All News - Page 423 of 1732 - Good News Network
Home Blog Page 423

This Week’s Inspiring Horoscopes From Rob Brezsny’s ‘Free Will Astrology’

Our partner Rob Brezsny provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free preview of the book is available here.)

Here is your weekly horoscope…

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY – Week beginning January 8, 2021
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Capricorn-born Muhammad Ali was far more than a superb professional boxer. He was an activist, entertainer, and philanthropist who gathered much wisdom in his 74 years. I’ve chosen one of his quotes to be your guide in the coming months. I hope it will motivate you to rigorously manage the sometimes pesky and demanding details that will ultimately enable you to score a big victory. “It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you down,” Ali said. “It’s the pebble in your shoe.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
At a pivotal moment in his evolution, Aquarian playwright Anton Chekhov (1860–1904) swore an oath to himself. I’ll tell you about it here because I hope it will inspire you to make a comparable vow to yourself about how you’ll live your life in 2022. Author Robert Greene is the source of the quote. He says that Chekhov promised himself he would engage in “no more bowing and apologizing to people; no more complaining and blaming; no more disorderly living and wasting time. The answer to everything was work and love, work and love. He had to spread this message to his family and save them. He had to share it with humanity through his stories and plays.”

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Here’s what Piscean author Anais Nin wrote in one of her diaries: “When I first faced pain, I was shattered. When I first met failure, defeat, denial, loss, death, I died. Not today. I believe in my power, in my magic, and I do not die. I survive, I love, live, continue.” According to my analysis of the astrological omens, Pisces, you could claim her triumphant declaration as your own in 2022, with special emphasis on this: “I believe in my power, in my magic. I survive, I love, live, continue.” This will be a golden age, a time when you harvest the fruits of many years of labor.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
In the fantasy tale The Wizard of Oz, a tornado lifts the hero Dorothy from her modest home in rural Kansas to a magical realm called Oz. There she experiences many provocative and entertaining adventures. Nonetheless, she longs to return to where she started from. A friendly witch helps her find the way back to Kansas, which requires her to click her ruby slippers together three times and say, “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.” I suspect, Aries, that there’ll be a different ending to your epic tale in 2022. At some point, you will decide you prefer to stay in your new world. Maybe you’ll even click your ruby slippers together and say, “There’s no place like Oz, there’s no place like Oz.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
Fifty-five percent of the people who live in Toronto speak primarily English or French. But for the other 45 percent, their mother tongue is a different language, including Portuguese, Tagalog, Italian, Tamil, Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin. I wish you could spend some time there in the coming months. In my astrological opinion, you would benefit from being exposed to maximum cultural diversity. You would thrive by being around a broad spectrum of influences from multiple backgrounds. If you can’t manage a trip to Toronto or another richly diverse place, do your best to approximate the same experience. Give yourself the gift of splendorous variety.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
One of your primary meditations throughout 2022 should be the following advice from The Laws of Human Nature, a book by motivational author Robert Greene. He writes, “In ancient times, many great leaders felt that they were descended from gods and part divine. Such self-belief would translate into high levels of confidence that others would feed off and recognize. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy. You do not need to indulge in such grandiose thoughts, but feeling that you are destined for something great or important will give you a degree of resilience when people oppose or resist you. You will not internalize the doubts that come from such moments. You will have an enterprising spirit. You will continually try new things, even taking risks, confident in your ability to bounce back from failures and feeling destined to succeed.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
I would love to unabashedly encourage you to travel widely and explore wildly in 2022. I would rejoice if I could brazenly authorize you to escape your comfort zone and wander in the frontiers. It’s not often the planetary omens offer us Cancerians such an unambiguous mandate to engage in exhilarating adventures and intelligent risks. There’s only one problem: that annoying inconvenience known as the pandemic. We really do have to exercise caution in our pursuit of expansive encounters. Luckily, you now have extra ingenuity about the project of staying safe as you enlarge your world.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
I suspect that your life in 2022 might feature themes beloved by Leo author Emily Brontë (1818–1848). “No coward soul is mine,” she wrote, “No trembler in the world’s storm-troubled sphere.” I suggest making that one of your mottoes. Here’s another guiding inspiration from Emily, via one of her poems: “I’ll walk where my own nature would be leading: / It vexes me to choose another guide: / Where the grey flocks in ferny glens are feeding; / Where the wild wind blows on the mountain-side.” Here’s one more of Brontë’s thoughts especially suitable for your use in the coming months: “I’ll be as dirty as I please, and I like to be dirty, and I will be dirty!”

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
What reversals and turnabouts would you like to experience in 2022, Virgo? Which situations would you like to transform dramatically? Are there imbalances of power you would like to rectify? Contradictions you’d love to dissolve? Misplaced priorities you could correct? All these things are possible in the coming months if you are creative and resourceful enough. With your dynamic efforts, the last could be first, the low could be high, and the weak could become strong.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
“Everything good I’ve ever gotten in my life, I only got because I gave something else up,” wrote author Elizabeth Gilbert. That has often been true for me. For example, if I hadn’t given up my beloved music career, I wouldn’t have had the time and energy to become a skillful astrology writer with a big audience. What about you, Libra? In my reckoning, Gilbert’s observation should be a major theme for you in 2022.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
Author C. S. Lewis wrote that we don’t simply want to behold beauty. We “want to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.” If there were ever a time when you could get abundant tastes of that extravagant pleasure, Scorpio, it would be in the coming months. If you make it a goal, if you set an intention, you may enjoy more deep mergers and delightful interactions with beauty than you have had since 2010.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
Sagittarian singer-songwriter Tom Waits began his career in 1969. He achieved modest success during the next 11 years. But his career headed in an even more successful direction after he met Kathleen Brennan, who became his wife and collaborator. In a 1988 interview, Waits said, “She’s got the whole dark forest living inside of her. She pushes me into areas I would not go, and I’d say that a lot of the things I’m trying to do now, she’s encouraged.” In 2022, Sagittarius, I’ll invite you to go looking for the deep dark forest within yourself. I’m sure it’s in there somewhere. If you explore it with luxuriant curiosity, it will ultimately inspire you to generate unprecedented breakthroughs. Yes, it might sometimes be spooky—but in ways that ultimately prove lucky.

