that park first opened, they had something called the Dynamite Nights Stunt Spectacular, whoseMiami Vice-inspired combination of boat chases and explosions was likeThe Fall Guy movie come to life. If it were up to me, no theme park would be allowed to operate without at least one really great stunt spectacular. It should be required.Earthquake: The Big OneEarthquake: The Big One was another good example of the old ride the movies Universal ethos. The main event was a modified version of the old Earthquake attraction from the Universal Hollywood tram tour, but before guests boarded their trams they were treated to several rooms full of practical effects demonstrations inspired by the 1974 film. Of course,Earthquake was already a very old movie by the time this ride even opened; in 2007, theEarthquake specific elements were removed and theattraction was renamed Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride ... Starring You! Now the pre-show featured a hologram of Christopher Walken playing a studio executive named Frank Kincaid, who recruited guests to play extras in his latest movie. After theearthquake finale, visitors watched a trailer for the movie they supposedly helped make, which was called Mutha Nature and featured a cameo from Dwayne Johnson. Disaster! closed in 2015 and the building was retrofitted to house another transplanted tram tour stop from Hollywood, Fast & Furious: Supercharged.Fievels PlaylandEvery theme park needs a playgroundto distract little kids for a few minuteswhile their parents take a break from the endless meet-and-greet lines. For many years, Universal Studios was Fievels Playland, themed to the now-mostly-forgotten animated franchiseAn American Tail.Its two films followed an adventurous mouse who immigrates to America with his family. Accordingly, the playground featured gigantic versions of everyday objects so that kids could get a taste of what it felt like to be the size of a mouse. AlthoughAn American Tail mostly faded into obscured by the 21st century, Floridas Fievels Playland endured for an inexplicably long time, and only closed in early 2023. Theres now aShrek-themed playground in its place.Ghostbusters SpooktacularGhostbustersis a Sony property, a company without a major foothold in the theme park industry. As a result, the franchise has had alow number of theme park attractions relative to its generational popularity.But in the early 1990s, Universal licensed theGhostbusters property for an attraction that used the same Peppers ghost illusion from Disneys Haunted Mansion toturn the climactic fight between the Ghostbusters and Gozer into a 20-minute stage show. Over its six-year run at Universal Studios Florida, Ghostbusters Spooktacular existed in two distinct forms, one that hewed closer to the story of the firstGhostbusters movie, and a second variation involving Louis Tully (Rick Moranis dweeby accountant character) and Walter Peck (the EPA jerk played by William Atherton). With no newGhostbustersmovies or shows on the horizon in the mid-90s, Universal closed the show and replaced it witha staged attraction based on the studios recent blockbuster,Twister.(It was replaced a few years ago by aTonight Show simulator ride.)The Funtastic World of Hanna-BarberaThe left side ofUniversal Studios Floridasmain thoroughfare has housed a series of big simulator rides throughout the parks history. The very first was called The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera, and it featured a variety of characters from the Hanna-Barbera catalogue trying to rescue a kidnapped Elroy Jenson from the villainous Dick Dastardly. It was essentially a tamer and less technology sophisticated version of Back to the Future: The Ride geared toward younger kids. In 2003, this ride waschanged to... another extinct attraction on this list.Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the ScreenUniversal Studios Floridas opening overlapped with the heyday of syndicated television programming,none of it bigger than the two-headed adventure show hydra ofHercules: The Legendary Journeys andXena: Warrior Princess.When the previous subject of Universals attraction all about TV productionwas canceled in 1996, they re-themed the show to be based around the two popular series. But then Hercules was canceledin 1999 too. Wizards of the Screen was performed for the final time in early 2000;this area of the park is now home to Transformers: The Ride.Jaws: The RideEveryone seems to enjoy the Diagon Alley area of Universal Studios Hollywood, inspired by the Harry Potterfranchise. As much as I love a cup of frozen butterbeer, I will always hold a grudge against the place becauseto make room for it, Universal closed the old Amity section of the park, which included the classicJaws ride. The attraction was like a scary, effects-laden version of Disneys Jungle Cruise; guests boarded a tour boat for a trip around Amity, only to be discover all sorts of wreckage and chaos, and then Bruce the Shark himself. Jaded modern audiences might not be impressed, but to a kid in the 1990s, this was the height of excitement at least once Universal worked out all the kinks that caused the ride to break down regularly for the first two years of its existence.Likethe Universal Monsters revue, this one still lives on in Japan ... if you can get there.Jimmy Neutrons Nicktoon BlastIn 