TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
September 15, 2025
Earth During a Powerful Solar Storm
Can our Sun become dangerous? Yes, sometimes. Every few years our Sun ejects a scary-large bubble of hot gas into the Solar System. Every hundred years or so, when the timing, location, and magnetic field connections are just right, such a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) will hit the Earth. When this happens, the Earth not only experiences dramatic auroras, but its magnetic field gets quickly pushed back and compressed, which causes electric grids to surge. Some of these surges could be dangerous, affecting satellites and knocking out power grids which can take months to fix. Just such a storm called the Carrington Event – occurred in 1859 and caused telegraph wires to spark. A similar CME passed near the Earth in 2012, and the featured animated video shows a computer model of what might have happened if it had been a direct hit. In this model, the Earth's magnetopause becomes so compressed that it went inside the orbit of geosynchronous communication satellites.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
Learn to Use Solar Induced Fluorescence Data to Assess Changes in Vegetation
Sept. 15, 2025
In a dynamic world where natural disasters like droughts, floods, and fires can wipe out crops and wildland ecosystems alike, vegetation monitoring is an increasingly important use case for remote sensing data.
While NASA provides many resources to study vegetation health, solar induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) is a relatively new spaceborne remote sensing measurement and offers many unique advantages over traditional metrics like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI).
Starting on October 15, 2025, NASA’s Applied Remote Sensing Training Program (ARSET) will offer a three-part, online training building on a previous ARSET course introducing SIF.
The training will include background on SIF, detail a number of potential applications of the data, and demonstrate how to access, visualize, and process SIF data using case studies of the 2019 Midwestern U.S. floods and the 2020 Oregon wildfires (Lionshead Fire).
This training is open to the public. If you would like to register for the training, please visit the training page.
https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/news/learn-use-solar-induced-fluorescence-data-assess-changes-vegetation
https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/trainings/solar-induced-fluorescence-sif-observations-assessing-vegetation-changes-related
https://science.nasa.gov/directorates/smd/avatars-for-astronaut-health-nasa-artemis-ii/
https://science.nasa.gov/biological-physical/
Avatars for Astronaut Health to Fly on NASA’s Artemis II
Sep 15, 2025
NASA announced a trailblazing experiment that aims to take personalized medicine to new heights.
The experiment is part of a strategic plan to gather valuable scientific data during the Artemis II mission, enabling NASA to “know before we go” back to the lunar surface and on to Mars.
The AVATAR (A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response) investigation will use organ-on-a-chip devices, or organ chips, to study the effects of deep space radiation and microgravity on human health.
The chips will contain cells from Artemis II astronauts and fly side-by-side with crew on their approximately 10-day journey around the Moon.
This research, combined with other studies on the health and performance of Artemis II astronauts, will give NASA insight into how to best protect astronauts as exploration expands to the surface of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
AVATAR is NASA’s visionary tissue chip experiment that will revolutionize the very way we will do science, medicine, and human multi-planetary exploration.”
“AVATAR is NASA’s visionary tissue chip experiment that will revolutionize the very way we will do science, medicine, and human multi-planetary exploration,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
“Each tissue chip is a tiny sample uniquely created so that we can examine how the effects of deep space act on each human explorer before we go to ensure we pack the appropriate medical supplies tailored to each individual’s needs as we travel back to the Moon, and onward to Mars.”
The investigation is a collaboration between NASA, government agencies, and industry partners, leveraging commercial expertise to gain a deeper understanding of human biology and disease.
This research could accelerate innovations in personalized healthcare, both for astronauts in space and patients on Earth.
Organ-on-a-chip: mimic for human health
Organ chips, also referred to as tissue chips or microphysiological systems, are roughly the size of a USB thumb drive and used to help understand — and then predict — how an individual might respond to a variety of stressors, such as radiation or medical treatments, including pharmaceuticals. Essentially, these small devices serve as “avatars” for human organs.
Organ chips contain living human cells that are grown to model the structures and functions of specific regions in human organs, such as the brain, lungs, heart, pancreas, and liver — they can beat like a heart, breathe like a lung, or metabolize like a liver.
