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Asteroid sample returns to Earth after a 3.86-billion-mile journey

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:50:47 GMT

The country’s first pristine asteroid sample — protected by a heat shield invented in Silicon Valley — landed in Utah’s Great Salt Lake Desert Sunday morning, where it was greeted by a team of NASA scientists hoping to study its chemical composition.The sample was taken from the asteroid Bennu, where in 2020, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft touched down on the asteroid’s surface to collect rock and dust. It took two years to get there and two years to measure the asteroid — and now, it has returned to Earth with a sample in tow.“Bennu is a leftover fragment from the tumultuous formation of the solar system,” said NASA on X, formerly Twitter, around 8 a.m. “The samples will help scientists better understand the origins of our solar system, and might contain clues to the role asteroids may have played in delivering life-forming compounds to Earth.”After being preserved in space for millennia, NASA said Bennu “is a ti...

Pac-12 rewind: UW and Oregon dominate, WSU meets the moment, Utah and USC survive in telling Week 4 action

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:50:47 GMT

Recapping the best and worst of Week 4 across the Pac-12 …Theme of the week: DramaThe first full week of conference play brought a series of taut affairs, with three of the six matchups (Utah-UCLA, Arizona-Stanford and WSU-OSU) in doubt in the final minutes and a fourth (USC-Arizona State) unsettled midway through the fourth quarter.Theme of the season: Northwest dominanceThe balance of power tilts heavily to the upper left corner of the conference, with the Washington and Oregon schools all ranked and sporting a combined record of 15-1. Neither of the other regional quartets (the Four Corners and California schools) comes close to matching the overall strength of the Pacific Northwest.Game of the week: Washington State 38, Oregon State 35The ‘Pac-2’ showdown more than met expectations with a slew of big plays, momentum changes and stellar individual performances. The schools left behind in the realignment game were intent on showing a Fox primetime (East Coast) au...

QB Joe Burrow’s status unclear as Rams and Bengals meet for first time since Super Bowl 56

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:50:47 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — The last thing Joe Burrow saw in Super Bowl 56 was Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald slinging him to the ground.Donald made it look too easy, charging around blockers, wrapping up the Cincinnati quarterback and throwing him down on fourth-and-1 as Burrow tossed an errant desperation pass. Burrow didn’t have enough time to spy receiver Ja’Marr Chase running open down the right sideline. That sealed a 23-20 win for the Rams in the game 19 months ago.The matchup between the Rams and Bengals in Cincinnati on Monday night will be their first rematch in a regular-season game since that Super Bowl. What’s not known is whether a lingering calf injury will keep Burrow from playing — or how it will affect his mobility if he does play.The team listed him as questionable for the game.Burrow insisted he didn’t think too much about the Super Bowl loss when he saw the Rams on the 2023 schedule. He downplayed the revenge angle, saying he’s got nothing more...

Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte scratched vs. Yankees because of illness

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:50:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was scratched from Sunday’s game against the New York Yankees because of an illness.Marte was in Arizona’s original lineup as the leadoff hitter, then was scratched shortly before the scheduled first pitch. Arizona moved catcher Gabriel Moreno to the leadoff spot and Geraldo Perdomo from shortstop to second.Marte is hitting .279 with 24 homers and 80 RBIs in 144 games this season. Over his last 18 games, Marte is batting .329 (23 for 70) with three homers and 12 RBIs.___AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/mlbSource

Right-hander Chris Paddack activated by Twins, 16 months after second Tommy John surgery

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:50:47 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Right-hander Chris Paddack was activated by the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, 16 months after he had Tommy John surgery for the second time.An eighth-round pick by Miami in the 2015 amateur draft, Paddack was traded to San Diego the following year and had his first elbow repair with Texas Rangers physician Dr. Keith Meister on Aug. 15, 2016.Paddack returned to the mound on April 30, 2018, with Class A Lake Elsinore and made his big league debut with the Padres the following March 31. He was traded to the Twins in April 2022, made five starts and had his second Tommy John surgery with Meister that May 18. Paddack made three minor league rehab assignments starting Sept. 6, including a three-inning stint on Tuesday for Triple-A St. Paul. He is 21-21 with a 4.20 ERA in 65 starts and one relief appearance over four big league seasons. The AL Central champion Twins are expected to use Paddack out of the bullpen the rest of the season and the playoffs.___AP MLB: https://www...

