Latest news with #LindaStouffer
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Meteorite that shot through roof of Henry County home was moving at speed of sound, scientist says
A planetary scientist shared new insights into the meteorite that crashed into a Georgia home in June. Speaking with Channel 2's Linda Stouffer, R. Scott Harris, a planetary geologist, gave new details about the meteorite fragments he's studying. The flash in the Georgia sky in June, described by witnesses as a fireball, traveled hundreds of millions of miles through space before entering the Earth's atmosphere, eventually crashing into a home. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'This one went through a house in McDonough, and the whole mass, we estimate, was probably like the size of a large cherry tomato,' Harris said. 'We're talking about something more than twice the diameter of a .50 caliber bullet coming through at least, but maybe greater than the speeds of our highest performance military rifles. And so it if had hit a person, we would not be having a fun conversation.' RELATED STORIES: Meteorite hunters searching for fragments in Henry County 'Fireball' in the sky seen across metro Atlanta What did you see falling through the sky? A meteor or meteorite? 'It was really, really scary': People across metro in shock as fireball falls from the sky Harris studies the way objects from space hit planetary surfaces and works as a researcher with the University of Georgia. Stouffer learned the fireball that exploded into the Georgia sky last month will now be called the McDonough meteorite. He said the black portion of the meteorite fragments would be from the outside of it, where it was freshly exposed to the light of the sun. 'Never seen the light of day, light of our sun over 4.5 billion years,' Harris said. Harris told Stouffer he believes that when the fireball 'detonated,' it was flying at about the speed of sound, including when it flew into a house in Henry County. 'Absolutely clean shot, through the roof, through the insulation, through the ceiling,' Harris said. 'There's about a third that is sort of missing, not really missing but pulverized to dust.' Using an electron microscope, Harris analyzed the materials in the fragments to see what minerals and metals may have been in the object. 'You see the bright objects here are the metal and metal sulfides,' Harris explained, showing the scans and images from the analysis. 'Mostly minerals that you might find here on Earth.' This meteorite contains metal, and minerals including olivine (also known as peridot) and feldspars. 'This is a type of meteorite called an ordinary chondrite,' Harris said. One of the larger fragment pieces is at the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville. Staff there say they're working to bring it onto display so you can see it later this year. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists analyze chunk of meteorite that fell to Earth last week in GA
A meteorite fell to Earth in Georgia last Thursday, and Channel 2's Linda Stouffer visited scientists in Bartow County to get a closer look at a piece of it. It blasted into Earth's atmosphere 27 miles above Georgia and was found by a meteorite hunter in Henry County. Researchers at the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville are analyzing one of the largest pieces of the meteorite found so far. It weighs 150 grams and measures two inches by three inches. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'That is much bigger than what I thought it was going to be, so I'm really surprised that we got like a nice chunk like this,' Astronomer Karisa Zdanky said. 'You can just see like kind of the exact lines on the fusion crust of it just barreling through our atmosphere. So it's just really impressive to look at.' The meteorite is billions of years old, and you can see it later this summer at the Tellus Science Museum. Scientists have a lot to learn about the meteorite, including what kind of rock it is. It may have even come from outside our solar system. TRENDING STORIES: 83-year-old grandmother spent hours in jail for a crime she didn't commit, family says Police officer who shot, killed unarmed Black man under investigation after Atlanta bar fight Ross Harris, father accused of leaving son in hot car to die, released from jail [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Tellus Science Museum astronomer discusses meteorite landing in metro Atlanta
An afternoon surprise landing of a meteorite in the metro Atlanta caused a buzz across the region. To learn more about the possible space rock that flared through the sky and broke apart, Channel 2's Linda Stouffer spoke to an astronomer from the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville. Video from the astronomical event shows what looks like a fireball falling trailed by a white tail of smoke. Channel 2 Action News spoke with Karisa Zdanky, an astronomer at the Tellus Science museum, who said the meteorite was probably made of rock and metal, and may even be connected to an unusual meteor shower. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'My best assumption is that it is part of the daytime shower called the Beta Taurids. It's not one that is talked about particularly often because it does peak during the day,' Zdanky said, adding that 'it does make sense that a particularly spectacular meteor coming in contact would be from that one.' While meteorites can cause damage, it's not usually what happens, mainly due to their size when they make it through the atmosphere. 'Usually they're small enough that they either burn up entirely in the atmosphere or when they land it's just a tiny piece that doesn't really do anything,' Zdanky said. 'But occasionally it is big enough that it can damage property.' RELATED STORIES: 'It was really, really scary': People across metro in shock as fireball falls from the sky 'Fireball' in the sky seen across metro Atlanta What did you see falling through the sky? A meteor or meteorite? That's what may have happened in Henry County, where emergency management officials told Channel 2's Courtney Francisco shared photos online that show the damage one meteorite did when it hit a man's roof. 