WANT MORE? Listen to Rob’s EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES, 4-5 minute meditations on the current state of your destiny — or subscribe to his unique daily text message service at: RealAstrology.com

(Zodiac images by Numerologysign.com, CC license)

SHARE The Wisdom With Friends Who Are Stars in Your Life on Social Media…

Shaq Brings 2,000 Nintendo Switches and PS5s To Underprivileged Kids On Christmas: A Long List of His Good Deeds

Twitter post by Pepsi Stronger Together

The always generous Shaquille O’Neil turned into Shaq-a-Claus in December to shower low-income students with gifts this Christmas.

Twitter post by Pepsi Stronger Together

The basketball star revealed on a podcast with Gary Vaynerchuk that he had bought 1,000 Playstation 5s, another 1,000 Nintendo Switches, and an unspecified number of bicycles and and delivered them to school children in Georgia.

“My father was a drill sergeant, my mother just was a hard-working woman,” he said on air. “They had little, but they taught me the value of giving back. They taught me the value of helping those in need.”

“I ordered about 1000 Switches and 1000 PS5s. I went to Walmart and got bikes. So you know yesterday, at this little elementary school in McDonough, Georgia, kids were crying, kids were happy. And that’s what it’s all about,” said Santa Shaq.

He joined representatives from Tonka, ‘Pepsi Stronger Together’, and others to rain down gifts and cheer to schools in Las Vegas, where the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation provided toys, laptops, and lunch for even more children—as well as opening a brand-new basketball court where kids can try on Shaq’s shoes for fun.

It’s not the first year schools would be on the receiving end of a charitable Shaq-attack, as O’Neil’s “Shaq to School” program coordinates with Amazon and Zappos to delivery school supplies every year to 5,000 children who can’t afford them.

“Kids gravitate to me because I am the simple gateway,” he said in a recent mini-doc about his giving tendencies. “When kids see me they was like, ‘I can relate to Shaq, he’s silly.'”

The gentle giant

Shaquille O’Neil is a walking bundle of good deeds waiting to slam dunk on unsuspecting people. Like the most diligent sports reporter, GNN has closely followed Shaq’s career—of giving.

After overhearing a young man was still after weeks of work, far away from paying the outstanding balance on his wife’s engagement ring, Shaq put the balance on his credit card, saying “I’m just trying to make people smile.”

In 2020 he stopped on the side of the road to help a Florida woman whose car had just crashed. The family of a 12-year old boy in Atlanta who was paralyzed by stray gunfire at a violent shootout, received a shock when Shaq bought them an entirely-new wheelchair accessible house, which we can only assume they called the “Shaq Shack”.

When Shaq was in school himself, and unable to fit into most sneakers, a cobbler who specialized in large shoes gave the boy a free pair. Doug the Cobbler has since been repaid by that single loss of revenue many times, with Shaq buying over 2,000 pairs of shoes—both for himself and for donating to kids who have the same problem as he once did.

WATCH a heartwarming compilation of Shaq kindnesses…

SEND Some High-Flying Good Feelings to Friends on Social Media…

“Don’t forget, a human’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Quote of the Day: “Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr. (Life’s Little Instruction Book: 511 Suggestions, Observations, and Reminders on How to Live a Happy and Rewarding Life)

Photo: by Ralu Gal

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

Couple Stuck on Highway for 21 Hours in Snowstorm Asks Bakery Truck to Give Away Their Supply to Hungry Drivers

bread truck saves highway drivers in snow-Casey Holihan Noe-FB
Casey Holihan Noe/Facebook

A miserable day stuck in snow on U.S. Interstate 95 took a turn for the better through a positive sort of highway robbery.

The understanding CEO of a baking company ordered one of his drivers to pass bread and rolls out to the stranded cars, breaking some fasts which were going on two days.

With some cars containing babies, pets, and elderly people, a lack of opportunities to eat provided as much discomfort as the cold to thousands of motorists on I-95 who got stranded when a winter storm dropped around a foot of snow on Virginia and other eastern states.

A Maryland couple, Casey Holihan and her husband John Noe, hadn’t eaten for 37 hours while waiting for the snow to clear when they spotted a Schmidt Baking Company truck.

Not thinking it would work, the hungry couple called the company’s customer service line asking if they could have some of the bread.

LOOK: 80-Year-old Man Reunited With Long Lost Siblings Thanks to His Litter Clean-up Dog on TV

“We didn’t think it would actually work, but less then 20 minutes later we got an incredible surprise,” wrote Casey in a Facebook post. “We received a personal call from the owner of the company, Chuck, who contacted the driver.”

“It was an easy decision” Chuck Paterakis, the CEO of H&S Baking, who owns Schmidt, told the Washington Post. His words to the driver were “give away all the bread” adding that he was “very humbled and grateful that we could help.”

The driver Ron Hill opened the back of the truck, and with Casey and John’s help distributed 300 packages of bread and rolls to more than 50 stranded motorists.

MORE: Little Boy’s Stuffed Bambi Was Rescued From Frozen Canal – He Didn’t Think People Would Care

“We just kept giving it out until we couldn’t walk anymore because it was so freezing,” Holihan told NBC affiliate WBAL. “It felt incredible just hearing people say thank you and hearing people just so relieved to finally have food in their car, food in their system and in their kids’ system. It was a really incredible feeling.”

BREAK Some Bread and Share This Story of Generosity…

See the Stunning Winners of the Northern Lights Photographer of the Year Competition

SWNS

The stunning beauty of one of nature’s most spectacular events has been captured in this series of spell-binding images.

On special nights far from the equator, the sky is illuminated by a dazzling, celestial light show.

The aurora borealis and aurora australis are caused when cosmic radiation hits electrically charged particles in Earth’s atmosphere.