Tissue chips can be linked together to mimic how organs interact with each other, which is important for understanding how the whole human body responds to stressors or treatments.
Researchers and oncologists use human tissue chips today to understand how a specific patient’s cancer might react to different drugs or radiation treatments. To date, a standard milestone for organs-on-chips has been to keep human cells healthy for 30 days.
However, NASA and other research institutions are pushing these boundaries by increasing the longevity of organ chips to a minimum of six months so that scientists can observe diseases and drug therapies over a longer period.
1/2
Bone marrow as bellwether
The Artemis II mission will use organ chips created using blood-forming stem and progenitor cells, which originate in the bone marrow, from Artemis II crew members.
Bone marrow is among the organs most sensitive to radiation exposure and, therefore, of central importance to human spaceflight.
It also plays a vital role in the immune system, as it is the origin of all adult red and white blood cells, which is why researchers aim to understand how deep space radiation affects this organ.
Studies have shown that microgravity affects the development of bone marrow cells.
Although the International Space Station operates in low Earth orbit, which is shielded from most cosmic and solar radiation by the Earth’s magnetosphere, astronauts often experience a loss of bone density.
Given that Artemis II crew will be flying beyond this protective layer, AVATAR researchers also seek to understand how the combined stressors of deep space radiation and microgravity affect the developing cells.
To make the bone marrow organ chips, Artemis II astronauts will first donate platelets to a local healthcare system.
The cells remaining from their samples will contain a small percentage of bone marrow-derived stem and progenitor cells.
NASA-funded scientists at Emulate, Inc., which developed the organ chip technology used in AVATAR, will purify these cells with magnetic beads that bind specifically to them.
The purified cells will then be placed in the bone marrow chips next to blood vessel cells and other supporting cells to model the structure and function of the bone marrow.
Investigating how radiation affects the bone marrow can provide insights into how radiation therapy and other DNA-damaging agents, such as chemotherapeutic drugs, impair blood cell formation.
Its significance for both spaceflight and medicine on Earth makes the bone marrow an ideal organ to study in the Artemis II AVATAR project.
Passenger for research
“For NASA, organ chips could provide vital data for protecting astronaut health on deep space missions,” said Lisa Carnell, director of NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences division at NASA Headquarters.
“As we go farther and stay longer in space, crew will have only limited access to on-site clinical healthcare. Therefore, it’ll be critical to understand if there are unique and specific healthcare needs of each astronaut, so that we can send the right supplies with them on future missions.”
During the Artemis II mission, the organ chips will be secured in a custom payload developed by Space Tango and mounted inside the capsule during the mission.
The battery-powered payload will maintain automated environmental control and media delivery to the organ chips throughout the flight.
Upon return, researchers at Emulate will examine how spaceflight affected the bone marrow chips by performing single-cell RNA sequencing, a powerful technique that measures how thousands of genes change within individual cells.
The scientists will compare data from the flight samples to measurements of crew cells used in a ground-based immunology study happening simultaneously.
This will provide the most detailed look at the impact of spaceflight and deep space radiation on developing blood cells to date.
2/2
Where do we start in purging NASA’s ranks of climate activists?
September 15, 2025
Where do we start in purging climate activists from the ranks of government agencies like NASA? I have a suggestion, which I proposed in an email to Sean Duffy, the new acting head of NASA.
Start by removing Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, a NASA program scientist and manager overseeing a team of scientists studying sea level rise. Why pick on her? Because she has made an audacious claim to garner media attention.
She has asserted that we could expect another 20 centimeters of global mean sea level (GMSL) by 2050. Anyone proficient in excel could dismiss her claim within five minutes.
If you graph NASA historical GSML data from 1993 to present, apply a linear and quadratic fit and extend it out to 2050, you get 175 mm and 225 mm, respectively, over 1993 values (see graph below).
She is asserting 300 mm by 2050 (today’s 100mm plus another 200mm). My calculations are here. Nobody eyeballing a graph of it would ever fall for her claim.
