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Mentioned by Michael Shellenberger
John Greenewald Jr
The Black Vault
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'I weigh the same': NASA astronaut Suni Williams refutes tabloid health claims
November 12, 2024
Don't believe the tabloids: NASA astronaut Suni Williams says she's doing just fine aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Last week, media outlets such as The Daily Mail and The New York Post published stories speculating that Williams' health may be deteriorating in Earth orbit, citing an outside doctor's opinion that she looks "gaunt" in some recent photos.
NASA officials quickly refuted those claims, saying Williams and the other three agency astronauts currently living on the ISS are in good health.
And now, Williams herself has delivered the same message.
"I'm the same weight that I was when I got up here," Williams said today (Nov. 12) in a video interview from the ISS, in response to a question from the New England Sports Network.
Williams said she's been working out assiduously on the orbiting lab, as all astronauts do to stave off the muscle wasting and loss in bone density that can come with long-duration exposure to microgravity.
She's been riding an exercise bike, running on a treadmill and lifting weights on the ISS, and her body has changed as a result.
"I could definitely tell that weightlifting, which is not something that I do all the time, has definitely changed me. My thighs are a little bit bigger, my butt is a little bit bigger," Williams said.
But, she stressed, "I weigh the same."
Williams arrived at the ISS on June 6 with fellow NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, on the first-ever crewed mission of Boeing's Starliner capsule.
That mission, known as Crew Flight Test (CFT), was supposed to last just 10 days or so.
However, Starliner experienced thruster issues on its way to the orbiting lab.
NASA extended CFT to study the problem in detail and ultimately decided to bring Starliner home without anyone on board, which happened on Sept. 6.
Williams and Wilmore will come back to Earth in February 2025 with the two astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-9 mission, who arrived in late September.
Williams commands the orbiting lab's Expedition 72.
The other members of the mission currently living on the ISS are Wilmore, fellow NASA astronauts Don Pettit and Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonauts Aleksandr Gorbunov, Aleksey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner.
https://www.space.com/nasa-astronaut-suni-williams-refutes-tabloid-health-claims
Fire at Vandenberg Space Force Base 100% contained, fire officials announce cause
updated 7:50 PM, Nov 12, 2024
The Santa Lucia Fire, which broke out last Thursday at Vandenberg Space Force Base, is now 100% contained, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
The fire broke out just after noon on November 7, along Santa Lucia Canyon Road, just north of the Lompoc federal prison.
It burned 130 acres and prompted the evacuation of the south end of Vandenberg Village. There was no reported damage to any homes or other structures.
Santa Barbara County Fire officials told KSBY News on Tuesday that the fire was caused by sparks from a trailer that became disconnected from the vehicle that was towing it.
Fire department officials say all equipment and personnel assigned to the fire have been released.
https://www.ksby.com/weather/fire-watch/fire-at-vandenberg-space-force-base-100-contained-fire-officials-announce-cause
HASC chair: Trump will move Space Command HQ to Alabama immediately
November 12, 2024 03:28 PM ET
President-elect Donald Trump will sign an executive order within his first week of office to move U.S. Space Command headquarters to Alabama, clearing the way for construction to start as soon as next year, according to Alabama congressman Mike Rogers.
Space Command has been based in Colorado at Peterson Space Force Base since its inception in 2019, but the decision on a forever home has been the subject of a years-long debate.
The Biden administration in 2023 reversed a decision Trump made in his last days in office to move the command’s permanent headquarters to Huntsville, Alabama.
“I've told y'all since Biden made that crooked decision, it wasn't going to work.
As you know, on the [House] Armed Services Committee, I put a hold on any money being spent in Colorado Springs after President Biden came in and stole that mission away, and I told everybody then that Colorado Springs will not be the future location of Space Command, it will be Huntsville, Alabama, who won at fair and square,” Rogers said during an interview on Alabama radio station FM Talk 106.5 that aired on Monday.
The 2024 defense policy bill put a freeze on SPACECOM headquarters construction until two government watchdog agencies evaluate Biden’s decision to keep it in Colorado.
The two investigations will wrap up in December or January, Rogers said, and would have “reversed the president's decision anyway.”
“It's going to be a big point now because President Trump's already announced it, and I think you'll see in the first week that he's in office, he'll sign an executive order reversing Biden's directive.
And we will start construction next year in Huntsville,” Rogers said.
Biden officials have argued that the command should stay in Colorado to maintain readiness and prevent the loss of civilian workers, who make up 60 percent of its workforce.
But Rogers said the new Trump administration is unlikely to see any pushback from Democrats on HASC.