The spectacular results have been captured in a series of 25 winning images selected in the Capture the Atlas Northern Lights photography competition.

Winners includes images taken in countries including the United States, Russia, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Australia, Canada, and Antarctica.

They show mesmerizing bands of luminous green light playing in the night sky above icy fjords, snow-capped pine forests, and iceberg crammed seas.

One of the images, taken by photographer Benjamin Eberhard, looks like something out of a sci-fi movie.

RELATED: Star-Gazer Reveals Stunning Pictures of Space He Takes From His Back Garden

The image, titled “Antarctic Night,” shows a vast sky streaked with bands of green, orange, and yellow above the futuristic looking Ice Cube Neutrino Observatory.

SWNS

Benjamn said, “This image shows a strong and colorful aurora over the IceCube Neutrino observatory in the South Pole and is part of a longer time-lapse series.

“The South Pole is probably one of the most remote and challenging environments to do photography, and it is strenuous for both humans and technology.

“To achieve 24-hour-long time-lapse shots, you need some creativity to heat and insulate your equipment in order to keep it running, and even rotating, in temperatures ranging down to -80ºC (-112 ºF).”

See a few of the other amazing photos below.

Swirling and shimmering…

SWNS

Pulsing and flashing…

SWNS

Iridescent Northern Lights…

SWNS

Make winter nights magic…

SWNS

From pole to pole.

SWNS

Be Sure And Share These Breathtaking Images With Your Friends On Social Media…

Magic Mushrooms Are Safe to Treat Mental Health Conditions, Says Another Landmark Trial

Arp, CC license
Arp, CC license

A trip to the doctor for a dose of magic mushrooms could help treat mental health conditions like PTSD, according to new research.

Small doses of the psychedelic drug psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms are not only good at easing disorders that are resistant to treatment, but they also have no short or long-term side effects in healthy people, scientists say.

In a study led by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London, researchers have found that the drug can be safely administered in up to six patients using doses of either 10mg or 25mg.

In partnership with COMPASS Pathways, the report is an essential first step for experts to prove the safety and feasibility of psilocybin as a treatment alongside talking therapies for a range of conditions including treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and PTSD.

The psychedelic is the first of its kind to go head-to-head with the traditional and often ineffective treatments on the market.

Although early research has hailed the mushroom as a promising treatment, no human trials have been conducted until now.

The trial is the first of its kind to thoroughly investigate the magic of the mushroom.

RELATED: Eating Mushrooms a Few Times a Week Could Dramatically Reduce Dementia Risk, Says 6-Year Study

Researchers used a sample of 89 participants who hadn’t used psilocybin within a year who were recruited to take part in the trial.

They then randomly picked 60 people to receive either a 10mg or a 25mg dose of psilocybin in a controlled lab environment.

After the doses were administered, the patients received one-to-one support from trained psychotherapists.

The remaining 29 participants acted as the control group and received a placebo drug, as well as psychological support.

The participants were closely monitored for six to eight hours and they were then followed up for 12 weeks.

During this time, they were assessed to track the number of possible changes, including sustained attention, memory, planning, as well as their ability to process emotions.

Dr James Rucker, a clinical scientist from the National Institute for Health Research, was the study’s lead author.

LOOK: Psychedelic Found in Magic Mushrooms Spurs Growth of Neural Connections Lost in Depression, Landmark Study Finds

He said, “This rigorous study is an important first demonstration that the simultaneous administration of psilocybin can be explored further.

“If we think about how psilocybin therapy (if approved) may be delivered in the future, it’s important to demonstrate the feasibility and the safety of giving it to more than one person at the same time, so we can think about how we scale up the treatment.”

Dr Rucker, who is also an honorary consultant psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust added, “This therapy has promise for people living with serious mental health problems, like treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and PTSD.

“They can be extremely disabling, distressing and disruptive, but current treatment options for these conditions are ineffective or partially effective for many people.”

No-one withdrew from the study and there were no suggestions that either of the psilocybin doses had any short or long-term negative effects on the participants.

Professor Guy Goodwin the chief medical officer at COMPASS Pathways, said, “This study was an early part of our clinical development programme for COMP360 psilocybin therapy.

MORE: Dutch Man Invents Coffin That Turns Bodies Into Mushrooms: ‘We are nutrients, not waste’

“It explored the safety and feasibility of simultaneous psilocybin administration, with one to one support, in healthy participants, and provided a strong foundation to which we have now added positive results from our Phase IIb trial in 233 patients with TRD, and from our open-label study of patients taking SSRI antidepressants alongside psilocybin therapy.

“We are looking forward to finalizing plans for our phase three programme, which we expect to begin in Q3 2022.”

Since this study was conducted, the researchers have completed phase two of the study, which has explored the efficacy and safety of psilocybin in people living with TRD and PTSD, and are now analyzing their findings.

This study was published in The Journal of Psychopharmacology.

SHARE This Fascinating Research With Friends on Social Media…

“When you chase a dream, you learn about yourself. You learn your capabilities and limitations, and the value of hard work and persistence.” – Nicholas Sparks

Quote of the Day: “When you chase a dream, you learn about yourself. You learn your capabilities and limitations, and the value of hard work and persistence.” – Nicholas Sparks (Three Weeks With My Brother)

Photo: by Ivana Cajina

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

Watch Our Biggest Moments From Mars in 2021: Riding on the Shoulders of NASA’s Perseverance Rover

NASA/JPL-Caltech, illustration of the rover landing

After its harrowing touchdown on Mars ten months ago left NASA engineers cheering, a six-wheeled scientist named Perseverance has been achieving its key objectives.

The rover has been searching for signs of ancient microbial life on the Red Planet and is at the heart of NASA’s goal to complete the first mission to collect and cache Martian rock and dust.

Now, all that it has accomplished so far has been captured in a new video.

Surface Operations Mission Manager Jessica Samuels reflected on the year filled with groundbreaking discoveries from the Jezero Crater on Mars.