Statements like hers are not an isolated case and are clearly an outgrowth of a climate activist culture within NASA that needs to be rooted out.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/09/where_do_we_start_in_purging_nasa_s_ranks_of_climate_activists.html
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/66g3f5uqdthkrv2yvjkpp/NASA-sea-level-projections.xlsx?rlkey=h92zvky1m2f5xq6ciw343g2gk&e=1&st=ug58d438&dl=0
https://science.nasa.gov/people/nadya-vinogradova-shiffer-physical-oceanography-program/
Nasa tracking massive asteroid bigger than Qutub Minar flying towards Earth
UPDATED: Sep 15, 2025 11:58 IST
A rare cosmic encounter is set to unfold as asteroid 2025 FA22 prepares to glide past Earth in September, which is being tracked by Nasa’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) and JPL.
Discovered earlier this year by the Pan-STARRS 2 Survey in Hawaii, FA22 has captured international and Indian public attention not just for its close approach, but for its impressive size. It is estimated to be between 120 and 280 meters across.
To put this into perspective, the famous Qutub Minar in Delhi, India’s tallest brick minaret, rises approximately 73 meters. By comparison, FA22 at its smallest estimate is nearly twice as tall as Qutub Minar.
At its larger estimate, the asteroid would dwarf the monument nearly fourfold, making it a truly colossal visitor by cosmic standards.
FA22 follows a moderately elongated, slightly tilted orbit around the sun, with an orbital period of roughly 1.85 years.
On September 18, 2025, the asteroid will zip past Earth at a distance of about 8,42,000 kilometres, which is a little over twice the lunar distance and close enough for planetary scientists and amateur astronomers to mobilise global observing campaigns.
International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) groups plan to use this opportunity to refine FA22’s orbit and study its composition, using both radar and powerful optical telescopes.
While its classification as a potentially hazardous asteroid raised public curiosity, experts confirm that FA22 is not on a collision course with Earth for the foreseeable future.
Early risk assessments gave it a low Torino Scale rating, but further data quickly ruled out any immediate threat. Its next close encounter, over a century away, is also projected to be safely beyond the Moon’s orbit.
Asteroids of this size and proximity swing past our planet only once or twice every decade, turning FA22 into an invaluable scientific target.
The intense scrutiny it receives during this passage will improve future impact modelling and deepen understanding of similar objects.
https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/nasa-tracking-massive-asteroid-2025-fa22-bigger-than-qutub-minar-flying-towards-earth-2787473-2025-09-15
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroid-watch/next-five-approaches/
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=2025%20FA22&view=VOP
NASA Science, Cargo Launches Aboard Northrop Grumman CRS-23
Sep 14, 2025
NASA is sending more science, technology demonstrations, and crew supplies to the International Space Station following the successful launch of the agency’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 23 mission, or Northrop Grumman CRS-23.
The company’s Cygnus XL spacecraft, carrying more than 11,000 pounds of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, lifted off at 6:11 p.m. EDT Sunday on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
This mission is the first flight of the larger, more cargo-capable version of the solar-powered spacecraft.
Cygnus XL is scheduled to be captured at 6:35 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, by the Canadarm2 robotic arm, which NASA astronaut Jonny Kim will operate with assistance from NASA astronaut Zena Cardman.
Following capture, the spacecraft will be installed to the Unity module’s Earth-facing port for cargo unloading.
The resupply mission is carrying dozens of research experiments that will be conducted during Expedition 73, including materials to produce semiconductor crystals in space and equipment to develop improvements for cryogenic fuel tanks.
The spacecraft also will deliver a specialized UV light system to prevent the growth of microbe communities that form in water systems and supplies to produce pharmaceutical crystals that could treat cancer and other diseases.
These are just a sample of the hundreds of scientific investigations conducted aboard the station in the areas of biology and biotechnology, Earth and space science, physical sciences, as well as technology development and demonstrations.
For nearly 25 years, NASA has supported a continuous U.S. human presence aboard the orbiting laboratory, where astronauts have learned to live and work in space for extended periods of time.
The space station is a springboard for developing a low Earth economy and NASA’s next great leaps in exploration, including Artemis missions to the Moon and American astronaut missions to Mars.
