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Massive exoplanet orbiting small star upends planet formation theories

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:51:47 GMT

(CNN) — Astronomers are questioning the theories of planet formation after discovering an exoplanet that technically shouldn’t exist.The planet, about the mass of Neptune and more than 13 times as massive as Earth, was detected orbiting an ultracool M-dwarf star called LHS 3154 — which is nine times less massive than our sun. An M-dwarf star is the smallest and coolest type of star.The planet — dubbed LHS 3154b — closely whips around the star, completing one orbit every 3.7 Earth days, making it the most massive known planet in a close orbit around one of the coldest, low-mass stars in the universe, according to a new study published Thursday in the journal Science. It upends how scientists understand the formation of planetary systems.“This discovery really drives home the point of just how little we know about the universe,” said study coauthor Suvrath Mahadevan, Verne M. Willaman professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State, in a statement. “We wouldn’t expect a pla...

Tiny living robots made from human cells surprise scientists

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:51:47 GMT

(CNN) — Scientists have created tiny living robots from human cells that can move around in a lab dish and may one day be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue, according to a new study.A team at Tufts University and Harvard University’s Wyss Institute have dubbed these creations anthrobots. The research builds on earlier work from some of the same scientists, who made the first living robots, or xenobots, from stem cells sourced from embryos of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis).“Some people thought that the features of the xenobots relied a lot on the fact that they are embryonic and amphibian,” said study author Michael Levin, Vannevar Bush professor of biology at Tufts’ School of Arts & Sciences.“I don’t think this has anything to do with being an embryo. This has nothing to do with being a frog. I think this is a much more general property of living things,” he said.“We don’t realize all the competencies that our own body cells have.”While alive, the an...

Speaker Johnson wrote foreword for book filled with conspiracy theories and homophobic insults

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:51:47 GMT

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson wrote the foreword and publicly promoted a 2022 book that spread baseless and discredited conspiracy theories and used derogatory homophobic insults.Written by Scott McKay, a local Louisiana politics blogger, the book, “The Revivalist Manifesto,” gives credence to unfounded conspiracy theories often embraced by the far-right – including the “Pizzagate” hoax, which falsely claimed top Democratic officials were involved in a pedophile ring, among other conspiracies.The book also propagates baseless and inaccurate claims, implying that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts was subjected to blackmail and connected to the disgraced underage sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.Other sections of the book defend podcaster Joe Rogan from racism charges after it was revealed he used the N-word, which Rogan later apologized for. The book also disparages poor voters as “unsophisticated and susceptible to government dependency” and easy to manipulate with “Black L...

Tiger Woods endures rocky finish in first start since Masters

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:51:47 GMT

(CNN) — Tiger Woods returned to competitive golf on Thursday at the Hero World Challenge in Albany, the Bahamas.Playing in his first tournament since withdrawing from the Masters in April, the 15-time major champion had an up-and-down first round, finishing with four birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey.Woods opened the first nine holes at even-par and found himself at one-under-par after the 14th before closing out the final four holes with two bogeys, a double bogey and par.“I was rusty, I didn’t have my feels,” Woods told the Golf Channel broadcast after the round. “Conditions were tough early. I kind of hung through there and I did not finish off my round the way I needed to and consequently it kind of went sideways at the end.”The 47-year-old finished at three-over 75 and in 18th place of the 20-man field. Meanwhile, 2023 Open champion Brian Harman and Tony Finau sit in a tie for first place after a five-under 67 first round at Albany Golf Club....

House to take up resolution to expel Santos in wake of scathing ethics report

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:51:47 GMT

(CNN) — The House is expected to take up a high-stakes resolution on Friday to expel indicted Republican Rep. George Santos from Congress in the wake of a scathing ethics report on his conduct.The New York congressman has survived prior attempts to oust him, but there has been growing momentum for this latest effort after the House Ethics Committee released a long-awaited report in November, which concluded that Santos “sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit.”A number of Republicans who previously did not support expulsion for Santos have said they will now vote to expel as a result of the ethics panel’s findings, though it is still unclear if there will be enough votes to oust the congressman.Expulsion is the most severe form of punishment for a lawmaker in the House. It is exceedingly rare and requires a two-thirds majority vote to succeed – a high bar to clear. Only five House lawmakers ha...