2003, the Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera became Jimmy Neutrons Nicktoon Blast, a very similar attraction that starred Jimmy Neutron and several other Nickelodeon characters. That version lasted until 2012, when the ride was again updated to feature the cast of theDespicable Me franchise, owned by Universal. While the film has changed drastically through the years, the basic experience remains mostly the same; people sit in a large theater equipped with moving seats that rock along with the image onscreen.KongfrontationKing Kong has been a mainstay in Universals various theme parkssince the mid-1980s, when a giant King Kong animatronic was added to the Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood. That was expanded to a full-blown attraction at Universal Studios Florida called Kongfrontation. In the extensively themed ride, guestswere evacuatedfrom Manhattan on the Roosevelt Island Tramway after Kongstarts running amok. Naturally, the evacuation does not go smoothly, andKong grabsthe trambefore it makes alast-second getaway. It was a surprisinglyintense experience with fun touches like the fact that the Kong animatronics breath smelled like bananas. Kong wasput out to pasture in 2002 to make way for a roller coaster inspired byThe Mummy franchise, but the great ape has since found a new home at nearby Islands of Adventure, wherean attraction called Skull Island: Reign of Kong opened in 2016.Lucy: A TributePerhaps the simplest attraction in the history of Universal Studios Florida, Lucy: A Tribute was basically aminiaturemuseum dedicated to Lucille Ball andI Love Lucy.It sounds incredibly dated, but the attraction opened in 1992, a couple years after Balls death, at a time when nostalgia for her classic sitcom wasstill very high.The exhibit included artifacts from Balls career, interactive quizzes,and amodel that recreated the originalI Love Lucy set in exacting detail.Lucy: A Tribute survived in a small building at the front of the park for almost 25 years before Universal turned the space into a Hello Kitty shop (and laterWicked: The Experience).Murder, She Wrote Mystery TheaterYoungs today might find it hard to believe, but for 12 years in the 1980s and 90s, one of broadcast TVs biggest hits was a quaint show about a writer (Angela Lansbury) solving mysteries in a little town in Maine. The show was so big, in fact, that it got its own opening day attraction at Universal Studios Florida: The Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theater. It was yet another of the parks behind-the-scenes shows, and it focused mostly on the post-production process. Guests moved through a series of rooms, each focused on a different aspect of TV making, like editing, foley work, and ADR.Volunteers got to try some of these aspects for themselves, and watch theMurder, She Wrotescenes they helped to create. AfterMurder, She Wrote was finally canceled in 1996, it was replaced by the aforementioned Hercules and Xena show.Nickelodeon StudiosUniversal Studios Florida wasnt just a gimmicky name back in the early 90s; the place really was a working film and TV studio most notably as the home of Nickelodeon Studios, where the popular cable channel shot many of its game shows andsketch comedy series. In a canny bit of synergy, every show made at Nickelodeon Studios was also a commercial for Universal Studios Florida, because they ended with a graphic announcing where they were made. Kids who made the trek to Orlando could take a tour of the facility, where one lucky guest got slimed in the Game Lab,and sit in the studio audience if there was a show in production during their visit.Eventually, the novelty of the place wore off, as Nickelodeon began making fewer live-action programs and moving more and more of their remaining ones back to Los Angeles. The studio closed for good in 2005. For many years a production ofBlue Man Group occupied the building. Since the Covid pandemic, Universal has used the venue tohost a holiday show starring the Grinch.Screen Test TheatreRemember: When Universalfirst turned their studio into a theme park, there is no such thing as asmartphone. Consumer-grade video camerasare still years away. Making your own TV show is effectively impossible, hence the appeal of attractions like Screen Test Theatre, which lettouristscreate their ownmock-ups of popular movies and television shows. One version from the 1970s inserted guests intoAirport 77; later, they there was aStar Trek option shoton a surprisingly detailed recreation of the old Enterprise bridge. Obviously, these sorts of attractions which usually gave participants the option to buy a souvenir VHS of their creations hold a lot less appeal in a world where you canshoot your own TV showon your phoneand upload it to YouTube.Shrek 4-DThe aforementioned Alfred Hitchcock attraction in Florida was closed to make room forShrek 4-D, an animated movie with in-theater effects including vibrating seats, water, and gusts of wind. Opened at the height of the initialShrek mania,Universal gradually began winding down theseShrek 3D movies in the mid-2010s, after the franchise originally petered out. (The Japanese attraction managed to hold on; it still operates part-timein a theater it shares with aSesame Street3D attraction.) Shrekis back. Hesgot a new movie opening in 2026, and hesalreadyreceivednewUniversal attractions; in 2024, Universal Florida added a new