Author: Robin S. Washington

SpaceX Prepares for Third Starship Mission Despite Previous Explosions SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, is gearing up for its third Starship mission after facing setbacks with the last two launches ending in explosions. Despite these setbacks, SpaceX has deemed the missions successful due to the valuable data collected. The upcoming mission, scheduled for March 14 pending US regulatory approval, is considered critical for SpaceX and Elon Musk’s ambitious goal of reaching and settling on the moon and Mars. The mission will stream live on X, Musk’s social media platform. The previous missions had technical issues, but they…

A second case of measles has been confirmed in Chicago, as a child at a migrant shelter in Pilsen has been diagnosed with the virus. The child has since recovered and is no longer contagious, but health officials are conducting an investigation to determine who may have come into contact with the child while they were still infectious. As a precautionary measure, all residents of the shelter are required to stay on-site until they can be screened. Vaccinated individuals will be permitted to leave, while unvaccinated residents will be offered the measles vaccine. Health officials are also working to identify…

Legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama, best known for creating the iconic “Dragon Ball” series, has passed away at the age of 68 after suffering an acute subdural hematoma. The news of his death was announced by Bird Studio, Toriyama’s own studio, which expressed gratitude for the numerous works of art that he left behind in the world. Toriyama’s influence on the world of manga and anime is undeniable, with “Dragon Ball” becoming a worldwide phenomenon that spawned not only a successful manga series but also anime adaptations, films, and video games. Many manga artists, including Eiichiro Oda (“One Piece”) and…

Sweden officially joins NATO as the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance, marking the end of decades of post-World War II neutrality. This move comes amidst growing concerns about Russian aggression in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, prompting Sweden’s accession to NATO. The historic ceremony took place in Washington, where Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Secretary of State Antony Blinken presided over the event. Sweden’s “instrument of accession” to NATO was officially deposited at the State Department, solidifying its commitment to the alliance. During his visit to the United States, Prime Minister Kristersson also had…

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Exeter have made groundbreaking discoveries, revealing that bumblebees and chimpanzees have the ability to learn complex skills from their peers. The studies, published in the prestigious journals Nature and Nature Human Behaviour, challenge the long-held belief that cumulative culture, the ability to pass down learned abilities across generations, is unique to humans. In one study, bumblebees were trained to solve a two-step puzzle box and then went on to teach other bees how to complete the task without the promise of a reward. This demonstration of learning and teaching…

A recent study has shed light on the alarming levels of air pollution in major cities, raising concerns about the impact on public health. The findings reveal that air pollution in urban areas has reached dangerous levels, posing a serious threat to the well-being of residents. The report highlights the numerous health risks associated with breathing polluted air, including respiratory issues and other chronic illnesses. Experts are warning of the long-term effects of air pollution on respiratory health and overall well-being, urging immediate action to address the issue. With the rise in industrial activities and urbanization, the problem of air…

NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft, one of the two Voyager probes launched in 1977, is currently on a mission to explore the outer reaches of our solar system. However, the aging probe is facing some challenges as it shows signs of senility, sending back nonsensical messages to Earth. The spacecraft, now floating past the edge of the solar system, is equipped with technology from the mid-1970s, making it difficult for scientists to reset and repair the probe. Efforts to reset Voyager 1 have been unsuccessful, leaving engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab scrambling to find solutions to keep the spacecraft operational.…

Google has announced that its upcoming Tensor G4 chip will feature a new packaging method from Samsung, aimed at enhancing power efficiency and heat management. The chip will utilize Samsung’s latest 4nm process and packaging technology, specifically the Fan-out Wafer Level Packaging (FOWLP) method. This new packaging method is projected to deliver improved heat management and power efficiency compared to the previous Tensor G3 chip. While Tensor G4 is considered a minor upgrade from the G3, the focus on enhancing heat and power efficiency is expected to be a significant improvement. However, Google is already looking ahead to the future,…

Apple has recently released security updates to address two actively exploited vulnerabilities in its software, specifically CVE-2024-23225 and CVE-2024-23296. These vulnerabilities allow attackers to bypass kernel memory protections, posing a serious threat to user data and device security. The tech giant rolled out updates for iOS 16.7.6, iPadOS 16.7.6, iOS 17.4, and iPadOS 17.4 to fix these flaws across various iPhone and iPad models. This initiative comes in response to the increasing number of cyber threats and marks Apple’s third actively exploited zero-day vulnerability addressed since the beginning of the year. In a related development, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure…

Title: Geomagnetic Storm Watch Promises Spectacular Northern Lights Show Across Northern U.S. Date: [Current Date] The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Monday through Wednesday following the detection of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) heading towards Earth. This phenomenon has the potential to produce a stunning display of the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, for parts of the upper Midwest and northern United States. The purpose of this storm watch is to alert telecommunication, power, and space industry companies of the potential impacts from space weather.…