In the 10 months since it landed with a parachute by working with gravity, the car-size rover has driven 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometers), set a record for the longest rover drive in a Martian day, taken more than 100,000 images, and collected six samples of Martian rock and atmosphere that could eventually be brought to Earth for further study.

RELATED: The Inspiring and Playful Hidden Message in the Mars Perseverance Rover’s Parachute

And then there’s NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which hitched a ride to the Red Planet with Perseverance.

It proved that powered, controlled flight is possible in Mars’ thin atmosphere, and the 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) rotorcraft has logged 18 flights and counting.

LOOK: See Incredible Photos and Hear Martian Winds From the Red Planet—Thanks to Perseverance Rover

Samuels, the Perseverance surface operations mission manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, also explains the next phase of Perseverance’s mission: to explore the delta that formed in Jezero Crater billions of years ago from sediment that an ancient river carried into the lake that once existed in the crater.

WATCH it below – and learn more at nasa.gov/perseverance

FLY This Cool Video to Other Intelligent Life on Social Media…

Become a Wildlife Ranger on Idyllic Island Off Scotland Coast With Free Cottage to Live in

Roger McLachlan _ Landing on Handa Island _ CC BY-SA 2.0 wikimedia commons
Roger McLachlan;CC license

A wildlife ranger is being sought for an idyllic island off the north coast of Scotland—and a free cottage to live in is included.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is looking for someone to take over the position of Handa Island Ranger on the remote island off the coast of Sutherland in the Highlands.

The successful candidate will be treated to stunning sandy beaches, spectacular views from the 394-feet-high cliffs, and getting to know the 100,000 breeding seabirds living on the island.

Handa is so small it only takes two and a half hours to walk around, but the candidate will need a driver’s licence and a vehicle to make weekly trips to the nearest village, Scourie, over on the mainland.

Those interested will need to have a good knowledge of the local marine and terrestrial natural history, excellent people skills, and organizational abilities.

RELATED:  4-Day Work Week is a Huge Success in Iceland

The six-month fixed term contract is from March to September 2022, and pays £17,290 ($23,458) FTE per annum pro rata.

Applications opened last month and are due to close on January 17 at 2pm–if you’re looking for a wild adventure, it sounds like it’s time to get applying.

SHARE This Opportunity With Those Who’d Love to Hear About It…

Hockey Fan Spots Cancerous Mole on a Staffer, Gets $10,000 Medical School Scholarship from Grateful NHL Team

Twitter/@Canucks
Twitter/@Canucks

“The mole on the back of your neck is possibly cancerous. Please go see a doctor!”

It was a strange thing for Vancouver Canucks assistant equipment manager Brian Hamilton to see on the screen of a cell phone belonging to a fan who had pressed it against the glass separating fans from players.

Fans do all kinds of strange things at sporting events, but Nadia Popovici was following her medical training when she noticed that the dark spot on the back of Hamilton’s neck was discolored, raised, and had irregular borders: all potential signs of the skin cancer melanoma.

As it turns out, Hamilton had the mole removed which was subsequently confirmed to be a melanoma tumor.

“… She saved my life,” Mr. Hamilton said at a press conference. “The words out of the doctor’s mouth were if I ignored that for four to five years I wouldn’t be here. How she saw it boggles my mind. It wasn’t very big, I wear a jacket, I wear a radio on the back of my jacket… She’s a hero.”

MORE: Your Body’s Own ‘Cannabis-Like’ Substance Can Reduce Chronic Inflammation During Exercise

The team wanted to reach out to Popovici somehow, and so set up a social media campaign to reunite the two before the Canucks played Seattle Kraken on January 1st, which succeeded.

As a way of saying thank you, during the second commercial break it was revealed for everyone in the Seattle Climate Fund Arena to see, that both teams had raised $10,000 to send Popovici to medical school.

What Popovici described in her diagnosis of the melanoma was a method of identification called the “ABCDE Rule,” an acronym for Asymmetry, Border, Color, Dark, and Evolving, five signs that anyone’s mole might be a common yet dangerous skin cancer.

RELATED: After Covid and Cancer, Couple Finally Gets to Be Married – Thanks to Speedy Robotic Surgery

“After that moment I kind of regretted it,” Popovici told Sky News of her typed-out phone warning. “I thought, ‘you know, that was inappropriate it, I shouldn’t have brought it up, maybe he already knows about it and it’s a sensitive topic.'”

“To not know for so many months what happened to this man and to finally put a name to the face and a story, it’s been incredible and truly life-changing,” she added.

HELP Spot Great Stories for Friends; Share This Story…

NASA Launches James Webb Telescope to See First Galaxies and Distant Worlds With its Giant Sunshield

Rendering; ESA
Rendering; ESA

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope officially launched on December 25. Its mission? To seek the light from the first galaxies in the early universe and to explore our own solar system, as well as planets orbiting other stars, called exoplanets.

“The James Webb Space Telescope represents the ambition that NASA and our partners maintain to propel us forward into the future,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The promise of Webb is not what we know we will discover; it’s what we don’t yet understand or can’t yet fathom about our universe. I can’t wait to see what it uncovers!”

Ground teams began receiving telemetry data from Webb about five minutes after launch.

The Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket performed as expected, separating from the observatory 27 minutes into the flight.

The observatory was released at an altitude of approximately 870 miles (1,400 kilometers). Approximately 30 minutes after launch, Webb unfolded its solar array, and mission managers confirmed that the solar array was providing power to the observatory.

Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said, “Webb’s scientific promise is now closer than it ever has been. We are poised on the edge of a truly exciting time of discovery, of things we’ve never before seen or imagined.”

MORE: Cosmic Telescope Finally Captures Light From the Dawn of Time

The world’s largest and most complex space science observatory will now begin six months of commissioning in space. At the end of commissioning, Webb will deliver its first images.

Webb carries four state-of-the-art science instruments with highly sensitive infrared detectors of unprecedented resolution. Webb will study infrared light from celestial objects with much greater clarity than ever before. The premier mission is the scientific successor to NASA’s iconic Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, built to complement and further the scientific discoveries of these and other missions.

