Category: Uncategorized

A Tidally-Locked, Rocky, Mostly-Chilly World — But Might Have A Liquid Water Ocean, At 68° F? And Orbiting Around A Red-Dwarf Star…

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Again, thanks to our erstwhile Anon. for the heads up! This makes a quartet… and this one is… completely fascinating.

Because this exoplanet orbits very near its sun, one side forever faces that star, and that may well be enough to melt a “bullseye” water body, at the surface. An ocean, about half the size of the Atlantic (since the rocky core is about 5X the size of Earth), warmed to around 68° F. Cozy, for life as we know it, with a nitrogen rich atmosphere.

The fact that it orbits a cooler red dwarf nearby means based on the spectral data, that this system could well have been relatively stable for over 2 billion years. . . enough time, for the random events of evolutionary “proto-biology” to have now organized into single cells… or potentially… more. Here’s the Canadian paper just out, on it all — and a bit:

…When the exoplanet LHS 1140 b was first discovered, astronomers speculated that it might be a mini-Neptune: an essentially gaseous planet, but very small in size compared to Neptune. But after analyzing data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) collected in December 2023 – combined with previous data from other space telescopes such as Spitzer, Hubble and TESS – scientists have come to a very different conclusion.

Located some 48 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cetus, LHS 1140 b appears to be one of the most promising exoplanets in its star’s habitable zone, potentially harboring an atmosphere and even an ocean of liquid water. The results of this discovery by Université de Montréal astronomers are available on ArXiv and will soon be published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters….

Estimates based on all accumulated data reveal that LHS 1140 b is less dense than expected for a rocky planet with an Earth-like composition, suggesting that 10 to 20 per cent of its mass may be composed of water. This discovery points to LHS 1140 b being a compelling water world, likely resembling a snowball or ice planet with a potential liquid ocean at the sub-stellar point, the area of the planet’s surface that would always be facing the system’s host star due to the planet’s expected synchronous rotation (much like the Earth’s Moon).

“Of all currently known temperate exoplanets, LHS 1140 b could well be our best bet to one day indirectly confirm liquid water on the surface of an alien world beyond our Solar System,” said Cadieux, lead author of the new study. “This would be a major milestone in the search for potentially habitable exoplanets….”

Now you know… onward, to the Ariane 6 launch tonight by ESA, off the coast of South America… grinning ear to ear.

नमस्ते

It Sure Bugs The Powerline Boys, When Their Candidate’s Central Philosophy… Has A Clearly-Defined… Name.

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Well, since about mid-last week (commencing with the holiday that celebrates us rejecting a King’s rule, naturally), the boys have been taking turns bleating about how unfair it is to label Tangerine as anything other than a devoutly God-fearing Whyte Christian male. /SNARK.

And tonight it’s Steve’s turn: he (unwittingly) admits what we all know: the New Republic cover is… genius. So much so, Steve runs it in full, in a large format, in his purported take-down of it.

I suppose he thinks it will help anger the MAGA base.

I think he… knows… that what we saw in France, and in England, are the single thing these boys most fear: their candidate is Le Pen — and worse.

Their candidate is worse… than the worst days of Boris Johnson.

And when he said on national TV two weeks ago, that he will try to lock Mr. Biden up, for the imagined crime of honestly opposing him — and honestly beating him at the ballot box by about 8 million votes… we should believe him.

He wants dictator powers, and Chief Justice Roberts is doing his level best to give him the immunity to be just that.

So… as with abortion rights access, in 2020, Americans will turn out in force — to vote against a… FOURTH Reich.

Count on it, boys.

Cheers.

Thanks To Anon., We Have More Near Earth Asteroid Space Science To Offer, This Morning…

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This makes a recent trifecta of space themed science spots, here as we await anything material on our main power alley. [Thanks, Anon.!]

Per CNN, then — the story:

…When NASA scientists recently tracked the orbits of two space rocks as they made close approaches of Earth, they discovered a surprise: One of the asteroids has a little moon.

Astronomers regularly track the trajectories of asteroids to ensure that none of them are on a potential collision course with our planet.

While neither of the recent asteroids whizzed by at a concerning distance, the space rocks can yield valuable information that NASA uses to prepare for any potential future collision scenarios….

Astronomers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory… used [Goldstone, a] planetary radar — through the Deep Space Network to track and take images of the asteroids.

The Deep Space Network is a system of radio antennae on Earth that helps the agency communicate with spacecraft exploring our solar system and releases radio waves to act as radar across space….

In fact, Goldstone and the rest of the Deep Space Network of radar dishes are the way we stay in communication with now nearly 50 year old Voyager 1 and 2 missions, as well.

There you have it — even the tiniest space bodies, seem occasionally to possess fellow travellers. Shepherded moons, indeed. Grinning….