'A small, maybe quarter-of-an-inch hole that came through where the sheetrock was penetrated,' Henry County Emergency Management Director Ryan Morrison said. 'The resident was in awe of what happened.' Across the metro Atlanta area, residents reported sightings of a fireball and feeling a lot of vibration when the meteor was still in the sky. According to the National Aeronautic and Space Administration, a meteorite is debris from a comet, asteroid or meteoroid that starts off in outer space before landing on Earth. When the debris enters the planet's atmosphere, friction, pressure and chemical interactions make it heat up and radiate energy, which is what forms the fireball. As for the meteorite on Thursday, NASA confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that the meteor was first seen 48 miles above Oxford, Ga. traveling southwest at 30,000 miles per hour, falling around 12:25 p.m. The object disintegrated 27 miles above West Forest, Ga., which the administration said unleased energy equal to roughly 20 tons of TNT, which is what created the booms many in the metro area heard in the afternoon. NASA said the actual asteroidal fragment weighed more than a ton and was three feet wide as it entered the atmosphere. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Decatur Square is about to get a multimillion-dollar makeover
People are flocking to downtown Decatur to get one last look at Decatur Square before it gets a massive makeover. The plans include more green spaces, play areas, and a new stage. The mayor told Channel 2's Linda Stouffer that the local businesses that make Decatur what it is will stay open during construction. Officials broke ground on the $8.5 million renovation on Thursday. 'It's time for an update. The square is lovely, but it's time for an update,' Decatur business owner Parham Savadkoohi said. They're calling this the Decatur Square Shake Up, which will expand the town center, adding more green space, play space, and a flexible stage. But say bye-bye to the gazebo. 'I think everyone has a little heartfelt attachment to the gazebo, but it's going to really open it up, make it possible for different events,' The Rev. Todd Speed with Decatur Presbyterian Church said. TRENDING STORIES: FSU shooter accused of killing 2, injuring 6 identified as deputy's son Mother took rifle away from suspect moments before he shot Paulding deputy, GBI says Deputies say it's a 'true miracle' after alleged Walmart shoplifter using scooter ran out of store Mayor Patti Garrett said the construction phase will definitely have an impact,t and they're asking people to keep supporting the businesses around the square. 'Ten months. It's a short period of time to do all this, and we have made it clear to businesses, please reach out to us if anything they made need during that time,' City of Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett said. 'This is gonna improve it and make it better.' And while businesses brace for construction detours, at Jeni's Ice Cream, they're confident people will find them. 'More customers. Trust me, they'll come with the construction,' store manager Nya Cherry said. 'When you go see some of the other city squares, it's time to get caught up, modernize with it, and I think the plan's lovely,' Savadkoohi said. 'Brings something new. A fresh music spot and everything,' business owner Scott Herman said. This is only one phase of a larger plan. Decatur hopes to have a full reopening by next June, in time for the FIFA World Cup matches here.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aid groups in metro Atlanta area say federal funding cuts are impacting ability to work
Local aid groups say that because of federal funding cuts, they're having to lay off staff and are now struggling in their work to help legal refugees in the metro Atlanta area. Channel 2′s Linda Stouffer spoke to advocates in Clarkston, who shared the impacts they're facing now that federal funding appears to be on hold. 'It means everything to them,' a translator said about a family of refugees. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] A translator helped us speak with a family from Rwanda. Atlanta area aid groups and faith-based volunteers are helping them transition to life in America. 'For them to help them, it means a lot to them,' the translator said. John Moeller, the CEO of Inspiritus, told Channel 2 Action News that his aid group helps new, legal, arrivals through the Office of Refugee Resettlement. TRENDING STORIES: What to know about the risk for severe storms, potential for tornadoes this weekend Man held captive by stepmother sets fire to escape, police say Atlanta mayor announces changing 'vision' of streetcar, Beltline access at MARTA board meeting 'This program is a life changer, not only for the refugees themselves but for the communities that we operate in,' he said. But now, Inspiritus is laying off 75 workers. 'The refugee program is on pause from the federal government and all funding for this program has stopped from the federal level,' Moeller said. 'We don't know what's next, essentially we're waiting on guidance from Washington.' All Saints' Refugee Ministries also provides help, such as enrolling refugees in classes to learn English and access assistance programs. 'We help enroll them in English classes, help with food stamps and Medicaid applications. The traditional services have either been dramatically reduced, or erased,' Louisa Merchant, director of All Saints' Refugee Ministries, said. Aid workers say that more than 1,000 legal refugees have arrived in Georgia since November. They're hoping volunteers and contributors will be able to help pick up more essential needs. 'She came here for a better life,' the translator said of the woman from Rwanda. 'She's just scared right now.' [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