“I have every confidence that if for some reason we didn't take control of the House, [HASC ranking member] Adam Smith and the Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee would do nothing to try to interfere with the U.S. Space Command being constructed in Huntsville," Rogers said.
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2024/11/hasc-chair-trump-will-move-space-command-hq-alabama-immediately/400986/
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3963158/air-force-space-force-surgeon-general-shares-vision-for-accomplishing-afms-stra/
Air Force, Space Force surgeon general shares vision for accomplishing AFMS strategic imperatives
Nov. 13, 2024
As the Air Force Medical Service continues its transformation to meet the evolving needs of Airmen and Guardians, Lt. Gen. John J. DeGoes, the U.S. Air Force and Space Force surgeon general, outlined his vision for implementing four AFMS strategic imperatives to ensure health and medical readiness.
DeGoes, who became the Air Force’s 25th surgeon general July 31, said addressing the complex challenges of future warfare requires an expansive overhaul of the AFMS and the training of service members within the system.
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Deliver DAF integrated operational capabilities
Integrating tailored medical capabilities into operational units
Unquestionably, the foremost priority is providing operationally relevant medical capabilities that are fully integrated into units of action from day one.
Medics will train, certify, and deploy together while providing combat medical support to the installation to maximize home station readiness.
“Our future challenges require a different approach,” DeGoes said. “It’s going to require a different kind of organizing, training, and equipping.
It necessitates training together, knowing the people you’re going to serve. More of the mission for the future also involves returning folks to duty.”
As the Department of the Air Force continues to prepare for Great Power Competition, medics have to be adaptive, agile and innovative in any given scenario, especially in an environment that may be contested, where manpower and additional resources may be limited.
“We have to be more hardened, more resilient,” DeGoes explained. “If the base that we’re at is not a sanctuary, we need to be equipped and prepared to use our capabilities and have the confidence to carry out the mission.”
Support for active-duty members and families
Family readiness is a critical component of force readiness, according to DeGoes.
He emphasized the AFMS must transform into a people-centric operation - one that supports not only the service member deployed to the battlefield, but also their family at home.
“You can’t be completely ready as an Airman or Guardian if your family is not ready and taken care of,” DeGoes explained.
“Once we have that combat mission, families and other active-duty members remaining at installation will still have our support.”
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Joint force readiness support
Enhancing joint patient movement capability, capacity, interoperability, and casualty care
Unified efforts to strategically align AFMS medical forces with the operational Air Force, Space Force, and joint force remain vital to generating readiness, particularly for emergency rapid responses.
In recent years, the Department of Defense and Defense Health Agency Joint Trauma System developed Tactical Combat Casualty Care courses for evidence-based training, life-saving techniques, and strategies to provide top-tier battlefield trauma care across the services.
Emphasis on continued innovations in various medical components, including Medic-X training, expeditionary medical support, en route patient care, aeromedical evacuation, and Critical Care Air Transport Teams will enable medical capabilities to sustain patient movement and casualty care in a complex, contested environment.
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Medical force development
Continuing advanced training and education of service members
In conjunction with readiness support, the AFMS remains focused on its strategic imperative to invest in advanced medical, dental, allied health education and prioritizes proficiency in medical capabilities while maintaining the necessary education and skill sets to optimize readiness, recruitment, and retention.
DeGoes stressed the importance of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of medical forces without sacrificing essential combat medical support in a resource-constrained environment.
“Innovating in the medical readiness space is going to be critical to military medicine’s part in national security,” DeGoes stated.
“I see machine learning and artificial intelligence as enabling future medics to do more with less. The spirit of innovation is key to moving forward.”
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Providing a medically ready force
Delivering healthcare benefits through partnership with the Defense Health Agency
Through the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress directed the transfer of administration and management of military treatment facilities to the DHA to standardize care across all services and establish an integrated Military Health System.
AFMS has been collaborating with the agency to deliver comprehensive healthcare benefits to beneficiaries while ensuring Airmen and Guardians are medically ready for missions.
DeGoes envisions a continued partnership with the DHA to ensure efficient healthcare delivery through integrated resources, technology, and medical expertise.
Together, the DHA and AFMS have streamlined these services to enhance the quality of care and improve all patient outcomes.
“Our partnership will enable us to optimize readiness through providing safe, high-quality healthcare for all service members, families, and beneficiaries,” he said.
“To stay the greatest Air Force, it requires the best healthcare whether at home or at any contingency.”
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Rep. Burchett introduces bill protecting UAP whistleblowers
Nov. 12, 2024
Today, U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett (TN-02) introduced the UAP Whistleblower Protection Act.
“We need to protect folks who want to come forward,” said Rep. Burchett.
