TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
Mar 5, 2024
NGC 2170: Angel Nebula Abstract Art
Is this a painting or a photograph? In this celestial abstract art composed with a cosmic brush, dusty nebula NGC 2170, also known as the Angel Nebula, shines just above the image center. Reflecting the light of nearby hot stars, NGC 2170 is joined by other bluish reflection nebulae, a red emission region, many dark absorption nebulae, and a backdrop of colorful stars. Like the common household items that abstract painters often choose for their subjects, the clouds of gas, dust, and hot stars featured here are also commonly found in a setting like this one – a massive, star-forming molecular cloud in the constellation of the Unicorn (Monoceros). The giant molecular cloud, Mon R2, is impressively close, estimated to be only 2,400 light-years or so away. At that distance, this canvas would be over 60 light-years across.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-13159723/Metas-Facebook-Instagram-Worldwide-outage.html
Former President Donald Trump endorses Vince Fong for California's 20th Congressional District
February 21, 2024
Vince Fong has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump to fill California's 20th Congressional District Seat.
The special election is set to happen on May 21, 2024, after Kevin McCarthy resigned from Congress after being ousted as the Speaker of the House.
Trump announced the endorsement on his platform "Truth Social."
"In Congress, Vince will work with me to grow the economy, lower your taxes, cut burdensome regulations, champion American energy, and protect and defend the Second Amendment, which is under siege by the radical Left," Trump said in the post.
Fong thanked Trump for the endorsement on his Twitter account.
In January, a judge ruled that Fong is allowed to run for both the 20th Congressional District and re-election in his current seat in the Assembly.
California's 20th district includes parts of Kern, Tulare, Kings and Fresno counties.
Fong, who serves on several committees in the state house, says he is passionate about laws against criminals, securing the southern border, drug and human trafficking and economic issues.
https://abc30.com/vince-fong-california-20th-assembly-donald-trump-political-endorsement/14449484/
Biden-Harris Administration announces new NOAA-NASA agreement to advance North Atlantic right whale conservation technologies as part of Investing in America agenda
March 4, 2024
Today, NOAA Fisheries announced a new $500,000 agreement with NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation (CoECI) to assist NOAA in identifying, advancing the development of and selecting technologies to support endangered North Atlantic right whale recovery efforts. Today’s investment is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and funded by the Inflation Reduction Act — the largest climate investment in history.
North Atlantic right whales are approaching extinction, with approximately 360 individuals remaining, including fewer than 70 reproductively active females. Primary threats to the species are entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes. Climate change is also affecting every aspect of their survival.
“The Inflation Reduction Act provides a historic investment to reduce threats to this imperiled species and increase monitoring through the application of new technologies that would otherwise not be possible without this funding,” said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “Our team at NOAA Fisheries looks forward to working with NASA given its strong track record of bringing new technologies and approaches to pressing societal problems.”
Under this agreement, and in partnership with the private sector, NOAA Fisheries will seek to identify, advance and develop new technologies for satellite tags and improve whale detection to reduce the risk of vessel strikes ― one of the primary threats to the survival of North Atlantic right whales. By developing new technologies, NOAA Fisheries can improve the understanding of where whales are located to allow ocean users to respond when right whales are detected.
“NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation works across NASA and other federal agencies to educate and facilitate the use of open innovation and crowdsourcing,” said Steve Rader, program manager for CoECI at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “Open innovation provides a unique tool to further technology development and scientific discovery for the benefit of all, and we look forward to working with NOAA Fisheries on this important ecological endeavor.”
NOAA Fisheries and its partners are dedicated to recovering and conserving North Atlantic right whales. The new agreement will help NOAA Fisheries meet the objectives of the recently released North Atlantic Right Whale and Offshore Wind Strategy, and it directly supports the North Atlantic Right Whale Road to Recovery — NOAA Fisheries’ comprehensive plan to address threats to the species and monitor recovery progress. NOAA Fisheries has previously worked with NASA to organize a global technology searchoffsite link for innovative solutions to detect on-demand (or “ropeless”) fishing gear. This new effort will further strengthen the agencies’ partnership.
This agreement is part of NOAA Fisheries’ plans for North Atlantic right whale recovery, supported with $82 million in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and first announced in September 2023. These investments are part of the historic $3.3 billion in Inflation Reduction Act investments focused on ensuring America’s communities and economies are ready for and resilient to climate change.
https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/biden-harris-administration-announces-new-noaa-nasa-agreement-to-advance-whale-conservation