Latest news with #TrentThomas
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Iron Horse Shoot Out returns to Amarillo with precision, power and purpose
The fourth annual Iron Horse Motorcycle Shoot Out is about to kick off in downtown Amarillo, with practice rounds already underway as of Wednesday, July 16. The event brings together elite police officers and civilian riders from across North America for three days of motorcycle skill competitions — and a mission to support the Panhandle's first responders. Hosted by the 100 Club of the Texas Panhandle in partnership with the Amarillo Police Department Motor Unit, the event runs July 17 to 19 at the Santa Fe Depot Pavilion, 401 S. Grant St. Admission is free, and the public is encouraged to attend. Precision on the pavement Riders will face timed challenges across two distinct courses — a tight precision layout under the covered pavilion and a speed course on the adjacent asphalt lot. 'This isn't about showmanship — it's about safety,' said Sgt. Trent Thomas, a 19-year Amarillo police veteran and motorcycle unit supervisor. 'If you can control a bike here, you're more prepared out there — in traffic, during a pursuit, or on a rescue call.' Thomas said the competition helps riders develop instincts that translate directly to the field. 'We've had officers avoid crashes thanks to the skills they've refined here,' he said. 'You hope you never need it, but when you do, it matters.' A long road for a worthy cause John Jenkins, a motorcycle instructor from Calgary, Alberta, drove more than 1,300 miles with his bike in the back of his truck to compete for the third year in a row. He said the Amarillo event stands out among the national circuit. 'There's a level of professionalism and community here that you don't find everywhere,' Jenkins said. 'It feels like you're training with a purpose.' Jenkins credits the event with improving not only his own skills, but those of his students back home. 'These skills have saved my life — and my students' lives — on the road,' he said. 'You build muscle memory here, so when something happens in real life, your body knows what to do before your brain catches up.' Training that gives back While the riders improve their technique, the event also raises money for the 100 Club of the Texas Panhandle, which provides emergency financial support and resources to firefighters and law enforcement officers across 26 counties. The nonprofit typically raises between $50,000 and $60,000 during the shoot out. The funds help provide: $20,000 within 24 hours to the family of a fallen first responder $5,000 immediately for line-of-duty injuries, with up to $12,000 in follow-up support Equipment purchases for departments lacking the budget Mental health and wellness conferences for first responders Executive Director Suzanne Talley of the Texas Panhandle 100 Club said the fundraising goes hand-in-hand with honoring those who serve. 'When people come out and support this event, they're doing more than watching a show,' she said. 'They're backing the men and women who risk their lives for our communities.' In 2024, the organization raised more than $900,000 in just eight weeks to aid 54 volunteer fire departments impacted by devastating wildfires. Opening ceremony and community support A formal opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, July 20, at 8 a.m., featuring remarks from Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley, interim Police Chief Jimmy Johnson, and regional fire and law enforcement officials. 'This ceremony honors the service behind the spectacle,' Talley said. 'It's a reminder of why we ride.' The public is welcome to attend each day's competitions. Riders pay entry and banquet fees, and additional fundraising comes from slow-ride reentry tickets and sponsor contributions. Returning sponsors include Full Smile Dental (presenting sponsor), IVRS Wellness, Atmos Energy, ADG, Happy State Bank, Creative Cannon and Panhandle Eye Group. For event details, live scoring, or donation information, visit This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Iron Horse Shoot Out brings national riders to Amarillo Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
TRAPPIST-1 Planets Could Be Swimming in Water, Study Shows
A seven-planet system some 40 light-years from Earth could be swimming in water, new research shows. In February 2017 scientists announced the discovery of several exoplanets orbiting the red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, and ever since astronomers have keenly monitored the system for potential signs of life (aka biosignatures). According to recent findings, these planets may have an abundance of one of the most crucial elements for life: water. Since the discovery, scientists have gone back and forth on whether any planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system could be habitable. Much like the Proxima Centauri system and its Earth-like planet (Proxima b), the debate has centered on their parent stars: M-type (red dwarf) stars. These stars are smaller and cooler than our Sun and are noted for the way they are prone to flare activity. Another major question is the availability of water in this system. Previous findings have indicated that planets orbiting red dwarfs may have an overabundance of water, but they may not hold onto it for long. These findings are supported by other research that has revealed that these planets experience high rates of water lost to space, caused by the intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation from their host star. In a new study, a team of researchers led by astrobiologist Trent Thomas from the University of Washington addressed recent findings by the JWST. Recent observations by JWST of TRAPPIST-1 c ruled out a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere, indicating that the planet is not as "Venus-like" as previously thought. However, these observations did not rule out the presence of water vapor or oxygen produced by its chemical dissociation. As the team explained in their paper, "the maintenance of atmospheric water vapor would require a present-day water source, such as volcanic outgassing." To investigate this possibility and estimate plausible outgassing rates on the TRAPPIST-1 planets, the team developed a theoretical outgassing model based on the rocky planets of the Solar System ( Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars). They then applied filters based on observations of the system and what is known about its geochemistry to constrain plausible scenarios. Their findings indicated that the outgassing rates of all seven planets would be between 0.03 and eight times that of Earth. However, they also found that magma emplacement rates (the speed at which magma moves through a planet) were similar to those of Mars. While there are indications that Mars still has magma beneath its surface, it is considered 'volcanically dead'. The same may be true of the TRAPPIST-1 planets. "Our model results for magma emplacement rates also indicate that the TRAPPIST-1 planets are currently more likely to have low-to-no volcanic activity," the researchers write in their paper. "Our results indicate that the water outgassing rates on the TRAPPIST-1 planets are more likely to be lower than Earth's, but the plausible range also includes outgassing rates that are an order of magnitude higher than Earth's." Their results further indicated that the TRAPPIST-1 planets may have relatively dry Earth-like mantles. But as they emphasized, it is possible that water could make up to 1 percent of their mass fractions. "Our results indicate that drier mantles are preferred within the broader explored range of mantle water content," the team explains. "This arises due to our assumption that the TRAPPIST-1 planets have terrestrial interiors with mantle water contents that remain below 1 percent by weight upper limit throughout the 5.4 billion-year age of the TRAPPIST-1 system. The preference for lower mantle H2O values is more consistent with Earth's mantle water content." This is especially interesting considering that while water covers about 71 percent of Earth's surface, it constitutes only about 0.02 percent of its total mass. This could mean that planets orbiting within TRAPPIST-1's habitable zone are volcanically inactive and have varying degrees of water, ranging from potential 'water worlds' and barren rocky worlds to Earth-like planets covered in oceans. These results reinforce the idea that the TRAPPIST-1 system has no shortage of water. Unfortunately, many questions remain about its habitability. Fortunately, Webb's observations of TRAPPIST-1 (and other red dwarf systems) are still in their infancy. Additional observations will allow astronomers to constrain the potential habitability of this system. Their findings were reported in a preprint available on arXiv. Unknown Species of Bacteria Discovered in China's Space Station NASA Mission Captures Eerie New View of The Moon And Sun Mysteriously Perfect Sphere Spotted in Space by Astronomers
