But Freedman suspects that the Cepheid-based H0 measurement is not as trustworthy as the others. It is extremely sensitive to assumptions about, for example, the elemental composition of the Cepheids, and each star’s neighborhood. Dust in the galactic disks where Cepheids live can absorb their light and dim them. The Webb’s infrared vision pierces the… Continue reading The Webb Telescope Further Deepens the Biggest Controversy in Cosmology
Is Technology in the Olympics a Form of Doping or a Reality of Modern Sport?
Today’s Olympic Games are a technological marvel. Slow-motion cameras play back the milliseconds-long difference between first and second place. Wearable sensors detect clean hits in a bout of fencing or a round of tae kwon do. Olympic athletes use motion tracking, microcurrents and lactic acid monitors to improve form, speed up recovery and prevent injuries.… Continue reading Is Technology in the Olympics a Form of Doping or a Reality of Modern Sport?
Are Robots About to Level Up?
Within just a few years, artificial intelligence systems that sometimes seem to display almost human characteristics have gone from science fiction to apps on your phone. But there’s another AI-influenced frontier that is developing rapidly and remains untamed: robotics. Can the technologies that have helped computers get smarter now bring similar improvements to the robots… Continue reading Are Robots About to Level Up?
The Viral Paleontologist Who Unearths Pathogens’ Deep Histories
You aren’t worried about catching a virus from your samples? Not at all. Everything inside is dead. Every biological process has been disrupted by formalin. This is why the preparation is so amenable to preserving viral RNA: You put a complete stop to every enzymatic process, including the degradation of RNA. But humans carry respiratory… Continue reading The Viral Paleontologist Who Unearths Pathogens’ Deep Histories
Guardian Angels
Podcast: Download MYS325: People have lots of questions about guardian angels and they often get posed to Jimmy Akin, so in this episode Jimmy and Dom Bettinelli discuss what the Bible and other ancient Jewish and Christian literature and Church teaching say about guardian angels. Get all new episodes automatically and for free: Follow by… Continue reading Guardian Angels
The IRA’s Two-Year Disastrous Anniversary
As we mark the two-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly has been reduced. Inflation continues to strain American families by an extra $1,000 per month, and the burden of government regulation on businesses has certainly not eased, as they struggle under new tax rates, mandates, and rising supply costs.… Continue reading The IRA’s Two-Year Disastrous Anniversary
JWST Images Freezing Giant Exoplanet 12 Light-Years Away
JWST Images Freezing Giant Exoplanet 12 Light-Years Away The Jupiter-like world Epsilon Indi Ab is one of the coldest—and closest—exoplanets that astronomers have ever seen By Davide Castelvecchi & Nature magazine The exoplanet Epsilon Indi Ab. Blue scalelike features are visible in the background, with the host star’s light being blocked by a black circle… Continue reading JWST Images Freezing Giant Exoplanet 12 Light-Years Away
Secrecy of the President’s Family ‘Doc’ Raises the Question: Are We Getting the Full Story on Biden’s Cognitive Health?
Shown, President Biden with his longtime physician, Dr. Kevin C. O’Connor. By Paul Sperry, RealClearInvestigationsAugust 13, 2024 For the next five months, Dr. Kevin C. O’Connor will be one of the most powerful people in the world. The White House physician is the chief medical arbiter of Joe Biden’s fitness to continue as commander in… Continue reading Secrecy of the President’s Family ‘Doc’ Raises the Question: Are We Getting the Full Story on Biden’s Cognitive Health?
How Does Math Keep Secrets?
Can you keep a secret? Modern techniques for maintaining the confidentiality of information are based on mathematical problems that are inherently too difficult for anyone to solve without the right hints. Yet what does that mean when quantum computers capable of solving many problems astronomically faster are on the horizon? In this episode, host Janna… Continue reading How Does Math Keep Secrets?
Our Nation Can’t Afford Such a Fiscally Irresponsible FCC
Since the 1990s, the Federal Communications Commission has auctioned off licenses that allow private sector companies to commercialize portions of the radio spectrum band for the benefit of consumers. In the process, it has generated billions of dollars to help support government spending. So why is the FCC now considering just giving away – to… Continue reading Our Nation Can’t Afford Such a Fiscally Irresponsible FCC