“The launch of the Webb Space Telescope is a pivotal moment—this is just the beginning for the Webb mission,” said Gregory L. Robinson, Webb’s program director at NASA Headquarters. “Now we will watch Webb’s highly anticipated and critical 29 days on the edge. When the spacecraft unfurls in space, Webb will undergo the most difficult and complex deployment sequence ever attempted in space. Once commissioning is complete, we will see awe-inspiring images that will capture our imagination.”

LOOK: Astronomers Uncover the Largest Group of Rogue Planets Yet

The telescope’s revolutionary technology will explore every phase of cosmic history—from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe, to everything in between. Webb will reveal new and unexpected discoveries and help humanity understand the origins of the universe and our place in it.

Sunshield success

On January 4, the telescope team announced it fully deployed the spacecraft’s 70-foot sunshield, a key milestone in preparing it for science operations.

“This is the first time anyone has ever attempted to put a telescope this large into space,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. “Webb required not only careful assembly but also careful deployments. The success of its most challenging deployment – the sunshield – is an incredible testament to the human ingenuity and engineering skill that will enable Webb to accomplish its science goals.”

CHECK OUT: Huge Supply of Water Discovered on Mars, Frozen at the Bottom of its Grand Canyon

The five-layered sunshield will protect the telescope from the light and heat of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Each plastic sheet is about as thin as a human hair and coated with reflective metal, providing protection on the order of more than SPF 1 million. Together, the five layers reduce exposure from the Sun from over 200 kilowatts of solar energy to a fraction of a watt.

This protection is crucial to keep Webb’s scientific instruments at temperatures of 40 kelvins, or under minus 380 degrees Fahrenheit – cold enough to see the faint infrared light that Webb seeks to observe.

“Unfolding Webb’s sunshield in space is an incredible milestone, crucial to the success of the mission,” said Gregory L. Robinson, Webb’s program director at NASA Headquarters. “Thousands of parts had to work with precision for this marvel of engineering to fully unfurl. The team has accomplished an audacious feat with the complexity of this deployment—one of the boldest undertakings yet for Webb.”

RELATED: Glimpse of God? The Hubble Telescope’s 12 Best Photos on the 30th Anniversary of its Launch into Orbit

The world’s largest and most complex space science observatory has another 5 1/2 months of setup still to come, including deployment of the secondary mirror and primary mirror wings, alignment of the telescope optics, and calibration of the science instruments. After that, Webb will deliver its first images.

We’ll keep you updated as news from the Hubble telescope’s successor–a joint effort with  ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency–continues to unfold.

(LEARN more about this historic launch in the video below.)

Source: NASA

SHARE This Far Out News From Space With Those in the Know…

“Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules passions, desires, and fears, is more a king.” – John Milton

Quote of the Day: “Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules passions, desires, and fears, is more a king.” – John Milton, Paradise Regained

Photo: by Pro Church Media

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

Solstice Sunbeam Through Stained Glass Window of Neolithic Burial Room Creates Mesmerizing Rainbow Cloud

The solstice sun shines in Soulton Hall by Andrew Fusek Peters - SWNS

Incredible photos show the beam of the setting sun through a stained glass window at a Neolithic burial barrow creating a mesmerizing rainbow of light.

The solstice sun shines in Soulton Hall by Andrew Fusek Peters – SWNS

Wildlife photographer Andrew Fusek Peters, 56, captured the colorful spectacle at the Soulton Long Barrow in Shropshire on the evening of December 29.

The recently completed burial site has been aligned to capture the sun at the midwinter solstice as it passes through a stained glass window, illuminating the burial chamber.

Andrew had been on a walk in the Shropshire Hills when he spotted the opportunity to capture the atmospheric phenomenon and “drove like a maniac” to get there in time.

His breathtaking dusk images show beams of blue, purple, orange, red and green light flooding the reimagined ancient chamber with spectacular color.

“I’d heard about this colorful light display caused by the window but it really has to be seen to be believed,” said Andrew.

“Colorful is an understatement, and I don’t think the pictures even do it justice. I felt honored to be there to see it.

“I feel like at the end of the year, these pictures tell a story of hope. There is still beauty in the world.

POPULAR: Researchers Solve Mystery of Scattered Black Glass in Chilean Desert – it Was Made by an Exploding Comet

The recently completed long barrow at Soulton Hall by Andrew Fusek Peters – SWNS

The monuments were created around 5,000 years ago for people to lay the ashes of their beloved ones.

The modern-day Soulton Hall long barrow contains the largest stone corbelled ceiling in modern times, over the height of two double decker buses and can seat 80 people.

It is only the third of its kind to be opened as part of an a Stone Age tradition being resurrected across Britain.

The main chamber is aligned so that at winter solstice and for a few weeks after, the sun sets directly through the stained glass door.

LOOK: Largest Anglo-Saxon Gold Coin Hoard Discovered in English Field

Soulton Hall by Andrew Fusek Peters – SWNS

A farmer, Tim Ashton, spent three years creating the barrow after visiting dozens of henges to finalize the design.

“It is a very modern but sacred place and it was quite a spiritual moment to see all this color spilling into the chamber.”

RELATED: Fun Facts and Strange Customs to Celebrate the Vernal Equinox

Andrew assured the media there was no camera trickery—all the light was natural.

“I had just been walking on the hills and it was the first day the weather was good enough so I drove like a maniac to get there.

The recently completed long barrow at Soulton Hall by Andrew Fusek Peters -SWNS

“There is only a window of a few days to capture this moment and even less than that when the weather is bad so I felt very lucky to witness it.

ALSO: Extraordinary Roman Mosaic and Villa Discovered Beneath British Farmer’s Field 

“The way they have deliberately aligned the window to refract the sunlight in such a dynamic way is a truly beautiful thing.”