NASA’s arrival, capture, and installation coverage are as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):
Wednesday, Sept. 17
5 a.m. – Arrival coverage begins on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and more.
6:35 a.m. – Capture of Cygnus XL with the space station’s robotic arm.
8 a.m. – Installation coverage begins on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and more.
All coverage times are estimates and could be adjusted based on operations after launch. Follow the space station blog for the most up-to-date information.
Cygnus XL is scheduled to remain at the orbiting laboratory until March 2026, before it departs and disposes of several thousand pounds of trash through its re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, where it will harmlessly burn up.
The spacecraft is named the S.S. William “Willie” C. McCool, in honor of the NASA astronaut who perished in 2003 during the space shuttle Columbia accident.
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-science-cargo-launches-aboard-northrop-grumman-crs-23/
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/nasas-northrop-grumman-crs-23/
General public discomfort levels reaching maximum threshold
https://www.msn.com/en-ie/money/other/nasa-s-new-nuclear-propulsion-system-could-get-us-to-mars-in-just-6-months/ar-AA1MwHbe
https://news.osu.edu/ohio-state-scientists-advance-focus-on-nuclear-propulsion/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094576525002838
NASA’s New Nuclear Propulsion System Could Get Us to Mars in Just 6 Months!
September 14, 2025
In a groundbreaking development, Ohio State University has unveiled a new concept for nuclear thermal propulsion that could significantly cut down travel time to Mars.
Building on past space propulsion research, including early studies in nuclear propulsion published in ScienceDirect, the Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket (CNTR) could revolutionize human space exploration.
With support from NASA, the CNTR offers promising advancements in both efficiency and safety, promising to dramatically shorten interplanetary travel times while paving the way for more ambitious space missions in the future.
Revolutionizing Mars Travel with Nuclear Thermal Propulsion
For decades, space agencies have been seeking efficient ways to shorten the long and perilous journey to Mars.
The CNTR, a new nuclear propulsion concept developed by researchers at Ohio State University, could be the breakthrough needed to make Mars missions viable within the next decade.
This propulsion system differs significantly from older designs by utilizing liquid uranium fuel to heat the rocket propellant directly, making the system potentially twice as efficient as traditional nuclear propulsion methods.
As a result, the CNTR could slash the time required for a round-trip journey to Mars to under 420 days, making human missions to Mars not only feasible but significantly safer.
Nuclear thermal propulsion has long been considered a game-changer due to its high specific impulse compared to chemical engines. The CNTR takes this further by addressing the need for both high performance and reliability.
“Depending on how well it works, the prototype CNTR engine is pushing us towards the future,” said Spencer Christian, a PhD student leading the prototype construction.
This powerful propulsion technology could transform human space exploration, offering the potential to not only reach Mars but venture into deeper parts of the solar system.
The Growing Need for Efficient Space Travel
One of the primary challenges in current space exploration is the long duration of missions, which presents both logistical and health concerns.
Prolonged space travel increases the risks to astronauts’ health, including exposure to radiation, muscle atrophy, and psychological stress.
As missions to distant planets such as Mars and beyond become increasingly important, the need for more efficient propulsion systems is urgent.
Chemical rockets, while successful for launching satellites and short-duration missions, simply do not have the thrust or efficiency necessary for long-duration deep-space travel.
“We need to keep space nuclear propulsion as a consistent priority in the future, so that technology can have time to mature,” said Dean Wang, a researcher at Ohio State University.
The CNTR propulsion system could address these issues by drastically cutting travel time, reducing exposure to space hazards, and enabling the transport of larger amounts of cargo.
1/2
The CNTR’s development aligns with global space agencies’ increasing interest in nuclear thermal propulsion to reach more distant regions of the solar system.
With its ability to achieve a higher specific impulse—1800 seconds compared to the 450 seconds typical of chemical engines—this new propulsion system could facilitate quicker and more efficient journeys, not just to Mars, but to the outer planets like Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Innovations in Propellant Flexibility and In-Space Resource Utilization
What sets the CNTR apart from other propulsion systems is its versatility.