Foxboro (11-1), Hanover (11-1) to clash for Div. 5 crown

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:51:47 GMT

Foxboro head coach Jack Martinelli is synonymous with winning in Massachusetts high school football and recently reached the 300th win plateau.Now Martinelli is finally back where he belongs.Martinelli and the No. 2 Warriors return to the championship platform for the ninth time in Martinelli’s illustrious 42-year career to face top-seeded Hanover in the Division 5 Super Bowl title game Friday (8 p.m.) at Gillette Stadium. This is the first trip since back-to-back visits to the finals in 2005 and 2006, which was a 21-10 victory over Burlington.Foxboro had made the Final Four the past three years with the new power-ranking playoff format but finally Martinelli and the Warriors are over the hump and return to big stage spotlight.“I take each year for what it is, but it was great to see the kids rise to the occasion,” said Martinelli, whose record of 305-139-5 is good enough for fifth all-time in Massachusetts wins.Hanover also comes into the contest at 11-1 with its only blemish comin...

Patriots QB Bailey Zappe will apply these lessons to likely start Sunday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:51:47 GMT

FOXBORO — Nobody with the Patriots will admit it.Bill Belichick said he’s not making any announcements, Bailey Zappe said nothing is set in stone, and offensive starters simply offered “we’ll see.”But even if they won’t say so publicly, all signs point to Zappe getting the start at quarterback this Sunday against the Chargers.“I’m going to do everything I can to help this team win,” Zappe said.Zappe has already come on to replace incumbent starter Mac Jones four times this season, going 19 for 39 for 158 passing yards, no touchdown passes and two interceptions. His work was limited to mop-up duty at the end of blowouts in his first two games, but late in New England’s 10-6 loss to Indianapolis he was summoned to lead the Patriots’ final drive in what remained a close game.Then last week he played the entire second half against the New York Giants, stepping in after Jones was benched once again. Zappe led the Patriots on an ...

Patriot League rivals Duxbury, Scituate meet for Div. 4 title

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:51:47 GMT

Whether catching up with friends on Front Street or taking a stroll down St. George’s Street, chances are you have heard folks clamoring for the looming Div. 4 Super Bowl rematch between Duxbury and Scituate.It has been two years since Scituate’s Keegan Sullivan sprinted for a game-clinching two-point conversion as the Sailors stunned the Dragons, 14-13. This time around, the Patriot League heavyweights enter their latest Div. 4 duel with two completely different squads, both looking to leave their respective stamps on fantastic campaigns.“These kids have not talked about any revenge at all,” said Duxbury coach Matt Landolfi. “It’s all about focusing on winning the game, and executing at practice so that we can execute on Friday night. Kids are working hard, proud of how hard they’ve been working. We’ve got a tough challenge ahead. This is a different Scituate team with a high-powered offense. Our defense, we’ve got a lot of work to do to get ready for them.”Each school overcame a s...

Chicago Bulls play their best game of the season — an OT win against the Milwaukee Bucks — without Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:51:47 GMT

Alex Caruso is beginning to feel casual about being clutch.The guard didn’t hesitate when he shimmied away from Brook Lopez and pulled up to drain a 3-pointer, beating the buzzer by a half-second to send the Chicago Bulls into overtime against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday at the United Center.The play wasn’t drawn up to give Caruso the shot. But in the moment it just felt natural for Caruso, who has played the savior three times this season.“That shot, I don’t think it’s that difficult,” Caruso said. “I shoot that a lot in the summer playing open gym and then playing in August and September when we come back with the guys. I just don’t get the opportunity to shoot a lot of those because usually I’m the guy taking the ball out, so I was excited to shoot it.”The Bulls finally found a small sense of cohesion in the 120-113 overtime victory. All it took was the absence of their two biggest stars.Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan...

A Social Life?! In This Economy?!

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:51:47 GMT

In this episode from our podcast partner, In This Economy?!, Mo feels guilty spending money on social events like concerts, restaurant outings and shopping trips. But they are tired of missing memorable moments with friends.Jordan interviews personal finance expert, Shannon Lee Simmons, to determine if there’s a way to have fun without ditching your financial goals or racking up credit card debt.