Forget massive steel tankssome scientists want to make chemicals with the help of rocks deep beneath Earths surface. New research shows that ammonia, a chemical crucial for fertilizer, can be produced from rocks at temperatures and pressures that are common in the subsurface. The research was published today in Joule, and MIT Technology Review can exclusively report that a new company, called Addis Energy, was founded to commercialize the process. Ammonia is used in most fertilizers and is a vital part of our modern food system. Its also being considered for use as a green fuel in industries like transoceanic shipping. The problem is that current processes used to make ammonia require a lot of energy and produce huge amounts of the greenhouse gases that cause climate changeover 1% of the global total. The new study finds that the planets internal conditions can be used to produce ammonia in a much cleaner process. Earth can be a factory for chemical production, says Iwnetim Abate, an MIT professor and author of the new study. This idea could be a major change for the chemical industry, which today relies on huge facilities running reactions at extremely high temperatures and pressures to make ammonia. The key ingredients for ammonia production are sources of nitrogen and hydrogen. Much of the focus on cleaner production methods currently lies in finding new ways to make hydrogen, since that chemical makes up the bulk of ammonias climate footprint, says Patrick Molloy, a principal at the nonprofit research agency Rocky Mountain Institute. Recently, researchers and companies have located naturally occurring deposits of hydrogen underground. Iron-rich rocks tend to drive reactions that produce the gas, and these natural deposits could provide a source of low-cost, low-emissions hydrogen. While geologic hydrogen is still in its infancy as an industry, some researchers are hoping to help the process along by stimulating production of hydrogen underground. With the right rocks, heat, and a catalyst, you can produce hydrogen cheaply and without emitting large amounts of climate pollution. Hydrogen can be difficult to transport, though, so Abate was interested in going one step further by letting the conditions underground do the hard work in powering chemical reactions that transform hydrogen and nitrogen into ammonia. As you dig, you get heat and pressure for free, he says. To test out how this might work, Abate and his team crushed up iron-rich minerals and added nitrates (a nitrogen source), water (a hydrogen source), and a catalyst to help reactions along in a small reactor in the lab. They found that even at relatively low temperatures and pressures, they could make ammonia in a matter of hours. If the process were scaled up, the researchers estimate, one well could produce 40,000 tons of ammonia per day. While the reactions tend to go faster at high temperature and pressure, the researchers found that ammonia production could be an economically viable process even at 130 C (266 F) and a little over two atmospheres of pressure, conditions that would be accessible at depths reachable with existing drilling technology. While the reactions work in the lab, theres a lot of work to do to determine whether, and how, the process might actually work in the field. One thing the team will need to figure out is how to keep reactions going, because in the reaction that forms ammonia, the surface of the iron-rich rocks will be oxidized, leaving them in a state where they cant keep reacting. But Abate says the team is working on controlling how thick the unusable layer of rock is, and its composition, so the chemical reactions can continue. To commercialize this work, Abate is cofounding a company called Addis Energy with $4.25 million in pre-seed funds from investors including Engine Ventures. His cofounders include Michael Alexander and Charlie Mitchell (who have both spent time in the oil and gas industry) and Yet-Ming Chiang, an MIT professor and serial entrepreneur. The company will work on scaling up the research, including finding potential sites with the geological conditions to produce ammonia underground. The good news for scale-up efforts is that much of the necessary technology already exists in oil and gas operations, says Alexander, Addiss CEO. A field-deployed system will involve drilling, pumping fluid down into the ground, and extracting other fluids from beneath the surface, all very common operations in that industry. Theres novel chemistry thats wrapped in an oil and gas package, he says. The team will also work on refining cost estimates for the process and gaining a better understanding of safety and sustainability, Abate says. Ammonia is a toxic industrial chemical, but its common enough for there to be established procedures for handling, storing, and transporting it, says RMIs Molloy. Judging from the researchers early estimates, ammonia produced with this method could cost up to $0.55 per kilogram. Thats more than ammonia produced with fossil fuels today ($0.40/kg), but the technique would likely be less expensive than other low-emissions methods of producing the chemical. Tweaks to the process, including using nitrogen from the air instead of nitrates, could help cut costs further, even as low as $0.20/kg. New approaches to making ammonia could be crucial for climate efforts. Its a chemical thats essential to our way of life, says Karthish Manthiram, a professor at Caltech who studies electrochemistry, including alternative ammonia production methods. The teams research appears to be designed with scalability in mind from the outset, and using Earth itself as a reactor is the kind of thinking needed to accelerate the long-term journey to sustainable chemical production, Manthiram adds. While the company focuses on scale-up efforts, theres plenty of fundamental work left for Abate and other labs to do to understand whats going on during the reactions at the atomic level, particularly at the interface between the rocks and the reacting fluid. Research in the lab is exciting, but its only the first step, Abate says. The next one is seeing if this actually works in the field.