meet and greet with Shrek charactersin their own littleShrek 4-D? Or dare we even dream it a Shrek 4-D-2?Special Effects StageUniversal Studios Hollywood has hosted a variety of makeup and special effects shows throughout its history, starting in the mid-1970s. By the 2010s, the special effects show (sometimes called the Special Effects Stage) found a home at the Castle Theater, where guests were shown how a variety of modern VFX like motion capture were created. The show was retired for good in 2023 and the Castle Theater was demolished, along with the home of UniversalsAnimal Actors amphitheater, in order to make room for the newFast & Furious roller coaster.T2-3D: Battle Across TimeUniversals Terminator 23-D movie and live show didnt just boast the stars ofT2 Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, and Edward Furlong it was also directed byTerminator mastermind James Cameron. Cameron shot the filmed segments at a cost of $24 million, making it, in typical Cameron fashion, one of the most expensive films ever made (at least on per minute basis). The storyfollows the T-800as he makes his promised (but not particularly logical) return and takesthe young John Connor into the future to protect him froma resurrected T-1000. (Admittedly this is not the best plan.) T2-3Dboasted impressive effects and integrated real actors into the show in clever ways; at times the Terminator seemed to step off the screen into the auditorium and vice versa. Unfortunately, its storyline contradicted all of theTerminatormovies released after it, making its battle across time feel a little out of time by the 21st century.It closed at Universal Hollywood and Florida in the 2010s. The T2-3Dat Universal Japan which had the coolest show building by far survived until 2020, then closed for goodduring the Covid pandemic. Judgment Day has nothing on real life these days.Get our free mobile appAmazing Theme Park Rides Based on Movies That Were Never Built

Headquarters: Jacksonville, Florida URL: https://www.blueoceanhb.com/Calling all eloquent communicators and persuasive professionals! If your mastery of the English language is unmatched, and you can engage and convince with ease, then you're the person Blue Ocean Home Buyers is eager to recruit. Join our dynamic team as an Inside Sales AgentAre you a wordsmith with the gift of gab? If your English is not just good but amazingif you can charm the birds from the trees and persuade the sun to shine on a rainy dayBlue Ocean Home Buyers is calling for you to join us as our next Inside Sales Agent!Job Title: Inside Sales Agent - Cold Caller- Real EstatePosition Type: Full-timeSalary: Base Salary $700-$1000 USD/month (DOE) + Performance Bonuses + Deal commissions. Salary Expectations with Bonuses: 15,000 USD per year.Schedule: Eastern Standard Time (EST) Monday to Friday: 9 AM - 6:00 PM (Includes 1-hour break + 2 Paid Rest Breaks)About You: You are a dynamic, persuasive communicator with exceptional English skillsyour ability to engage in fluent, nuanced conversations is key. Your resilience in the face of rejection, combined with your proactive and competitive spirit, makes you the perfect candidate for a role where every call could lead to a new opportunity. You're about weaving connections through your curious mind, observant nature, and amazing intuition. You can sense the unspoken needs of a client and turn every conversation into a discovery.What Youll Be Doing: As our Inside Sales Agent - Cold Caller, you'll be the first point of contact for potential sellers. Your mission is to generate leads by effectively cold-calling, engaging with property owners, and finding correct numbers. Your success in this role hinges on your ability to build rapport, understand nuanced client needs, and drive the initial stages of the sales process.Responsibilities:Cold Calling: Have a minimum of 50 conversations per day to potential leads.Relationship Building: Establish trust and rapport with prospects, overcoming objections with labeling techniques not just pitching what we can give them.Data Management: Efficiently document interactions and leads in our CRM systems as per company procedures.Job Requirements:* English Proficiency: Must have amazing English skills; your ability to communicate effectively in an American cultural context is critical.* Experience: At least 2 years in sales, public relations, or negotiation roles; real estate experience is a plus.* Attitude: Must possess a positive mindset, competitiveness, confidence, and perseverance.* Technical Skills: Comfortable with using CRM software and basic office tools.* Cultural Understanding: Familiarity with American culture is advantageous.* Technical Requirements:Computer with at least Core i5, 8GB of RAMReliable high-speed internet connection (20Mbps down, 20Mbps up minimum)Quality wired headsetQuiet workspace with minimal interruptionsWhat to Expect from Us:Fully Remote: Work from the comfort of your home or preferred location.Supportive Environment: Comprehensive training, tools, and ongoing support to ensure your success.Growth Opportunities: Clear paths for career advancement within our high-performing team.Competitive Compensation: Base salary with the potential for uncapped earnings through bonuses.Blue Ocean Home Buyers is a dynamic real estate investment firm in northeast Florida focusing on acquiring properties through strategic research and direct marketing. We stand out in the market by identifying properties that are not readily accessible to others, giving us a competitive edge. Our mission is to create value by solving property issues and offering tailored solutions to sellers, thereby facilitating smooth transactions.Join Blue Ocean Home Buyers where your exceptional communication skills and sales acumen can unlock doors to new opportunities and contribute significantly to our continued growth and success.To apply: https://weworkremotely.com/remote-jobs/blue-ocean-home-buyers-inside-sales-agent-real-estate