SHINE the Inspiring Light of Hope on Your Friends by Sharing on Social Media… 

Little Boy’s Stuffed Bambi Was Rescued From Frozen Canal – He Didn’t Think People Would Care

Brenda Duke

Everyone knows Santa’s favorite red-nosed reindeer knows how to fly. Unfortunately, his namesake, Rudolph, a beloved stuffed toy fawn belonging to 4-year-old Nico Lavallée, did not.

Brenda Duke

Sadly, Nico found that out the hard way while on a walk with his mom, Brenda Duke, and siblings 2-year-old Santiago and 6-year-old Sebastian when his little brother decided to test his pitching arm by tossing the “stuffie” over the railing next to the frozen waters of Ottawa’s Rideau Canal.

Unable to retrieve his best buddy, Nico and his family returned to visit Rudolph more than once. Luckily, the plush Bambi landed in close proximity to a distance marker sign, so he wasn’t too hard to find, but prospects for a homecoming didn’t look good.

Brenda Duke

After several days’ of falling snowflakes, the forlorn fawn began to slowly disappear beneath a blanket of white, leaving behind only a telltale bump.

That’s when older brother Sebastian came up with an idea. During the pandemic, neighborhood social media had become a lifeline to a community isolated by the lockdown. Sebastian urged his mom to reach out to neighbors to see if anyone might be able to help retrieve Rudolph.

Duke was skeptical at first. “I didn’t want to bother anyone. I don’t think anyone would care,” she told CBC News.

But Sebastian convinced her to give it a shot, so she took to Twitter.

“If anyone happens to see a ‘stuffie’ reindeer (I think it’s a fawn actually) when the canal opens my kids would be grateful,” she tweeted with an accompanying photo showing Rudolph’s last known whereabouts circled in red.

“Toddler brother threw it in. I know it’s unlikely since they clear snow now and it will be even more buried but my 6-year-old asked me to post here. They come visit it on our daily walks now; it’s the little mound you see.”

As hard as it was to believe, a mission to rescue Rudolph was quickly mounted. Even the National Capital Commission (NCC), signed on, pledging to put its skateway squad on the lookout.

Lo and behold, in the twinkling of one vigilant crew member’s eye, Rudolph was—though frozen and a bit soggy—MIA no more.

After he’d been thawed and groomed, the prodigal stuffie was reunited with a joyful Nico and his grateful family at NCC headquarters.

In a world rife with so many negatives, it can be easy to lose sight of the positive ones. Sometimes it takes focusing on small acts of kindness to put things in perspective.

MORE: Boy Recreates Iconic Scene From Toy Story to Mark His First Day of School

“You just have to just have to ask,” said Duke. “People do care. Assuming that they don’t is something that adults do… [My kids] are growing up knowing that other people have our backs and other people care, and that’s really heartwarming.”

“This stuffed baby deer isn’t the only thing melting,” a watcher named Monica Ward seconded from her perch in the Twitterverse, “so is my cold, cold heart.”

RELATED: Teen Creates Dolls For Kids With Rare Medical Conditions to Help Them Feel Included and Loved

We’ll just file this one under, “I’m not crying; you’re crying,” shall we?

SHARE This Sweet Rescue Story From Canada With Your Pals…

Dwayne Johnson Gifts His Own Custom Truck To Deserving Fan at New Movie Screening

Instagram/@TheRock
Instagram/@TheRock

A fan showing up to watch the latest movie by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson had the shock of a lifetime—first by meeting the star himself, and then when the wrestler turned actor handed over the keys to his personal truck.

Johnson knew he would be treating the movie-goers to a meet and greet as well as free popcorn and ice cream at concession stands, but he also did a bit of research into those in attendance, and it was Rodriquez’s big heart that caught his eye.

“Oscar Rodriguez’s story moved me” Johnson wrote on his Instagram, explaining the gift, which was enough to make Rodriquez break down and cry.

A Navy veteran, personal trainer, and sole caretaker of his 75-year old mother, Rodriquez is also a leader of a local church group, and runs a charity to help victims of domestic violence.

“My original idea was to give away the Porsche Taycan that I drive in the movie, Red Notice,” Johnson wrote. “So we reached out to Porsche, but they said no.”

MORE: Watch Dwayne Johnson Give $30K Truck to the Guy Who Took Him In When ‘The Rock’ was a Homeless Teenager

Meeting Hollywood’s highest paid actor on any occasion is a cause to be excited. The Rock has a reputation of being extremely positive, motivational, and prone to bouts of kindness.

After calling Rodriquez down from the seats in the theater to introduce him and share his story, he led the man out to the parking lot and handed him a card that said, “Thank you for your service brother, enjoy your new truck.”

CHECK OUT: Ex-wife of Amazon CEO has Given Away $4 Billion in Last 4 Months to Help Those Affected by the Pandemic

“And now I can figure out how I’m getting home,” Johnson joked after his good deed. “‘Cause I don’t have my ride.”

(WATCH the surprise unfold in the Instagram video below.)

SHARE the Generosity; Share This Sweet Story on Social…

Whales Once Walked Along the Coasts of North America … Wait, What?

Robert W. Boessenecker via Wikimedia under CC By-SA 4.0
Robert W. Boessenecker, CC license

A tooth found nearly fifty years ago has recently been re-examined and found to contain the remains of a land-going whale from an extinct family found only in Pakistan.

A cousin of other walking whales in the family of Remingtonocetidae, it’s the first discovery of this ancient animal in North America, and gives a tantalizing prospect of a potential distribution of these creatures across the entire world.

It’s strange to think that as mega as so many of the dinosaurs became, the largest example of the advantages of enormity to a complex life form is alive with us today in the form of the blue whale.

Yet the whale lineage had to take many twists and turns before it arrived at a blowhole and flippers, which because of its mammalian origin, also involved feet and a long, almost crocodilian snout.

In 1973, a premolar of a new species of walking whale was found at a stone quarry in Castle Hayne, North Carolina.

In 2020, a team of researchers found it matched more closely the fossils found in Pakistan of Remingtonocetidae and not other extinct whale genera that were known to live along the coast of what would become North America.