Step into some gum soles.A lot of different styles of sneakers can have gum soles. Mauricio Santana/Getty Images Personal and celebrity stylist Kim Appelt sees gum-bottom sneakers which feature grippy, neutral-colored soles as a "monstrous trend" at the moment.The pop of tan can be found on Adidas gazelles and Hogan beige-suede sneakers, to name a few.Appelt said adding this touch of neutral goes along with the general fashion trends toward browns and natural colors.Adidas sambas are here to stay.Sambas have been popular for a few years now. Christian Vierig/Getty Images Adidas sambas have been a popular choice across aesthetics for years, and that doesn't seem to be slowing down in 2025.Ceila "CQ" Quarles, the designer of CQ Studios who's styled multiple musicians and rappers, said the sneakers have a timeless look and a "killer silhouette.""It's a throw-on shoe you can put on whenever, wherever," she told BI. "It's a little basic, but you can't go wrong with it."Runners aren't just for jogging.Running shoes have made their way into the fashion world. andersphoto/Shutterstock Celebrity stylist Sandra Okerulu said running shoes aren't just for the sporty crowd.The trend really grew around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and offered people a comfortable, more supportive footwear choice."You need flexibility," she told BI. "That's why this switch happened; because we're thinking longevity."With athletic footwear becoming mainstream, fashion brands like Betsey Johnson and Steve Madden are even making fun options that can be worn with both street clothes and gym attire.On is somewhat of a new kid on the block.On sneakers are getting big. 2p2play/Shutterstock With comfort taking the front seat this year, CQ suggests looking into On's Cloudtilt sneakers.With endorsements from and collaborations with celebrities like Zendaya, the shoe has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. The stylist thinks it has the power to keep trending through 2025, especially because the shoes are designed to be comfortable."Comfortable shoes are typically timeless," CQ told BI.Consider grabbing a pair from Onitsuka Tiger.The artistic, multicolor sneakers have risen in popularity. Mila Gruber/Getty Images Appelt said Onitsuka Tiger's classic sneakers will likely trickle into the top trends this coming year.The Japanese brand has several styles to choose from, all featuring its signature abstract checkerboard-like stripes in fun colors.The professional stylist recently bought multiple pairs herself on a trip to Tokyo and sees the chic shoe making its way to the US in droves in 2025.Asics are a comfortable choice.Asics have become standard office wear for some. andersphoto/Shutterstock With dad-style shoes coming back in fashion, Asics continues to be in the spotlight.It's been producing comfortable shoes for decades, but beyond brand loyalty, its modern lines have made it more of a fashion staple."People are obsessed with being cozy all the time," CQ said, noting the more fashion-forward Asics Sportstyle collection may be especially popular throughout 2025.On the other hand, it's time to take a breather from wild prints.Cheetah print may be in style, but you don't need it on your shoes. andersphoto/Shutterstock In recent years, it wasn't uncommon to spot cowhide, snakeskin, or zebra stripes on shoes, but Okerulu said that fad is dwindling.Although animal print cycles in and out of fashion all the time, it's less practical on shoes, which should ideally be versatile enough to work with outfits across your wardrobe.Step away from the chunky Converse.Classic Converse will likely come back in fashion soon, but some niche styles are done. Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images Both Appelt and CQ said they're seeing the Converse craze start to die after the brand's resurgence in 2020. This is especially true for its ultra-trendy Run Star Motion platforms.Appelt clarified that the brand itself, which has been around since the early 1900s, has longevity and will eventually circle back into style."It's the platform we can leave behind," she told BI.Wedge sneakers belong in the past.The style has become a bit dated. Simon McGill/Moment Editorial/Getty Images Many have a love-hate relationship with sneaker wedges, and Okerulu still doesn't think the shoe has enough buzz to really come back in style."People try to inch back on it, and I don't think that's going to work," she said. "Consumers are looking for something that's more realistic."The style kind of defeats the purpose of a good, sturdy sneaker. You certainly can't take it from the gym to the office.Nike Dunks perhaps aren't as popular as they once were.Nike Dunks had their moment. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto CQ said people seem to be switching out their Nike Dunks for more elevated shoes especially after the brand made the shoe less of a collector's item by producing droves in a myriad of colors."They're just not hitting like they used to," she said. "It used to be people lining up around the block for them. That is not the case anymore."