Supported by the Italian Embassy in Wellington,tonightslecture forms part of the celebration of international Italian Design Day, the theme being Community design:How to mend the fractures ofhumanity.Speakers fromtwo practices, Ana Heremaia and Jo Walsh forKAU and Nick Officer and Ben Jagersma for First Light Studio, will talk abouthow thoughtful design and committed activism as demonstrated in their projects can foster stronger, more connectedcommunities.KAU are committed to collaboration and community engagement from their Te Tai Tokerau, Kaikohe office. Their work seeks to transform the lives of tamariki and whnau through a workshop process which connects people with their tpuna stories and provides hands on learning through architecture and design. Across 10 years the company has moved from furniture design to contributing toward the new sports hub Papa Hawaiki and new ongoing library project forKaikohe.Nick and Ben will present two transformative projects, each addressing community needs at different scales and stages of development: a small Wellington church that used seismic strengthening as an opportunity to redefine its role and relevance to a portfolio of public housing solutions for Te huru Mwai, New Zealands largest Mori-owned community housing provider. These projects demonstrate how thoughtful design can foster stronger, more connectedcommunities.Supported by the Italian Embassy in Wellington, this lecture forms part of the celebration of international Italian Design Day, the theme being communitydesign.How to Mend the Fractures of Humanity: KAU | First LightArchitectsWednesday 19 March 2025, 6.30pmLecture Theatre 342, Conference Centre Building 423, University of AucklandRegisterhereforyourticket.Other speakers in the series arePAC Studio(Wednesday 26 March),Isthmus(Wednesday 2 April) andParlour(Wednesday 9 April). For more information, and to register, clickhere.TheFast Forward lecture series is generously sponsored byGIBand supported byTe Khui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects.10 NZRAB CPD points are available at each lecture. Attendance is free and allarewelcome.

NASA's Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore made a gentle splashdown off the coast of Florida after an unexpectedly long stay on the space station.

Celebrate this major milestone with a thoughtful, practical gift that will help them get ready to take on the world.

March 17, 20254 min readNewfound Exoplanets around Barnards Star Resolve Long-Standing Astronomical QuestFour small, newly discovered worlds are less than six light-years away from Earth, and their discovery reinforces a cautionary tale from planet huntings prehistoryBy Tom Metcalfe edited by Lee BillingsAn artists impression of four small, likely rocky exoplanets orbiting Barnards Star, a red dwarf star about six light-years away from Earth. International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/P. MarenfeldAstronomers have confirmed the existence of four small planets around Barnards Star, one of Earths nearest and perhaps most notorious neighboring stars.The new discoveries verify a study last year that suggested Barnards Star was orbited by at least one planet; the worlds were discovered using the radial velocity method, which can detect otherwise hidden exoplanets via a subtle wobble that their orbital tugging causes in motions of their host stars. The frequency of that stellar wobble reveals an exoplanets orbital period and distance from its star, and its strength provides an estimate of the unseen worlds mass.The observations indicate that each of the four planets around Barnards Star is much smaller than Earthbetween 20 percent and 30 percent of its mass. That means they are probably rocky, like the inner planets of our solar system. But they all orbit so closely to Barnards Star that they would be too hot for life as we know it.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Besides their close proximity to Earth, these worlds are also noteworthy for being among the smallest yet found via the radial velocity method. In recent years, the instruments have grown to give an unprecedented precision in radial velocities, says astrophysicist Ritvik Basant, a doctoral student at the University of Chicago and lead author of a study in the Astrophysical Journal Letters that confirms the exoplanets.The researchers are using the MAROON-X spectrograph on the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii to look for the radial velocity wobbles of exoplanets around nearby stars. We have been taking data for the last three years, Basant says.Discovered in 1916 by American astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard, Barnards Star is a small and slow-burning red dwarf classified by astronomers as an M-type star. It