“Our government spends tens of millions of dollars on looking into UAPs, yet when someone wants to bring something forward, members of our government want to shut it down.
People who want to bring the truth to light should be protected.”
The UAP Whistleblower Protection Act would provide protections to whistleblowers who bring attention to federal funding that is being used to study UAPs.
This bill was introduced the day before the House Committee on Oversight is set to hold a joint subcommittee hearing on UAPs.
BACKGROUND:
Congressman Tim Burchett (TN-02), along with several bipartisan members of Congress, pushed for a hearing on UAPswhich was held by the House Oversight Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs on July 26, 2023. The hearing featured testimony from three witnesses: 
Ryan Graves, former Navy pilot and Executive Director of Americans for Safe Aerospace
Rt. Commander David Fravor, Former Commanding Officer, Black Aces Squadron, U.S. Navy
David Grusch, former National Reconnaissance Officer Representative, Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force, Department of Defense
Congressman Burchett also launched the bipartisan UAP Caucus in the House of Representatives, which he co-chairs alongside Congressman Jared Moskowitz (FL-23).
Some members of the UAP Caucus sent a letter to the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community asking for follow-up information regarding David Grusch’s testimony in the recent hearing on UAPs.
Congressman Burchett and other members of the UAP Caucus introduced the UAP Transparency Act, which would require the president of the United States to direct all federal agencies and departments to make all documents relating to UAPs available to the public within 270 days.
https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-burchett-introduces-bill-protecting-uap-whistleblowers
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/10111/text
Durham University astrophysicists produce model to calculate probability of intelligent alien life
00:01, 13 NOV 2024
Astrophysicists have developed a new theoretical model that could be used to estimate how likely it is for intelligent alien life to emerge in our universe.
In the 1960s, American astronomer Dr Frank Drake came up with an equation to calculate the number of detectable extra-terrestrial civilisations in the Milky Way galaxy.
More than 60 years on, researchers led by Durham University’s Institute for Computational Cosmology have produced a new model based on the conditions created by the acceleration of the universe’s expansion and the amount of stars formed instead.
It is thought that this expansion is being driven by a mysterious form of energy called dark energy that permeates space and makes up over two thirds of the universe.
This new research has calculated the fraction of ordinary matter converted into stars over the entire history of the universe, for different dark energy densities.
The model predicts this fraction would be approximately 27% in a universe that is most efficient at forming stars, compared to 23% in our universe.
The new model could allow scientists to understand the effects of differing densities of dark energy on the formation of structures in the universe and the conditions for life to develop in the cosmos.
The research also involved scientists at the University of Edinburgh and the Université de Genève.
Their findings are published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Lead researcher Dr Daniele Sorini, in the Institute for Computational Cosmology, Durham University, said: "Understanding dark energy and the impact on our Universe is one of the biggest challenges in cosmology and fundamental physics.
"The parameters that govern our universe, including the density of dark energy, could explain our own existence.
"Surprisingly, though, we found that even a significantly higher dark energy density would still be compatible with life, suggesting we may not live in the most likely of universes."
At present, there is no satisfactory explanation of what dark energy is and of its abundance in the universe.
Dark energy makes the universe expand faster, balancing gravity’s pull creating a universe where both expansion and structure formation are possible.
However, for life to develop, there would need to be regions where matter can clump together to form stars and planets, and it would need to remain stable for billions of years to allow life to evolve.
Since stars are a precondition for the emergence of life as we know it, this new calculation could be used to estimate the probability of generating intelligent life in our universe, and in a multiverse scenario of hypothetical different universes.
Crucially, the research suggests that the astrophysics of star formation and the evolution of the large-scale structure of the universe combine in a subtle way to determine the optimal value of the dark energy density needed for the generation of intelligent life.
The new research does not attempt to calculate the absolute number of observers (i.e. intelligent life) in the universe but instead considers the relative probability of a randomly chosen observer inhabiting a universe with particular properties.
It concludes that a typical observer would expect to experience a substantially larger density of dark energy than is seen in our own universe – suggesting the ingredients it possesses make it a rare and unusual case in the multiverse.
Professor Lucas Lombriser, Université de Genève and co-author of the study, added:
"It will be exciting to employ the model to explore the emergence of life across different universes and see whether some fundamental questions we ask ourselves about our own universe must be reinterpreted."
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/durham-university-researchers-intelligent-life-30348932
Cameras on the International Space Station capture a flyby of an unknown object
Nov 13, 2024
Our cameras captured a flyby of an object belowbelow below the ISS. Any guesses what it could be? đź‘€
https://about.sen.com/sen-4k-video-cameras-head-to-the-international-space-station/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuY4nJatduI