Grace Coolidge, 1925Calvin Coolidge and Grace Coolidge. AP Grace Coolidge was all smiles in a gray dress and top hat to match President Calvin Coolidge's during his second inauguration.Grace Coolidge was an immensely popular first lady whose friendliness balanced Calvin Coolidge's reserved nature, according to the White House.Lou Henry Hoover, 1929Herbert Hoover and Lou Henry Hoover. AP Photo Lou Henry Hoover wore a velvet dress with a zig-zag pattern to Herbert Hoover's inauguration.In May 1929, she became the first first lady to appear in Vogue, Katherine A.S. Sibley wrote in "A Companion to First Ladies."Eleanor Roosevelt, 1933Eleanor Roosevelt. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images The shade of Eleanor Roosevelt's inaugural gown became known as "Eleanor Blue" at President Franklin D. Roosevelt's first inauguration.Eleanor Roosevelt's dress and matching wrap were made of velvet, The New York Times reported. Her gowns were designed and made entirely in the US.Eleanor Roosevelt, 1937Eleanor Roosevelt. Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images Eleanor Roosevelt chose a white Sally Milgrim design for her husband's second inauguration.Eleanor Roosevelt, 1941Eleanor Roosevelt. Edward Steichen/Conde Nast via Getty Images She wore another ivory dress for Franklin D. Roosevelt's third inauguration in 1941.Eleanor Roosevelt, 1945Eleanor Roosevelt. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Eleanor Roosevelt wore a pink lace gown to her husband's historic fourth inauguration.In 1951, the 22nd Amendment was ratified, placing limits on the number of terms a president could serve.Bess Truman, 1945Harry S. Truman and Bess Truman. AP Photo No inaugural ball was held when President Harry S. Truman was sworn in shortly after Roosevelt's death in 1945. Bess Truman wore a matching skirt suit set with a ruffled blouse when her husband took the oath of office.Bess Truman, 1949Bess Truman, left, with members of the Truman family. AP Photo/stf In 1949, Bess Truman wore a fur coat to her husband's second inauguration. Later, for the inaugural balls, she wore a gray satin dress with a silver feather pattern.Mamie Eisenhower, 1953Mamie Eisenhower and Dwight Eisenhower. AP Mamie Eisenhower wore a pale-pink de soie inaugural gown which was embroidered with over 2,000 rhinestones.Mamie Eisenhower, 1957Mamie Eisenhower. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Mamie Eisenhower's 1957 inaugural gown, designed by Nettie Rosenstein, was embroidered with pearls, crystals, and topaz.Jacqueline Kennedy, 1961Jacqueline Kennedy. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Jacqueline Kennedy attended the inaugural balls wearing a sleeveless off-white silk chiffon gown with a matching cape that she helped design in collaboration with Ethel Frankau of Bergdorf Custom Salon.Lady Bird Johnson, 1963Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson consoled Jacqueline Kennedy after Johnson was sworn in as president. Universal History Archive/Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images After President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, his vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, took the oath of office in a haphazard ceremony aboard Air Force One. Lady Bird Johnson wore a simple dress with a pearl necklace.Lady Bird Johnson, 1965Lady Bird Johnson. White House Photo/LBJ Library When Lyndon B. Johnson was reelected in 1965, Lady Bird Johnson wore a bright-yellow gown ordered from Neiman Marcus.Pat Nixon, 1969Pat Nixon. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Pat Nixon also wore a yellow inaugural ball gown. Hers was made of silk satin and featured Swarovski crystals.Pat Nixon, 1973Pat Nixon. Bettmann/Getty Images Pat Nixon wore a turquoise gown designed by Adele Simpson for President Richard Nixon's second inauguration.Betty Ford, 1974Betty Ford and Gerald Ford. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images There were no formal inaugural festivities after Richard Nixon resigned and President Gerald Ford became president in 1974. Betty Ford wore a blue skirt suit for his swearing-in ceremony.Rosalynn Carter, 1977Rosalynn Carter and Jimmy Carter. Peter Bregg/AP Images Rosalynn Carter's blue chiffon inaugural gown, designed by Mary Matise for Jimmae, was the same dress that she wore to Jimmy Carter's inauguration as governor of Georgia.Nancy Reagan, 1981Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Nancy Reagan wore a one-shouldered lace gown over silk satin to the 1981 inaugural balls. The dress and gloves were designed by James Galanos. Her beaded shoes were from David Evins.Nancy Reagan, 1985Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan. Courtesy Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Nancy Reagan wore another James Galanos gown for her husband's second inauguration. The white chiffon gown was embroidered with glass beads that reportedly took more than 300 hours to apply by hand.Barbara Bush, 1989George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Barbara Bush wore a royal-blue gown with a velvet bodice to the inaugural balls. The dress' designer, Arnold Scaasi, called her "the most glamorous grandmother in the United States," according to the Smithsonian.Hillary Clinton, 1993Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. Jim Bourg/Reuters Hillary Clinton wore a violet beaded lace sheath gown with a blue velvet silk overskirt to the 1993 inaugural balls. The dress was designed by Sarah Phillips and made by New York theatrical costume designer Barbara Matera Ltd.Hillary Clinton, 1997Hillary Clinton. Wally McNamee/Corbis via Getty Images For Bill Clinton's second inauguration, Hillary Clinton wore an ivory gown with metallic embellishments by Oscar de la Renta.Laura Bush, 2001George W. Bush and Laura Bush with their daughters Jenna Bush and Barbara Bush. Brooks Kraft LLC/Sygma via Getty Images Laura Bush attended inaugural balls in a red gown by Texas designer Michael Faircloth. The dress was made of Chantilly lace embroidered with crystals over silk georgette.Laura Bush, 2005Laura Bush and George W. Bush. Jason Reed/Reuters Laura Bush chose a silver Oscar de la Renta gown for the 2005 inaugural balls.Michelle Obama, 2009Michelle Obama and Barack Obama. Mark Wilson/Getty Images Michelle Obama wore a custom white inaugural gown by Jason Wu. The dress was made of white silk chiffon and sparkled with organza flower embellishments containing Swarovski crystal centers.Michelle Obama, 2013Michelle Obama. Rick Wilking/Reuters She wore Jason Wu again in 2013, this time choosing a red cross-halter strap gown.Melania Trump, 2017Donald Trump and Melania Trump. Kevin Dietsch - Pool/Getty Images Melania Trump wore an off-the-shoulder white gown with a slit accompanied by a thin burgundy ribbon to the inaugural balls. The dress was designed by Herv Pierre in collaboration with Melania Trump.Jill Biden, 2021Joe Biden and Jill Biden. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images There were no inaugural balls in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Jill Biden did change into a white dress and matching cashmere coat by Gabriela Hearst for the small evening celebrations. The coat was embroidered with flowers representing every US state and territory.Melania Trump, 2025Donald Trump and Melania Trump. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images At the 2025 inaugural balls, Melania Trump wore a strapless white gown with black trim by Herv Pierre, who designed her first inaugural gown in 2017. A black choker and white heels completed the look.

The dizzying array of executive actions President Donald Trump issued on Monday, the first day of his second term, show that he is increasingly willing to push the envelope, challenging both laws and norms in an effort to get the government to do what he wants.His pardons of January 6 rioters are far more sweeping than many predicted. His immigration actions go much further than those he took in his first term, some in ways that seem blatantly illegal. And he laid the groundwork to push out many federal government employees who he thinks might get in his way.Other actions raised more questions than they answered. Trump punted his promised tariffs off to February, and mostly avoided weighing in on major foreign policy hotspots. And its still very unclear what, exactly, is going on with Elon Musks DOGE.But we arguably got a lot more insight into what Trumps second term will bring on his first day than weve gotten in the past year. Hes rushing headlong into some confrontations while holding off, for the time being, on others. Heres what we learned.Just over a week ago, soon-to-be-Vice President JD Vance opined that nonviolent trespassers prosecuted for entering the Capitol on January 6, 2021, should be pardoned but that days violent rioters obviously should not be.Trump had other ideas when he issued his sweeping clemency for those he called the J6 hostages. He did separate out 14 members of two far-right groups, the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, who had been convicted of seditious conspiracy, commuting their sentences instead of giving full pardons. But all other individuals convicted of offenses related to the Capitol chaos that day received full unconditional pardons including those who assaulted police officers, and including the Proud Boys leader, Enrique Tarrio.Trump, it has always been clear, was delighted by the storming of the Capitol on January 6; he doesnt care that his supporters assaulted police, terrorized members of Congress, and threatened to hang his own vice president. What mattered to him was that they were his supporters. So he handed them a get-out-of-jail-free card, even to those who violently tried to overthrow democracy. 2) Its Stephen Millers America nowTrumps Day 1 executive orders were most numerous and detailed on the topic of immigration. The president revived previous hard-line administration policies, such as a refugee admissions freeze, deportation orders, and border wall construction. He also rolled back some Biden policies intended to let more migrants come in legally if they followed an orderly process, ending Bidens parole program and shutting down an app created for migrants to schedule appointments to make asylum requests.But on some fronts, Trumps orders already went much further than he did in his first term and showed a newly emboldened willingness to defy legal caution. For instance:He ordered that the US military would now be responsible for the mission of closing the border. He used a public health emergency rationale to shut down the asylum system even though theres no public health crisis at the moment. He ordered that federal prosecutors recommend the death penalty for any unauthorized immigrant convicted of a capital crime.He fired several top officials in the US immigration court system, including the systems acting head.And he declared that despite what the Constitution says, birthright citizenship would no longer apply to children born in the US to unauthorized immigrants or visa-holders (unless one parent was a US citizen or lawful permanent resident).Most of these will likely be the subject of lawsuits, with the birthright citizenship order generally believed to be highly unlikely to withstand court scrutiny (the ACLU already sued over it). And all of these have the fingerprints of Stephen Miller, the anti-immigrant hardliner who now once again wields immense power as deputy White House chief of staff and Homeland Security adviser.Trump and Miller likely think aggressive and seemingly illegal policies like the birthright order are worth a shot and may have some effect at deterring future migrants from coming even if theyre eventually struck down. Whats clear is that Trumps team is not asking for permission to do sweeping restrictionist policies theyre going as hard as they can right out the gate.3) The groundwork was laid for a civil service purgeThough Trump fired some federal employees Monday, the first day did not seem to bring a mass firing of federal