is about six light-years away but only has about 15 percent of the mass of our sun; this makes it very faint despite its nearness to our solar system, and it cannot be seen in the sky by the unaided eye.After its discovery, the next time Barnards Star made headlines was in 1963, when Dutch astronomer Peter van de Kamp declared hed found evidence that it was orbited by a planet with about 1.6 times the mass of Jupiter. No exoplanets had been confirmed at the time, so van de Kamps announcement was an important event. Van de Kamp had observed Barnards Star for more than a quarter century prior to his announcement, and he claimed hed seen a periodic perturbation in the stars motions that was caused by the orbiting planet. Subsequent studies showed that these signs of van de Kamps planet actually came from minor spatial shifts of components in his telescope caused by their occasional maintenance. The debunking cast a shadow over planet-hunting for generations, but van de Kamp nevertheless championed his discovery for many years until his death in 1995.The latest finds around Barnards Star have little to do with this earlier sagaother than reinforcing how this historic episode should be considered a cautionary tale. But they have set a new benchmark for the detection of small exoplanets around nearby stars, Basant says. The observations suggest that the planets orbit Barnards Star in a plane almost edge on to Earth. They dont pass directly in front of the star as seen from our planet, howeversuch transits would be useful for determining each worlds exact size and even details of its atmospheric composition. Still, Barnards Star is so close that it may be possible to take their pictures in a difficult process called direct imaging, which involves blotting out most of a stars light so that the far fainter light from any accompanying planets can be seen.The observations also indicate that all four planets orbit only a few million miles from Barnards Star much closer than the average 36-million-mile distance of Mercury from our sun. The nearest zips around completely in just two and a half Earth days at a distance of roughly 1.7 million miles, while the farthest orbits in less than seven days at a distance of about 3.5 million miles.Similar compact systems of small planets have been detected around many other red dwarf stars, which are the most common stars in the universe, says Rice University planetary scientist Andr Izidoro, who was not involved in the study. Izidoro and his Rice University colleague Sho Shibata have used exoplanet data from NASAs Kepler space telescope to create an updated model of planetary formation that may account for these smaller star systems. Their new model, which was also published recently in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, proposes that smaller planets mostly arise from impacts in rings of debris that from in whirling disks of gas and dust that surround nascent stars, while larger planets are usually born further out from a star, where the colder temperatures offer more abundant frozen material for world-building.In the case of Barnards Star, Izidoro says it is likely the four planets had formed farther away than they are now but migrated inward because of gravitational interactions with the protoplanetary disk from which they first emerged. It is still possible that other rocky planets may lurk undiscovered around Barnards Star in more distant orbits, he says, where conditions would be cooler and perhaps even suitable for life.

March 17, 20253 min readApril 2025: Science History from 50, 100 and 150 Years AgoMysterious gamma rays; snake-eating snakeBy Mark Fischetti 1875, Better Long Bridges: The bridge shown is composed of a middle truss and two end trusses. The arches under the end trusses constitute compression chords. The [heavy] curved line is a chain which is under constant tension, anchored at each end, and the ends sit on curved beds of rollers. The arches and chords are hinged, so the structure is free to move according to thermal demands, and hence maintain its rigidity. Scientific American, Vol. XXXII, No. 17; April 24, 18751975Mysterious Gamma Rays from SpaceAs a result of the Partial Test-Ban Treaty of 1963, which prohibited nuclear explosions in space, the U.S. launched five satellites to act as monitors. Each satellite was equipped with a detector designed to respond to gamma rays from a nuclear explosion. Detectors aboard two or more satellites could determine the position of the source. When the records were examined, it was found that the detectors had been triggered by occasional bursts of gamma rays, but that the source could not possibly be anything near Earth.