Unlike traditional nuclear thermal propulsion, which typically relies on a single type of fuel, the CNTR design allows for the use of various propellants, including ammonia, methane, propane, or hydrazine.
This flexibility could lead to new opportunities in space exploration by enabling rockets to refuel in space, potentially using resources from asteroids or Kuiper Belt objects.
This in-space resource utilization is an exciting prospect for the future of deep-space missions.
In theory, future spacecraft using theCNTR propulsion system could refuel on resources mined from asteroids, significantly reducing the need to launch fuel from Earth.
This ability to use extraterrestrial resources could make long-term space missions more sustainable and lead to the establishment of self-sustaining colonies or research stations in deep space, reducing reliance on Earth-based infrastructure.
Additionally, the CNTR’s advanced propulsion system could support robotic missions to the outer solar system.
Missions to planets like Neptune, and even more distant objects in theKuiper Belt, would benefit from the CNTR’s ability to provide consistent and high thrust, making these ambitious missions more achievable.
Engineering Challenges and the Path to Maturity
Despite its promising features, theCNTR propulsion system is not without its challenges.
The technology is still in its early stages of development, and a number of engineering hurdles must be overcome before the CNTR can be used for human space travel.
The most significant technical challenges include ensuring stable startup, operation, and shutdown of the propulsion system, as well as minimizing the loss of uranium fuel during operation.
Managing potential engine failures is another critical concern. Nuclear thermal propulsion systems require a level of precision and reliability that is not yet guaranteed.
Researchers are working diligently to address these issues, and the team aims to have a fully operational design within five years.
The support from NASA will help fund the necessary research and development to refine the CNTR technology and ensure that it meets the rigorous standards required for deep-space missions.
While the CNTR propulsion system is still years away from full implementation, its development marks a significant step toward making deep-space travel more practical and feasible.
If successful, it could become the cornerstone of future missions to Mars and beyond.
2/2
Scientific balloon spotted in the Albuquerque skies
Updated: 4:54 AM MDT Sep 15, 2025
The National Weather Service said a scientific balloon was stationary just east of the Albuquerque Sunport near Kirtland, about 18,000 feet up in the sky.
The balloon was launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from Fort Sumner.
NASA launches these balloons every fall from the Fort Sumner Airport.
The balloon is often filled with helium that carries scientific instruments to the edge of space to conduct research on the atmosphere, Earth and space environments, according to NASA.
The difference between a scientific balloon and a weather balloon is that scientific balloons have instruments for research in fields like astronomy and atmospheric research, while weather balloons are a specific type of scientific balloon solely dedicated to carrying meteorological instruments.
https://www.koat.com/article/scientific-balloon-albuquerque-nasa-fort-sumner/66095546
https://www.newsnationnow.com/cuomo-show/uap-video-turning-point-ross-coulthart/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBTbsvfBrnA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgcvDHHThSM (Fixing American crime, inside historic UAP hearing and ‘The Green Prince’ | CUOMO Full Episode 9/9)
Race to Space Lands in Thailand
September 15, 2025
Deepak Dhar’s CreAsia Studio is producing Race to Space Thailand for TrueVisions NOW, sending the first Thai citizen into space.
Ongard Prapakamol, head of TrueVisions and media at True Corporation, noted, “With our commitment to being the home of entertainment in the digital era, TrueVisions NOW continues to deliver world-class, one-of-a-kind content experiences to Thai audiences, especially content that resonates with digital lifestyles and sparks boundless inspiration.
This historic collaboration with CreAsia is not only a gateway to global-scale content but also the beginning of a new frontier for Thailand.
For the very first time, Thai people from all walks of life—regardless of profession or gender—will have the chance to compete for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“As an Indian creator and producer, it fills me with pride to see our ideas traveling beyond borders and shaping new frontiers of storytelling,” Dhar said.
“Race to Space Thailand is not just a show—it is a movement that democratizes space travel and inspires millions to dream big.
Thailand is just the beginning, the format will soon resonate in India as well as other parts of South East Asia, as we take the concept forward with team SERA.”
