Latest news with #AaronM.Sprecher
UPI
2 days ago
- Science
- UPI
Comet believed to be 3 billion years older than our solar system
Scientists now say the 3I/ATLAS interstellar comet discovered earlier this month could be one of the oldest that astronomers have ever encountered and some 3 billion years older than our solar system. File Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/UPI | License Photo July 11 (UPI) -- Scientists believe an interstellar comet discovered earlier this month could be one of the oldest that astronomers have ever encountered. University of Oxford scientists said the 3I/ATLAS comet could be some 3 billion years older than our solar system, which is believed to be 4.5 billion years old. The comet was first reported by NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System or ATLAS survey telescope in Chile on July 1, while so-called "pre-discovery" observations date back to June 14. "Comet 3I/ATLAS was spotted on July 1, but it's not from around here. It came from outside our solar system and is only the 3rd known interstellar comet. Astronomers are studying it before it disappears," NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on X, accompanied by an image of the comet. "This is an object from a part of the galaxy we've never seen up close before," University of Oxford astrophysicist Chris Lintott told in a statement. "We think there's a two-thirds chance this comet is older than the solar system, and that it's been drifting through interstellar space ever since." It marks just the third known interstellar object from outside Earth's solar system and is expected to reappear on the other side of our sun in December, when it may be visible to amateur telescopes. "All non-interstellar comets, such as Halley's comet, formed at the same time as our solar system, so they are up to 4.5 billion years old," fellow University of Oxford astronomer Matthew Hopkins said in a statement during the Royal Astronomical Society's annual meeting in Britain. "But interstellar visitors have the potential to be far older, and of those known about so far, our statistical method suggests that 3I/ATLAS is very likely to be the oldest comet we have ever seen." Calculations made by Hopkins and other scientists put the comet's age at over 7 billion years old. The astronomer told the conference he believes the comet originated in an area of the Milky Way Galaxy referred to as a "thick disk" of stars. Comet 1I/'Oumuamua first seen in 2017, and 2I/Borisov observed in 2019, are the other two known interstellar objects detected by scientists on Earth.
Black America Web
2 days ago
- Sport
- Black America Web
NBA Unveils Groups For 2025-26 Season's NBA Cup
Source: Aaron M. Sprecher / Getty The 2024-25 NBA season has been over for a few weeks, with the Oklahoma City Thunder being crowned the winners, but don't forget about the other champs. Earlier in the campaign, the Milwaukee Bucks won the second annual in-season Emirates NBA Cup, and now, the league has announced the groups for the 2025 re-up. Sticking with the defending champs, they'll be going up against the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, and Miami Heat. It'll be tough for the Bucks to run it back with some major roster changes, like the absence of Damian Lillard, picking up Myles Turner, and the uncertain future of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The in-season competition tips off Oct. 31 with group play continuing through Nov. 28. Then, the quarterfinals will be Dec. 9 and 10, and the semifinals will soon follow on Dec. 13 in Las Vegas. Finally, the championship game will also be held in Vegas on Dec. 16, and while it will be highly competitive, it won't count towards either team's regular season record or statistics. For a quick explainer on the workings of the, Cup each group is made up of five teams from the same conference, randomly drawn based on their standings from last season. During group play, each team will play one game against each of the other four teams in their group. The teams that finish with the best record in each group qualify for the Knockouts. Then they're joined by two wild-card teams, which are the second-best performing group-play teams from each conference. The schedule will be released later this summer, in August, alongside the regular season schedule. However, you can check out the rest of the groups below. East Group A – Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards East Group B – Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers East Group C – Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets West Group A – Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz West Group B – L.A. Lakers, LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans West Group C – Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs. SEE ALSO NBA Unveils Groups For 2025-26 Season's NBA Cup was originally published on
Newsweek
03-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Gen Z Is Leading America's Boycott Charge
Produced [by our journalists] with financial support from an organization or individual that did not approve or review the work. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A significant number of Americans support consumer boycotts targeting corporations in response to certain actions, according to a new study. According to a recent survey by research firm and lending marketplace LendingTree, 31 percent of U.S. consumers say they have boycotted a business in the past. By generation, Gen Zers aged 18 to 28 were found to be the most likely to participate in a boycott at 37 percent, while 59 percent of this group also said they have researched a businesses values and stances before shopping there. Why It Matters A number of America's largest corporations have faced boycotts in recent months, with Starbucks, Amazon and Home Depot currently seeing calls for shoppers to refrain from their stores and online services. Many of these boycotts have been driven by progressive groups who have expressed concerns over workers' rights and company tax avoidance, as well as backlash to companies scaling back diversity hiring commitments. LendingTree's survey revealed that those who are in favor of this form of targeted action span age groups and the political spectrum. The McDonald's logo is displayed at a McDonald's restaurant on October 23, 2024, in Omaha, Nebraska. Walmart grocery signage outside in Houston on May 27, 2025. The McDonald's logo is displayed at a McDonald's restaurant on October 23, 2024, in Omaha, Nebraska. Walmart grocery signage outside in Houston on May 27, 2025. Mario Tama /Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images / AP Photo What To Know LendingTree conducted its survey of 2,050 American consumers aged 18 to 79 from May 14 to May 16. Of those who said they had boycotted a business, 43 percent cited perceived discrimination by the company as the reason, 44 percent mentioned their objection to a political donation or affiliation, and 29 percent to religious messaging or practices. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) proved to be an issue that split respondents along party lines. Forty-five percent of consumers said they were more likely to support a business that promotes DEI policies, though 21 percent said this would make them less likely to do so. Of the latter group, 29 percent of Republicans and 16 percent of Democrats said they were less likely to support a pro-DEI business. The handling of DEI policies has been central in the recent boycotts of McDonald's, Target and Walmart, who scaled back certain diversity-focused initiatives at the beginning of this year. Whether they have participated or not, the survey revealed that 45 percent of consumers look into a company's values and stances before shopping there. LendingTree also found that anti-boycott sentiment to be a significant force, with 23 percent of respondents saying they had supported a business specifically because it was the target of a boycott. Republicans (31 percent) were more like to participating in these "reverse boycotts" than Democrats (20 percent). What People Are Saying LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst Matt Schulz said: "There's no doubt that lots of Americans are aware of the political leanings of many of the businesses they frequent, but the fact that 45 percent of consumers look into a company's politics before buying from them is pretty shocking." "Any company that attempts to downplay the importance of politics in their customers' shopping choices does so at its own peril," he added. "Your potential customers are listening closely to what your business says, whether you like it or not." What Happens Next? Boycotts led by the grassroots group The People's Union USA are currently targeting Amazon, Home Depot and Starbucks. John Schwarz, the group's founder, has also called for a Fourth of July boycott. In a video posted to Instagram, Schwarz encouraged consumers to avoid celebrations, fireworks and "big store spending" in a protest against the presidency of Donald Trump.
UPI
03-07-2025
- Science
- UPI
NASA discovers third interstellar comet
NASA discovered the third interstellar comet through a survey telescope in Rio Hurtado,Chile on Monday .File Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/UPI | License Photo July 3 (UPI) -- NASA discovered the third interstellar comet through a survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile. The interstellar comet first observed on Tuesday by NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Alert System telescope, or ATLAS, has been officially named 3I/ATLAS. A series of "pre-discovery" observations dating back to June 14 from three ATLAS Telescopes globally and the Zwicky Transient Facility in California's Palomar Observatory have since been collected, along with new observations from several telescopes since the initial report. "If confirmed, it will be the third known interstellar object from outside our solar system that we have discovered," Dr. Mark Norris, a senior lecturer in astronomy at the University of Central Lancashire, told The Guardian. Dr. Paul Chodas, director of the Center for Near Earth Object Studies at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, told The New York Times there is "no uncertainty" that the comet is from interstellar space, noting speeds that indicate it could not have originated in our solar system. "If you trace its orbit backward, it seems to be coming from the center of the galaxy, more or less," Chodas said. "It definitely came from another solar system. We don't know which one." The comet will reach its closest approach to the Sun around Oct. 30, but it shows no threat to Earth as it will remain at least 150 million miles away. It is currently about 416 million miles from the Sun. In December, the comet is expected to reappear on the other side of the Sun. The comet's size and physical attributes are being investigated. It is expected to remain visible to ground-based telescopes through September. Jake Foster, a Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomer, said: "At the moment, the comet is not expected to be visible to the naked eye, but it should be visible through a reasonably sized amateur telescope in late 2025 and early 2026. As it is studied more over the coming weeks, we'll get a better idea of just how visible it will realistically be." In 2017 Oumunamua traveled through the solar system as the first interstellar object. In 2019, the second interstellar comet, Borisov passed by.
Newsweek
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
How to Watch Arizona vs Louisville: Live Stream College World Series, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Exciting college baseball action out of Omaha, Nebraska, takes place on Sunday as Arizona and Louisville face off in game five of the competition. Brendan Summerhill #4 of the Arizona Wildcats throws the warm up tosses in the first inning against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Astros Foundation College Classic at Daikin Park on March 02, 2025, in Houston,... Brendan Summerhill #4 of the Arizona Wildcats throws the warm up tosses in the first inning against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Astros Foundation College Classic at Daikin Park on March 02, 2025, in Houston, Texas. More Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images How to Watch Arizona vs. Louisville Date: Sunday, June 14, 2025 Time: 2:00 p.m. ET Channel: ESPN Stream: Fubo (try for free) This will be an elimination game for these two programs, as both are coming off losses. Arizona opened the College World Series with a 7-4 loss to Coastal Carolina. Shortstop Mason White tried to keep the Wildcats afloat in the matchup, as he hit a home run in the defeat, his 20th of the season. Third baseman Maddox Mihalakis also had a good game on offense, batting in two RBIs. Ultimately, Coastal Carolina proved to be too much for Arizona, and now the Wildcats will be playing for their season on Sunday. Louisville, meanwhile, fell 4-3 in its College World Series opener on Friday, 4-3, to Oregon State, a particularly crushing defeat for the Cardinals as it came in walk-off fashion. After Louisville had a thrilling ninth-inning rally to come back and tie the game after being down 3-1, Oregon State walked it off in the bottom of the ninth to secure the victory and head to the winner's bracket. Tune in to ESPN at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon to catch an exciting college baseball matchup between Arizona and Louisville at the 2025 College World Series game. Live stream the Arizona vs Louisville College World Series game for free with Fubo: Start your subscription now! Regional restrictions may apply.