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Each burst lasts about 10 seconds and does not seem to recur. An average of four bursts per year have been detected since 1967. The sources appear to be distributed randomly over the sky. Theories about their origin have proliferated. Perhaps the gamma rays were produced in events that gave rise to the radio outbursts of quasars. Or perhaps they originated in the shock waves from supernovas. Or they were associated with flare stars or X-ray sources within our own galaxy. There are even more exotic theoretical possibilities. In New Scientist, Andrew Fabian and James Pringle of the University of Cambridge remark: Let us hope that the rate of discovery of new bursts exceeds the rate of production of new theories.1925Clearing Snowy Roads with T.N.T.Snow that buries some of the mountain roads of the western states many feet deep will make a sudden departure from its resting place in the spring if experiments with explosives result as planned. According to the American Automobile Association, T.N.T. was strung last fall along some of the localities known to drift worst. This explosive was prepared in a long tube of lead containing a ribbon of T.N.T. In the spring, when the last snowfall has occurred, the long explosive snake will be detonated, and if, as hoped, the snow instantly flies from the highway, the new method will be used on a larger scale after subsequent winters.Todays Forecast: Heavy StaticThere has been an ever-growing desire on the part of broadcasters, as well as audience, to have the Weather Bureau forecast radio reception conditions just as it does the weather. Some study has been undertaken of static and its relation to weather conditions. These fragmentary reports and experiences lead us to believe that radio weather forecasts, for at least a day or two in advance, may be practicable, states an official of the Weather Bureau. Static forecasts would be a boon to broadcasters in arranging for feature programs. And it would be a boon for listeners to know whether to have that radio party tomorrow night or the following night.1875Clearing Snowy Roads with FireThe heavy snowfalls have brought home the great need of rapid removal from thoroughfares. We recently examined a novel invention using an intensely hot blast of flame. The machine consists of a small steam boiler, beside which another receptacle to contain naphtha is placed, located on the front portion of a low wagon, the body of which is of iron. Extending downward from the bottom of the vehicle are one or two rows of tubes. Steam jets mingle with ignited vapor and become highly superheated. The mouth of each tube emits a steady stream of flame, certainly sufficiently powerful to demolish several inches of ice or snow by merely passing over. It is proposed to put six machines on Broadway [in Manhattan] at the beginning of every snowstorm. A few people with brooms could quickly drive the water produced off toward the sewers.Snake-Eating SnakeA wonderful poisonous snake has just found a home in the London Zoological Gardens. This is a snake-eating snake, called Ophiophagus, found in India, and the Andaman and Philippine Islands. It is the largest of known venomous snakes. Shortly after its arrival it was fed by the keeper, who put an ordinary English snake into its cage. The Ophiophagus quickly devoured the English snake by bolting him headfirst. In general appearance this new snake is very like a common cobra. The head is exceedingly lizard-like. The eye is exceedingly clear and bright. When disturbed it hisses loudly, and shows its temper by extruding its long, black, forked tongue, which it vibrates with marvelous celerity.

Several Teslas were shot at and torched at a Las Vegas facility in what authorities have described as a targeted attack.The incident occurred at a Tesla Collision Center at around 2:45 Tuesday morning, March 18, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement. A suspect, reportedly wearing all black, damaged five vehicles, including two that were fully engulfed by fire, the police said. They also believe the suspect fired at least three rounds from a firearm at the vehicles. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze after arriving at the facility. One un-detonated incendiary device (believed to be a Molotov cocktail) was found inside one vehicle.The suspect also spray-painted the word Resist across the front of the building, though police have not explicitly said yet whether or not they think the attack was politically motivated. Tesla founder Elon Musk has, of course, been working closely with President Donald Trump to gut the federal government and the many services it provides under the guise of his so-called Department of Government Efficiency.The LVMPD did not specifically say whether or not the incident is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism, though LVMPD Counter-Terrorism detectives did respond to the scene. The FBI is also helping to investigate the incident. The bureaus Las Vegas office did not immediately return a request for comment, nor did Tesla.At a press conference, LVMPD Assistant Sheriff Dori Karen said, This was a targeted attack against a Tesla facility. We do believe that it is isolated at this time. We do not believe there is further threat to the general public (via NBC News).Spencer Evans, head of the FBIs Las Vegas office, called the incident unacceptable, adding, To those who might think that something like this is justifiable or potentially even admirable, we want to let you know its a federal crime. We will come after you. We will find you.Tesla, Musks flagship business, has been hit hard amid his ascension in the Trump administration and adoption of far-right politics. Tesla sales, as well as its all-important stock price, have plummeted, which even prompted Trump to stage a photo-op with a bunch of vehicles outside the White House. Some Tesla owners have reported their cars being vandalized, while other embarrassed drivers have even tried to disguise their cars as models by other manufacturers.