bureaucrats, but the groundwork was laid for something like that to happen in the future.First off, Trump restored what was previously known as his Schedule F executive order, issued in late 2020 shortly before he left office (it was never really implemented and Biden soon revoked it). The idea behind Schedule F now rebranded as Schedule Policy/Career is to reclassify various important civil servant jobs as exempt from civil service hiring rules and protections, making it easier for those workers to be fired.Secondly, Trump took aim at part of the federal workforce known as the Senior Executive Service (SES). These are, basically, the top jobs at agencies in the civil service, which liaise with the political appointees to run things. Trumps order demanded plans from his agencies for making SES more accountable (easier to fire). His order also said hiring for SES jobs would now be done by panels composed mostly of political appointees, rather than civil servants as is currently the case.Third, the Office of Personnel Management issued a memo letting agencies hire unlimited Schedule C appointees another class of political appointees that dont go through the civil service hiring process. And fourth, another order instructed Trump appointees to come up with plans for reforming the civil service hiring process itself.Altogether, this shows an intense focus from Trumps people on wresting agency authority away from civil servants and toward greater numbers of political appointees and though mass firings havent happened yet, it may be only a matter of time.Since Trump announced he would appoint Elon Musk to chair a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), its been unclear what exactly this supposed new department would be or how it would work.A Trump order Monday made the unexpected announcement that, in fact, an existing part of the executive branch the US Digital Service, set up during the Obama administration to modernize government IT would become the US DOGE Service. Now, this executive order laid out a surprisingly limited mission of modernizing federal technology and software, rather than DOGEs previously announced remit of overhauling government spending, regulations, and personnel. Liberals on social media crowed at this apparent demotion for Musk.I wouldnt be so sure about that. Reports on Musks planning, and public statements from people in contact with his team, suggest they are planning to go very big indeed, in ways that havent yet been revealed. With a new report that Musk is likely to get a West Wing office, its hard to believe hes scaled back his grand ambitions. 5) Trump wants to reshape the US energy industryTrump has long vowed to roll back Bidens efforts to fight climate change and unleash fossil fuel production, so its no surprise that he withdrew from the Paris climate agreement, gave the green light to drilling in Alaska, and tried to roll back funding for green energy projects in Bidens Inflation Reduction Act. He also pursued his longtime vendetta against the wind energy industry with an order halting all wind energy permitting for projects on federal lands and in the ocean.Yet Trumps Unleashing American Energy executive order made another big policy move it aggressively took aim at the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a longtime bugaboo of Republicans, and even some Democrats, who view it as a major reason why its become so difficult to build things in the US. In theory, NEPA makes the government consider the environmental impact of projects; in practice, critics argue, its convoluted process makes projects more time-consuming and bogs them down with delays. Trumps order proposes taking NEPA enforcement out of the hands of the Council of Environmental Quality, rescinding existing regulations about it, and coming up with a new and more streamlined process for how to enforce the law and ease permitting.6) Lots remains TBDWith Trump doing so much on his first day, its also interesting to read tea leaves about what he didnt do.On economic policy, he issued a brief, vague order instructing agencies to try and lower the cost of living, and he signed a trade order that had lots of phrases like undertake a review of and investigate the feasibility of. But he did not issue the Day 1 tariffs that he promised for Canada and Mexico (in a press conference, he set a new deadline of February 1 for that). Translation: His tariff policies are not yet ready for prime time, and perhaps still the subject of wrangling among his economic advisers over how sweeping they should be.On foreign policy, too, Trump issued a brief and vague America First Policy Directive for his first confirmed Cabinet appointee, Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He also announced hed pause foreign aid for 90 days and designate Latin American drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. But he did little about the rest of the world, not making any big Day 1 announcements on, for instance, Ukraine, Israel, or China.We shouldnt read too much into these omissions perhaps Trump is simply waiting until his team is confirmed and in place. But, notably, those are two areas where his coalition is genuinely torn between tariff superfans and skeptics who fear economic disruption, and between internationalists and isolationists. To find out what Trump will do on these topics, well just have to wait a bit longer.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More: Politics