नमस्ते

Speed Merchant! A Tiny Star That May Reach “Escape Velocity”…

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Discovered by citizen astronomers who are pouring over petabytes of raw data, an ancient brown dwarf — super cooled — is moving 1.3 million mph, on a trajectory to escape our galaxy. The speedster is about 450 light years away from us — now on the other side of our Milky Way.

The leading hypothesis is that it was “sling-shotted” by either a binary pair of black holes in a globular cluster, or by a paired star — one that went supernova billions of years ago, giving it a violent shove. Here’s the story:

…Thanks to the efforts of a citizen science project called Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 and a team of astronomers from around the country, a rare hypervelocity L subdwarf star has been found racing through the Milky Way. More remarkably, this star may be on a trajectory that causes it to leave the Milky Way altogether. The research, led by University of California San Diego Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Adam Burgasser, was presented last month at a press conference during the 244th national meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in Madison, Wisconsin….

It may seem like the Sun is stationary while the planets in its orbit are moving, but the Sun is actually orbiting around the Milky Way galaxy at an impressive rate of about 220 kilometers per second — almost half a million miles per hour.

As fast as that may seem, when a faint red star was discovered crossing the sky at a noticeably quick pace, scientists took notice….

Yep — now you know… I’ll forever be fascinated by the fleet of foot among us. Smiling, now, in the luminously clearer dawn.

नमस्ते

Finally! Hinderaker Sees Than French Governance… Requires… Compromises. Hilarious.

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Today, John Hinderaker apparently still persists, two weeks later, with his knowing lie — that there is something illicit in French coalition building. It has been largely this way since 1870, John… and certainly — ever since 1958 (the Fifth Republic).

Wake up, man.

And do shut it.

Get ready for a landslide loss for fascism here in the US, in November.

Your boy Tangerine… is toast.

Watch and learn. Again.

Out.

The European Space Agency Will Launch Ariane 6 (From French Guiana Spaceport) — On Tuesday Evening, US Time.

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We will tune in to the ESA feed, a lil’ before 8 pm, local — and you may want to as well. Do see below, from our friends in Paris.

Here’s that Ariane 6 launch story — and a bit:

…Ariane 6 is scheduled to launch on 9 July 2024, with a launch window from 15:00-19:00 local time at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana (19:00–23:00 BST, 9 July 20:00–10 July 00:00 CEST).

This is a big moment for Europe, as the rocket will ensure our guaranteed, autonomous access to space – and all of the science, Earth observation, technology development and commercial possibilities that it entails. With many features brand new to Ariane 6, we’ll be able to carry more and take it further, while sustainably disposing of the launcher’s upper stage to prevent it becoming space debris.

Watch the entire launch live on ESAWebTV, starting half an hour before liftoff. The transmission is available in English with commentary by Katy Haswell and ESA Ariane 6 launch system engineer Tina Büchner da Costa….

In passing we will remark that we love the idea of helping South American economies — by placing major launch facilities on the continent’s coast. More stable weather for launch days; less crowded skies. Well played, ESA!

नमस्ते

SKYSCRAPER-06: No Surprise. Keytruda® Outshines Tecentriq® (Roche/Genentech) In Certain Non-Squamous Lung Cancers, Head To Head…

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Since about mid-2015, or over nine years, we’ve been covering the immuno-oncology battles of major pharma concerns. Specifically, we offered deep coverage of the patent fights (Cabilly I, II and III patent fights) between Merck and Roche. [Hint: just search “Roche” in the box, at upper right.]

But it seems those will fade in importance, now that Merck is posting wins in progression free survival — over Tecentriq, at least in some non-squamous lung cancers, in head to head comparisons. [So too, with the other main competitor, Optivo, from BMS.] Here’s that report — and a bit:

…On Thursday, Roche Holdings AG said that the Phase 2/3 SKYSCRAPER-06 study of tiragolumab plus Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and chemotherapy
versus pembrolizumab and chemotherapy as first-line treatment for locally advanced unresectable or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, did not meet its primary endpoints of progression-free survival (PFS) at its primary analysis….

Now you know — and it looks like the side-effect profile for pembrolizumab is milder than the Roche offering. So, as we’ve long predicted, it seems Merck has clear sailing into the 2030s now.

Onward, grinning… bike riding time.

नमस्ते

Billingsley: Can’t Decide If Mass Shootings / School Crime Victims… Have Any Rights

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Okay. This is proof positive that all the Powerline boys… are faux grievance seekers, almost exclusively.

Billingsley tonight complains that a capable Nashville trial judge has ruled that any copyright embedded in “manifestos” of serial killers or mass school shooters… belongs to the families of the dead victims. [Billingsley apparently — and in a preposterously depraved fashion, thinks he has a right to it.]

Now, on top of that, in this case, Billingsley thinks he has a right to ID the children who were the victims, even though the families asked that their names not be released.

But because the profoundly mentally ill shooter had also experienced gender dysphoria… Lloyd thinks he has an intellectual property right, both to the manifesto, and the kid victims’ stories.

What an entitled, hateful snob. His “rights” are only important to him, if he can further a hate agenda with them.