Hisatsune finishes strongly to win French Open for 1st victory on European Tour

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:50:47 GMT

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France (AP) — Japanese golfer Ryo Hisatsune posted a 5-under 66 to win the French Open by two shots from Jeff Winther of Denmark and Jordan Smith of England on Sunday, clinching his first victory on the European tour. “(I decided to play) more aggressive, like ‘Go, go, go,’ said the 21-year-old Hisatsune, who made five birdies on the back nine and jumped up four places in his final round at Le Golf National.Winther’s fine round of 65 moved him up 10 spots. But countryman Rasmus Højgaard, last year’s runner-up, missed out again after having looked in contention. His 68 left him in fourth, three shots behind Hisatsune.Smith shared the overnight lead with Ewen Ferguson of Scotland, with both bidding for their third victories on the European tour. Smith opened the day strongly with two birdies, but three bogeys followed as he carded a 1-over 72. Ferguson had a nightmare start with consecutive double bogeys and his 5-over 76 — which featured t...

Becton moves to left tackle as Jets shuffle offensive line for their game vs. Patriots

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:50:47 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets shuffled some of the big boys up front on the offensive line for their game against the New England Patriots on Sunday.With starting left tackle Duane Brown placed on injured reserve Saturday with a hip injury, the Jets moved Mekhi Becton from right tackle to the left side. Starting right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker switched to right tackle, and rookie Joe Tippmann made his first NFL start at right guard. Left guard Laken Tomlinson and center Connor McGovern stayed at their usual spots.The 38-year-old Brown was initially ruled out for the game and then placed on IR on Saturday after he missed practice all week. Coach Robert Saleh was optimistic Friday that Brown would play, depending on how Brown’s hip checked out with doctors. With Brown now out at least four games, the Jets slid Becton back over to his natural position — despite both Saleh and offensive line coach Keith Carter seeming to rule out a position switch. “He has been pra...

Man United’s Marcus Rashford unhurt after car crash in his Rolls Royce following Burnley game

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:50:47 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford escaped unhurt from a car crash in his Rolls Royce after leaving the club’s training ground on Saturday evening. Britain’s PA news agency reported that the crash happened after United had returned to the club’s Carrington training ground following a 1-0 win at Burnley in the Premier League. The players returned to the training ground by team bus to collect their own cars before setting off home.Pictures and footage posted online in the aftermath of the incident showed Rashford’s white Rolls Royce having been damaged in the incident. Rashford wrote on Instagram on Sunday afternoon: “I’m alright guys thanks for the messages.”___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/SoccerSource

Braves RHP Charlie Morton goes on IL with finger issue, making him ineligible for NLDS

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:50:47 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Atlanta Braves took another blow to their injury-plagued rotation, placing right-hander Charlie Morton on the 15-day injured list Sunday. The move means the 14-game winner won’t be eligible to pitch in the NL Division Series.The 39-year-old Morton left his start Friday against the Washington Nationals after only one inning with pain in his right index finger. An MRI showed it was a sprain, manager Brian Snitker said. Morton won’t be eligible to come off the IL until Oct. 7, which is after the Braves will have set their roster for the best-of-five NLDS. Atlanta, with baseball’s best record, has already earned a bye in the best-of-three opening round.The only way Morton could be activated would be as a replacement for player who is injured in the Division Series.“This isn’t anything or any hill we haven’t climbed before,” Snitker said. “There is never good timing on that kind of stuff. Hopefully we have the depth to cover everything up and...

Usher encabezará el espectáculo de medio tiempo del Super Bowl 2024

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:50:47 GMT

(CNN) — Usher, artista ganador del Grammy, será el encargado de encabezar el espectáculo de medio tiempo del Super Bowl LVIII.Usher saltará al campo en el Allegiant Stadium de Las Vegas durante el show de medio tiempo presentado por Apple Music, según un comunicado de prensa de Roc Nation y la NFL este domingo.“Es el honor de mi vida poder finalmente marcar en mi lista de deseos una actuación en el Super Bowl. No puedo esperar para traer al mundo un espectáculo diferente a todo lo que han visto de mí antes”, dijo Usher en un comunicado este domingo, añadiendo: “Gracias a los fans y a todos los que hicieron posible esta oportunidad. Nos vemos muy pronto”.El cantante ha interpretado su amplia colección de éxitos de R&B durante su serie de conciertos en Las Vegas “Usher – My Way The Residency”. Desde que irrumpió en la escena musical en 1994 con su álbum debut homónimo “Usher”, ha vendido más de 80 millones de discos en to...