By Passant Rabie Published January 21, 2025 | Comments (0) | Artists Impression Of Supersonic Winds On Wasp 127b ESO/L. Calada The farthest planet from the Sun, Neptune, is the windiest place in the solar system, with winds that whip through at speeds reaching more than 0.3 miles per second (0.5 kilometers per second). Thats a relatively pleasant wind speed compared to a giant, puffy planet located around 500 lightyears away from Earth. Supersonic winds on this exoplanet, designated WASP-127b, travel at a mind-bending 5.5 miles per second (9 kilometers per second). The speed of sound on Earth is roughly 0.21 miles per second (0.34 km/sec), making these winds supersonic by our terrestrial standards. The recently discovered extraterrestrial jet stream is the fastest ever measured on a planet, providing new insight into extreme weather that pummel other worlds. Using European Southern Observatorys (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, a team of astronomers measured the extremely powerful winds that are raging on the equator of WASP-127b. At speeds of up to 20,500 miles per hour (33,000 kilometers per hour), the jet winds move at nearly six times the speed at which the planet rotates, according to a study published today in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. An animated visual of the exoplanet reveals a gnarly scene as the winds pummel the equator of WASP-127b with extreme ferocity. Part of the atmosphere of this planet is moving towards us at a high velocity while another part is moving away from us at the same speed, Lisa Nortmann, a scientist at the University of Gttingen, Germany, and lead author of the study, said in a statement. This signal shows us that there is a very fast, supersonic, jet wind around the planets equator.Astronomers discovered the exoplanet in 2016, a gas giant thats slightly larger than Jupiter with a fraction of its mass, making it rather puffy. WASP-127b takes a little over four days to orbit around its star, a yellow dwarf, or G-type star, which are typically less massive and cooler than our Sun. Ever since its discovery, scientists have been probing the planet to learn more about its weather patterns. The team behind the new study used VLT to trace the planets composition by measuring how the light of its host star travels through its upper atmosphere. The results revealed the presence of water vapor and carbon monoxide molecules in the planets atmosphere. The speed at which this material moved through the atmosphere, however, uncovered a rather odd double peak, according to the study, which meant that one side of the atmosphere is moving towards us and the other away from us at high speeds.This is something we havent seen before. Based on their measurements, the researchers concluded that extremely powerful winds dominated the planets equator, appearing to squeeze the gas giant as parts of its atmosphere move in opposite directions. This is something we havent seen before, Nortmann said. As the study also revealed, the planets poles are cooler than the rest of it, and it experiences slightly different temperatures on its morning and evening sides. This shows that the planet has complex weather patterns just like Earth and other planets of our own System, Fei Yan, a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, and co-author of the study, said in a statement. Scientists are learning more about planets that orbit stars other than our own, analyzing the atmosphere of other worlds with extreme precision as a way to piece together our own origin story. Understanding the dynamics of these exoplanets helps us explore mechanisms such as heat redistribution and chemical processes, improving our understanding of planet formation and potentially shedding light on the origins of our own Solar System, David Cont from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, and a co-author of the paper, said in a statement.With more than 5,000 exoplanets discovered so far, weve still got a lot of learning to do.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Isaac Schultz Published January 15, 2025 By Isaac Schultz Published January 9, 2025 By Isaac Schultz Published January 8, 2025 By Isaac Schultz Published January 8, 2025 By Isaac Schultz Published January 2, 2025 By Ed Cara Published December 26, 2024

Do you have plan for how to the watch the big game? With the Super Bowl around the corner, you want to make sure you have the best quality experience streaming the game. Roku has you covered. Right now Amazon has the Roku Ultra 2024 streaming player on sale in a limited time deal. This is Rokus premium streamer and for the time being, Amazon has it going for 21% off. That amounts to a $21 discount off of $100, bringing it to a new low price of just $79.See at AmazonPremium StreamerThe Roku Ultra 2024 is your ultimate streaming player. It supports not only 4K content, but also HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos so you can experience cinema quality picture and sound right from your living room. Super-speedy streaming is to be expected with Wi-Fi 6 support and the Ultra is 30% faster than any other Roku player.Each Roku streaming player supports Bluetooth and is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa so you can incorporate it into the rest of your smart home. The remote does have its own built-in voice assistant to help you find the content youre searching for with ease.Speaking of the remote, its also got its also rechargeable so you dont need to worry about pesky batteries. The buttons are backlit which means no fumbling around in the dark when trying to navigate the apps. Of course you can always just say Hey Roku and navigate with the voice assistant. If you cant find the remote, Roku even has a lost remote finder. Ill give you a hint, it probably feel down between the cushions of your couch.The home screen is fully customizable so you can keep your favorite streaming apps at the ready. And did you know Roku has originals? I didnt! Along with the other apps you may be subscribed to like Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, and Max, youll be able to switch over to watch the free hit Roku Originals such asDinner Budget Showdown,Celebrity Family Food Battle,Martha Cooks,Emeril Cooks, wow, I guess its just a whole lot of cooking shows, huh?Get your snacks ready and let your friends know your living room will be the place to watch the game this upcoming Super Bowl Sunday all thanks to the aid of the Roku Ultra 2024 streaming player for the reduced price of just $79. Thats a $21 savings you can put toward making a great buffalo dip.See at Amazon