RELATED: ‘Mind-blowing’: 3 Genetic Groups of Grizzly Bears Align With 3 Indigenous Language Tribes in Same Zip Codes

Remingtonocetids lived in the Tethys Ocean, a body of water that existed for half a billion years along the shore of an ancient super-continent called Gondwana which contained all the land that would form Africa, India, Australia, South America, and Antarctica. By the time of the Eocene, when this new species was discovered, the Tethys Ocean was a tiny fraction of what it once was, perhaps allowing the normally coastal animal to leave its Indo-Pakistan territory and venture as far as North Africa.

Paleontologists from Egypt discovered a walking-whale in North Africa in 2008, and in 2019 another specimen was found in Peru. The animals tended to average around 10 feet, or 3 meters in length, and have powerful jaws that are suggested to have been enough to allow the beasts to prey on crocodiles.

“This fossil really starts to give us a sense of when whales moved out of the Indo-Pakistan ocean region and started dispersing across the world,” Professor Jonathan Geisler told Live Science about Phiomicetusthe Egyptian-based walking-whale, after its discovery.

Rather than phiomicetus, Uhen believes the closest dental-match is drawn with Remingtonocetus harudiensus, discovered in the 1980s by a pair of scientists who first described these unique legged-whales. This would mean, if true, that while other whales crossed the Tethys to arrive near Egypt, or crossed the whole of the Eocene Atlantic Ocean to arrive in Peru, some of these proto-whales arrived in North America straight from Pakistan.

MORE: Early Humans Were Serial Heartbreakers: Unknown ‘Ghost Ancestor’ Appears in Analysis of Genome

“The first phase of cetacean evolution is, for the most part, the story of adaptation to the aquatic environment,” writes author and paleontologist Mark Uhen at George Mason University. “Changes in feeding, sensory systems, and locomotor systems are apparent in all of the lineages of middle Eocene cetaceans.”

“The potential discovery of a remingtonocetid from North America extends a third family of [proto whales] across the Atlantic and suggests that the aquatic abilities of remingtonocetids may have been better developed than previously thought.”

SHARE This Fascinating Story of Evolution With All Your Friends…

“What seems nasty, painful, and evil, can become a source of beauty, joy, and strength, if faced with an open mind.” – Henry Miller

Quote of the Day: “What seems nasty, painful, and evil, can become a source of beauty, joy, and strength, if faced with an open mind.” – Henry Miller

Photo: by Roberta Sorge

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

New Smart Pack Could Make Food Poisoning a Thing of the Past, and It’s Eco-Friendly

SWNS
SWNS

A new ‘smart’ form of packaging could eradicate food poisoning, according to a new study.

Scientists say it kills harmful bugs—such as E.coli, Salmonella, and listeria—keeping meat, fish, fruit, and veg fresh for longer.

The waterproof wrapping may also help save the planet by reducing waste, according to the research team. It looks just like plastic—but is biodegradable.

Project co-leader Professor Mary Chan, of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, said, “This invention would serve as a better option in the food industry.

“It has demonstrated superior antimicrobial qualities in combating a myriad of food-related bacteria and fungi that could be harmful to humans.

“The smart release of antimicrobials only occurs when bacteria or high humidity is present.

“It provides protection when needed—thus minimizing the use of chemicals and preserving the natural composition of foods packaged.”

The transparent material is made from starch, a type of corn protein called zein, and other naturally derived biopolymers.

It’s also infused with a cocktail of anti-microbial compounds found in plants.

CHECK OUT: New Hydrogel Tablet That Can Purify a Liter of River Water in an Hour

They include oil from thyme, a common herb used in cooking, and citric acid found in oranges and grapefruits.

In experiments tiny amounts were only released when exposed to humidity or enzymes from bacteria and fungi that contaminate food.

This ensures the packaging can endure several exposures—and last for months.

The chemicals destroy any bacteria that grow on the surface—as well as on the product itself.

Strawberries stayed fresh for seven days before developing mould—three days more than counterparts in mainstream plastic boxes.

Co-project leader Prof Philip Demokritou, of Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, said, “Food safety and waste have become a major societal challenge of our times with immense public health and economic impact which compromises food security.

“One of the most efficient ways to enhance food safety and reduce spoilage and waste is to develop efficient biodegradable non-toxic food packaging materials.

“In this study, we used nature-derived compounds including biopolymers, non-toxic solvents and nature-inspired antimicrobials and develop scalable systems to synthesize smart antimicrobial materials.

“They can be used not only to enhance food safety and quality but also to eliminate the harm to the environment and health and reduce the use of non-biodegradable plastics at global level and promote sustainable agri-food systems.”

SWNS

The packaging industry is the larges consumer of synthetic plastics derived from fossil fuels.

It accounts for the bulk of plastic waste that is polluting the environment.

Peter Barber, CEO of ComCrop, a Singapore company that pioneered urban rooftop farming, said, “The NTU-Harvard Chan School food packaging material would serve as a sustainable solution for companies like us who want to cut down on the usage of plastic and embrace greener alternatives.

RELATED: UK’s Largest Vertical Farm that Uses Only Sunlight Begins First Harvest

“As ComCrop looks to ramp up product to boost Singapore’s food production capabilities, the volume of packaging we need will increase in sync, and switching to a material such as this would help us have double the impact.

“The wrapping’s antimicrobial properties, which could potentially extend the shelf life of our vegetables, would serve us well.

“The packaging material holds promise to the industry, and we look forward to learning more about the wrapping and possibly adopting it for our usage someday.”

Prof Chan said it has enormous implications—serving as an environmentally friendly alternative.

The aim is to replace conventional plastic packaging with the new material that will also double the shelf life of produce.

TRY THIS FOR OBESITY: How Self-Compassion Can Help People Achieve Weight Loss Goals Despite Setbacks–and Resume Dieting Faster

Prof Chan said, “Vegetables are a source of wastage because even if they are refrigerated, they will continue to respire, leading to spoilage after a week or two.