The families have decided not to release the manifesto. That is their call — not Powerline’s. The FBI has determined there is no ongoing threat to the public in the dead shooter’s manifesto (wholly unlike Matthew Hale’s — and the World Church of the Creator writings, circa 1999).

Damn Lloyd… grow up.

And stop abusing the families that fell victim to unspeakable violent crime. [It is by no means “suppressing evidence” by the FBI, as Billingsley stupidly claims — where there will be no trial. The shooter is dead and buried; no trial… no need for evidence. Period.]

You. Are. A. Loser.

“F#ck ’em Both” Is Protected Speech, On A Tennessee Lawn Sign. City Must Pay $31,000 In Plaintiff’s Legal Fees. Grin.

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Helping Americans, be American… that is the theme of this USDC opinion, out of Western Tennessee.

The plaintiff sued, after racking up over $600 in fines, from the city of Lakeland, for display of a political lawn sign that the city fathers deemed obscene. They hadn’t read Cohen v. CA, obviously. This matter was long ago decided by the Supremes: a tee shirt that said “F#ck the Draft” was not obscene. And so, the court correctly ruled that this lawn sign cannot be… obscene. And it will cost the city a pretty penny, in legal fees, too. Here’s the court’s opinion — and the original complaint at law. . . and a bit:

…Under Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15 (1971), the Plaintiff’s political sign is not obscene, and the Defendants may not lawfully regulate it based on the viewpoint it expresses.

Within 30 days of the entry of this Order, the Defendants shall reimburse the Plaintiff $688.45, which constitutes all fines, fees, costs, and expenses she has incurred for displaying her unredacted political yard sign.

The Defendants shall pay the Plaintiff nominal damages in the amount of one dollar for violating the Plaintiff’s First Amendment rights.

Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1988(b), the Plaintiff shall be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees in the amount of $31,000.00 and costs in the amount of $811.75, payable to Horwitz Law, PLLC IOLTA within 30 days of the entry of this Order.

This Order constitutes the final judgment in this action pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 58. All remaining claims in this litigation, and all other pending matters arising out of, regarding, or relating to this litigation, are dismissed with prejudice and/or denied as moot. The Parties also waive any right of appeal.

IT IS SO ORDERED….

Now you know — picnic dinner and bocce ball, by the lake with baby girrrls… grin.

नमस्ते

2023 In The US Was The Deadliest Year In A Decade — For Accidental Workplace Deaths, In Mining

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Regular readers will recall that even four decades on, I follow miners’ workplace conditions and safety laspes rather closely. And in that regard, the Tangerine’s roll-back/easing of various OSHA safety regulations (largely from coal mining lobbying efforts) has now appeared in the annual data, with a vengeance. [There have been no workplace safety roll-backs under Mr. Biden, to be clear.]

With more granularity, Texas (no surprise) saw the most fatal accidents in 2023, with five. Georgia had four and West Virginia had three. Eight states had two fatal accidents last year, including California, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Tennessee. [None in Colorado, and that says something — as well.]

Of last year’s 40 mining fatalities — January and August were the deadliest months, with six fatal accidents, each. Five miners died in mining accidents in March, and four died in June. Each month last year had at least one mining fatality. This is not the way the trendlines should be headed — with only 2014 eclipsing 2023 (there were 46 in 2014):

…The mining industry had its deadliest year in a decade in 2023, as 40 miners died in accidents across the U.S….

The Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) provides details about the 40 fatalities in reports on its website, attributing the accidents to nine general causes. MSHA characterized 16 of last year’s fatalities as involving machinery, with 10 classified as powered haulage accidents. Combined, machinery and powered haulage accounted for 65 percent of mine fatalities in 2023.

The other fatalities were classified in seven different ways. Three 2023 fatalities were classified as electrical accidents, with another three categorized as slip or fall of person. The other fatal accident causes were drowning (2); fall of roof or back (2); falling, rolling or sliding rock or material of any kind (2); fall of face, rib side or highwall (1); and handling material (1).

Additionally, MSHA published details about the nature of the material mined at each site where fatal accidents occurred. Thirty-one of the 40 fatalities occurred at sites fitting MSHA’s description of a metal/nonmetal mining operation. The other nine fatal accidents happened at coal mines.

Of the 31 metal/nonmetal operations involved, seven occurred at “crushed broken limestone” operations and six happened at construction sand and gravel operations. The nature of the material at the other sites involved was kaolin and ball clay (3); “crushed broken sandstone” (2); “crushed broken stone” (2); dimension stone (2); gold ore (2); cement (1); “crushed broken traprock” (1); dimension limestone (1); lime (1); platinum group ore (1); “sand common” (1); and silver ore (1)….

I cannot fathom how the richest nation on Earth cannot see it owes its workers in hazardous industries the best in protections, possible — the industry is vastly profitable, afterall. Damn — vote for sensible federal oversight, come November. [Hint: that is not Tangerine’s mantra.]

नमस्ते