IPHO House / Sascha Wurm ArchitekturSave this picture! Lennard ZimmermannArchitects: Sascha Wurm ArchitekturAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:362 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Lennard Zimmermann Structural Engineer: Bollinger+Grohmann, Sebastian Dietrich - Bollinger+Grohmann More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Worm in Swan's Clothing - In the Franconian town of Iphofen, at the foot of Mount Schwanberg, a family home has been constructed on a sloped site at the edge of a typical residential development. The building adheres to the strict guidelines of the development plan. With its rectangular footprint, gabled roof, orientation, locally typical plaster facade, and restrained color scheme, it blends inconspicuously into the surrounding settlement. However, the interior layout intentionally breaks with convention: lofty rooms that extend to the roofline, open circulation areas, parallel staircases arranged side by side, a central living space with maximum connection to the garden, and split-level floors that reinterpret the slope as a spatial asset and integrate the ascending terrain into the design.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The Rdelseer Tor, part of the town's historic fortifications and a postcard icon of the community, and a nod to the origins of the clients, served as an inverted source of inspiration for the design concept. The street- and settlement-facing facades of the house echo the massive, protective outer wall: solid, closed, and punctuated with only a few small openings. In contrast, the garden-facing facade, inspired by the half-timbered construction of the Rdelseer Tor's inner face toward the old town, is open and permeable. The structural system follows a simple and clear principle: load-bearing exterior walls, a central wall running beneath the roof ridge, and two bracing wall panels. These elements form a protective envelope around the central living area. Subdivided by a fireplace and an offset column in line with the exterior wall, this space offers a flexible layout for cooking, dining, and living. Selective openings in the load-bearing central wall create connections between the living area and the circulation zones, fostering family interaction. A full-width glass wall extends the living space into an equally wide terrace.Save this picture!Designed as an extension of the interior, the terrace is subtly set into the hillside and spanned by a pergola. Preparations for its future addition have been made, referencing the vine-covered structures of historic houses in Iphofen's town center. On the street-facing side, the contrasting transitional space between the exterior and interior the house's entrance - is more subdued. In keeping with the defensive character of the settlement-facing facade, the entrance door is flush with the wall surface, without a canopy or visual emphasis. Inside, the entryway is designed as a transition zone between the public and private realms. Material selection, color palette, spatial proportions, and lighting create a calming atmosphere that sets the stage for entry into the bright, open spaces of the house.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!A building concept focused on achieving sustainability through durability relies on simple, robust, and high-quality materials and construction methods. These include wood-aluminum windows, exposed concrete floors, and walls made of monolithic brick masonry with a plaster facade. The house is constructed without a basement. The insulated bricks rest fully on a "folded" reinforced concrete slab, eliminating the need for hidden reinforced concrete columns to support the exterior walls. The high insulation values of the selected materials, combined with technical features such as a heat pump and photovoltaic system, result in a high energy efficiency standard (Efficiency Class A+).Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeMaterialConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on January 21, 2025Cite: "IPHO House / Sascha Wurm Architektur" 21 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025865/ipho-house-sascha-wurm-architektur&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Gawx, artist and filmmaker, has rapidly gained prominence on YouTube through his distinctive blend of illustration and cinematography. His channel, Gawx Art, boasts over 2.3 million subscribers, captivated by his unique cartoons and cinematic style. Beyond digital platforms, Gawx has custom-designed items such as sneakers and skateboard decks, showcasing his versatility and creative reach.In this episode, Gawx shares his journey of balancing school and content creation, building a unique style, and staying authentic. He opens up about the creative risks hes taken, how he battles artistic blocks, and how cinema and travel fuel his inspiration. Episode 61 Timestamps:00:00:00 Introduction00:03:11 The Origin Of Gawx's "So Today!"00:06:04 How Being Authentic Can Actually Solidify Your Brand00:08:50 How Gawx Balanced School & YouTube 00:14:45 THIS Was Gawx's Bad Decision00:17:33 How Pressure Fueled Gawxs YouTube Success00:20:31 How Balancing Work & Rest Can Lead To Genius00:21:47 Gawx Reveals How Films Inspire His YouTube Masterpieces00:23:05 Creating For The Algorithm VS Authentic Storytelling00:26:35 Gawx Does THIS To Turn Discouragement Into Inspiration00:29:13 Gawx's Biggest Failure & Overcoming It00:31:53 THIS Is Gawx's Workflow For Every Video00:36:11 Gawx's Masterful Way To Integrate Sponsors (STEAL THIS)00:40:48 Gawx's Secret To Overcome Creative Blocks00:41:46 How Setting Deadlines Led To Gawx's Success00:45:00 Why Traveling Transforms Gawxs Artistic Vision (JAPAN)00:47:58 Gawx Explains How To Find Your Artistic Style (BIG TIP)00:55:23 Gawx's Advice To Aspiring Creators In 202500:58:17 Whats Next for Gawxs Creative Journey00:59:05 Gawx's Favorite Software & Equipment (AI Tools Included)01:07:07 Gawx's Thoughts On AI & The Future Of Creativity01:11:17 How Gawx Learned His Craft & Filmmaking SkillsIf this podcast is helping you, please take 2 minutes to rate our podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, It will help the Podcast reach and help more people! Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/12jUe4lIJgxE4yst7rrfmW?si=ab98994cf57541cf Apple Podcasts (Scroll down to review)- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bad-decisions-podcast/id1677462934 Find out more about Gawx:https://www.youtube.com/@UCFDxyA1H3VEN0VQwfMe2VMQ https://www.instagram.com/gawx_art/ Join our discord server where we connect and share assets:https://discord.gg/zwycgqezfD Bad Decisions Audio Podcast :Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasthttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/badxstudio If you wanna see us to do cool things follow us here too:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/badxstudio/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/badxstudio TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@badxstudio LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badxstudio Our personal handles: (if you wanna stalk us)https://www.instagram.com/farhad_baddecisions/ https://www.instagram.com/faraz_baddecisions/ https://www.instagram.com/farhad_sh/ https://www.instagram.com/farazshababs/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhadshababi/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/farazshababi/ #artist #unrealengine #cinema4d #houdini #blender3d #blender #3dartist #podcast #badxstudio #BadDecisionsStudio #BadDecisionsPodcast

Specially trained dogs and their impressive noses helped a team of researchers and citizen scientists discover two new species of the truffles. The truffle dogs sniffed out Tuber cumberlandense and Tuber canirevelatum, which are native to North America. The two new species of these expensive and elusive fungi are described in a study recently published in the journal Mycologia. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.Truffles are some of the most mysterious and alluring fungi on the planet, study co-author and University of Florida doctoral student Benjamin Lemmond said in a statement. They live their lives underground, out of sight, but people all around the world are eager to find them and enjoy their unique culinary qualities. This study shows that there are still undiscovered truffles right under our nose, so to speak, and that without the help of dogs (and their incredible noses) we might never find them.Kentucky truffle whiskey?Tuber cumberlandense was uncovered by a truffle dog named Luca and trainer Margaret Townsend and is named for the Cumberland Plateau in the Appalachian Mountains where it was found.Previously, T. cumberlandense has been harvested in truffle orchards and in woodlands, but was sold under other names. This new analysis showed that it is actually a distinct and previously undescribed species native to North America. Distiller Makers Mark is now trying to figure out how to cultivate this native truffle for its spirits.This particular species enjoys a symbiotic relationship with their host, white oaks, growing from their roots and providing nutrition to the trees, study co-author and Michigan State University mycologist Gregory Bonito said in a statement. Makers Mark is interested in cultivating T. cumberlandense because they store their whiskey in white oak barrels. They will be reforesting their land in Kentucky with white oaks for the barrels and hope one day to harvest truffles as well; perhaps they will even create truffle-infused whiskey.Lois Martin and Monza collecting truffles in a North American truffle orchard. CREDIT: MSU. The dog-found truffleMonza and her trainer Lois Martin discovered Tuber canirevelatum. The name means dog-found truffle, in Latin in honor of the truffle dogs. Martin sent the T. canirevelatum samples to Michigan State University since the samples didnt smell or look like anything known to grow in North America. Bonito and study co-author and undergraduate research student, Alassane Sow, analyzed DNA to place them on the fungi family tree.Receiving these samples was very exciting, especially because they looked very similar to the well-known edible European truffles Tuber macrosporumand [and] Tuber aestivum, Sow said in a statement. We hope that by describing both of these species there will be increased interest in cultivating North American truffles. Our analyses show that each has aromatic compounds found in some of the most valuable truffle species.[ Related: Youve heard of truffle pigs. Now get ready for truffle birds.]North American truffles could be big businessCultivating and selling European truffle speciesoften with the help of hogshas been the norm. However, there is a growing interest in cultivating, wild-harvesting, and selling species of truffles that are native to North America. As more people try to grow and cultivate truffles, more truffle dogs will be needed to find them underground.If you have $20,000 of truffles growing underground, you need to find them before they perish, so the dogs are very important, Bonito said.Truffles are expensive and highly prized in the culinary world due to their rarity. In 2023, a bidder in Hong Kong reportedly paid $141,000 for a white truffle that weighed over two pounds. Each of these new species of truffle has economic potential and produces a unique aroma. This scent is the basis for the culinary potential of trufflesand their potential value. While prices vary, white truffles can cost $4,000 per pound and black truffles range from roughly $300 to $800.The team suspects that there are other native North American tuber species just waiting to be discovered underground.Our research reinforces the importance of using trained truffle dogs in tuber research and truffle farming, Bonito said. We suspect many native tuber species remain to be discovered and described. This task will be enhanced through the continued collaboration between mycologistsscientists who study fungithe public and trained truffle dogs.