“With the anti-microbial packaging, there is a chance to extend their shelf life – and also make the vegetables and fruits look fresh with time.”

The team hope to scale up the technology with an industrial partner—with the aim of commercialization within a few years.

The findings were published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

SHARE…

80-Year-old Man Reunited With Long Lost Siblings Thanks to His Litter Clean-up Dog on TV

SWNS
SWNS

A senior has been reunited with his long lost brother and sister after more than 20 years—thanks to the publicity he received because his dog picks up litter.

80-year-old Alfie Kitson and his five-year-old Spanish Podenco were featured in a video just before Christmas with the pup tidying up rubbish and putting it into the bin.

Kitson and Millie have become a familiar sight on the streets of Hereford. It was after the filming of one of these regular rounds that Alfie was spotted by his sister’s husband as Millie was helping clean up the streets.

The family was then able to track down Alfie to the village of Ulingswick, where he lives with his wife Judy.

Delighted, Alfie has reunited with brother Dave, who’s 84, and 71-year-old sister Anne for the first time in more than two decades.

The grandad-of-seven had drifted apart from his siblings after moving to Coin in Málaga two decades ago.

LOOK: 65 Cats Are Treated Like Favored Guests at the World Renown Hermitage Museum in Russia

Retired plumber Alfie said, “My brother moved to London years back and my sister went elsewhere too—we just drifted apart.

SWNS

“I was living in Spain and we were just living our own lives. We only returned 18 months ago because my wife became ill.

“I had a call recently from my granddaughter to say my sister Anne was trying to find me, I was only eight miles away.

“I came back home one day and lo and behold there was my sister. She then got in touch with my brother Dave.

SWNS

“We all grew up in Hereford, and now we have all been reunited,” Alfie says. “It has been amazing.

“And to think it’s all down to teaching Millie how to put litter in the bin is just incredible really.

MORE: A Dog Rescued From a Ledge 50 Feet Above a Colorado Creek Had Been Missing for Weeks

“We met for a walk with Millie last week and it has been emotional. We are planning to meet up again soon in the new year.”

Millie the dog was just eight months old when she was found abandoned in a rubbish bag tied to a tree branch and was rescued by Alfie and Judy.

Alfie said, “We rescued her because our house felt empty without an animal. Dogs and cats are a big part of anyone’s life that loves animals.

CHECK OUT: Puppy Siblings Adopted by Different Families Immediately Recognize Each Other During Walks One Year Later

As for her trick, he says, “All I have to say is ‘put that litter in the bin’ and she will pick it up and do it. Passers-by seem to love it and she always gets a little round of applause.

“She isn’t just part of the family, she is the family and we are glad we can show her off to others as she really is an amazing dog.”

RAISE A Paw For This Beautiful Story; Share It With Your Besties…

Astronomers Uncover the Largest Group of Rogue Planets Yet

Artist's rendering; ESO
Artist’s rendering; ESO

Rogue planets are elusive cosmic objects that have masses comparable to those of the planets in our Solar System but do not orbit a star, instead roaming freely on their own.

Not many were known until now, but a team of astronomers, using data from several European Southern Observatory (ESO) telescopes and other facilities, have just discovered at least 70 new rogue planets in our galaxy. This is the largest group of rogue planets ever discovered, an important step towards understanding the origins and features of these mysterious galactic nomads.

“We did not know how many to expect and are excited to have found so many,” says Núria Miret-Roig, an astronomer at the Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Bordeaux, France and the University of Vienna, Austria, and the first author of the new study.

Rogue planets, lurking far away from any star illuminating them, would normally be impossible to image. However, Miret-Roig and her team took advantage of the fact that, in the few million years after their formation, these planets are still hot enough to glow, making them directly detectable by sensitive cameras on large telescopes.

They found at least 70 new rogue planets with masses comparable to Jupiter’s in a star-forming region close to our Sun, in the Upper Scorpius and Ophiuchus constellations.

To spot so many rogue planets, the team used data spanning about 20 years from a number of telescopes on the ground and in space. “We measured the tiny motions, the colours and luminosities of tens of millions of sources in a large area of the sky,” explains Miret-Roig. “These measurements allowed us to securely identify the faintest objects in this region, the rogue planets.”

RELATED: Spectacular Time Lapse Shows the Hypnotic Flames on the Surface of the Sun (WATCH)

The team used observations from ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA), the VLT Survey Telescope (VST) and the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope located in Chile, along with other facilities. “The vast majority of our data come from ESO observatories, which were absolutely critical for this study. Their wide field of view and unique sensitivity were keys to our success,” explains Hervé Bouy, an astronomer at the Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Bordeaux, France, and project leader of the new research. “We used tens of thousands of wide-field images from ESO facilities, corresponding to hundreds of hours of observations, and literally tens of terabytes of data.”

The team also used data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia satellite, marking a huge success for the collaboration of ground- and space-based telescopes in the exploration and understanding of our Universe.

The study, published in Nature Astronomy, suggests there could be many more of these elusive, starless planets that we have yet to discover. “There could be several billions of these free-floating giant planets roaming freely in the Milky Way without a host star,” Bouy explains.

MORE: Huge Supply of Water Discovered on Mars, Frozen at the Bottom of its Grand Canyon

By studying the newly found rogue planets, astronomers may find clues to how these mysterious objects form. Some scientists believe rogue planets can form from the collapse of a gas cloud that is too small to lead to the formation of a star, or that they could have been kicked out from their parent system. But which mechanism is more likely remains unknown.

Further advances in technology will be key to unlocking the mystery of these nomadic planets. The team hopes to continue to study them in greater detail with ESO’s forthcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), currently under construction in the Chilean Atacama Desert and due to start observations later this decade. “These objects are extremely faint and little can be done to study them with current facilities,” says Bouy. “The ELT will be absolutely crucial to gathering more information about most of the rogue planets we have found.”

Source: ESO

SHARE This Discovery From Outer Space With Far Out Friends…