The format was conceptualized by Banijay Asia and SERA (Space Exploration & Research Agency).
Mrinalini Jain, group chief development officer at Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India, noted, “Race to Space is a landmark concept in the journey of Banijay Asia’s global storytelling ambition.
It’s a format that embodies aspiration, innovation and inclusivity—giving ordinary people the chance to live out their most extraordinary dream. We’re excited to partner with SERA in making this a reality.”
Joshua Skurla, co-Founder of SERA, added, “The collaboration between SERA, TrueVisions NOW and CreAsia Studio is founded on a shared vision to inspire an entire nation.
We are building a cultural phenomenon that unites the country in a shared endeavor. We are honored to be part of this moment, and look forward to also kicking off the India phase soon.”
https://worldscreen.com/tvformats/race-to-space-lands-in-thailand-2/
Interceptor orbs deployed?
New NOAA Space Weather Portal Now Available
September 15, 2025
Anyone interested in Chasing the Northern Lights knows that scientists monitor phenomena in space as diligently as they do terrestrial weather.
Space weather describes the changing conditions in space around our planet, anywhere from the surface of the sun to the surface of Earth.
NOAA’s satellites, sensors, and imaging technology record events like solar eruptions, coronal holes, and geomagnetic storms for researchers at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) to monitor, study, and forecast the sun and space weather.
NCEI archives and scientifically stewards a broad assortment of space weather data. The data give scientists the means to make forecasts and issue space weather advisories and alerts.
The new NOAA Space Weather Portal (SPOT) provides a cloud-based web portal and data processing monitor for NCEI Space Weather satellite data.
The first data available in SPOT is from the Compact Coronagraph 1 (CCOR-1) onboard NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 19 (GOES-19); CCOR-1 is part of the NOAA Space Weather Follow On (SWFO) Program.
SPOT will gradually replace older static web interfaces and web accessible folders as datasets are relocated to this new portal.
A Customer-Driven Solution
The new NOAA Space Weather Portal (SPOT) was created in response to user requests. It now includes:
Instant data visualization and interaction;
Data downloads in common formats (csv, json);
Data discoverability using common search parameters;
The ability to compare multiple data products in the same plot.
SPOT is among the first in a series of planned NESDIS Common Cloud Framework based portals that will expand public access to NOAA’s environmental data.
Similar platforms are in development for wildland fire and other mission areas. The new portal is a joint effort between NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), which provides the scientific and data management expertise behind the SPOT data products, the Office of Space Weather Observations (SWO), which develops and deploys operational satellite systems that study space weather, and the Office of Common Services (OCS), which manages the cloud infrastructure.
SPOT is cloud native and includes a modern front-end for easy navigation. SPOT includes Quicklook plots and movies as well as a RESTful API allowing user query of rich metadata and time-series data.
SPOT also has programmatic data search/access for data analysis by scientists along with monitoring of data processing pipelines and artifact generation.
SPOT provides streamlined access to space weather data that enables informed decision-making to minimize the negative effects of space weather events.
These complex events can have significant, global economic consequences and have the potential to negatively affect numerous sectors, including telecommunications systems, aviation, and power grids.
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/new-noaa-space-weather-portal-now-available
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/cloud-access/space-weather-portal
Another one, with a nice message in the link
>GoitQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5GFViGoitQ
Space scientists spot cosmic lightsaber
September 15, 2025
Space scientists say they have spotted a cosmic lightsaber.
NASA have revealed a jaw-dropping image of an unusual stellar jet captured by the James Webb Space Telescope – which resembles film baddie Darth Maul’s weapon.
The NASA Webb Mission Team said Wednesday (Sep 10): “Streaking across space at hundreds of thousands of miles per hour, the outflow resembles a double-bladed dueling lightsaber from the Star Wars films.”
They added that the spectacle was a “blowtorch of seething gasses erupting from a volcanically growing monster star.”
The central protostar, weighing as much as ten of our Suns, is located 15,000 light-years away in the outer reaches of our galaxy.
Yu Cheng of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, lead author of a research paper, said: “We didn’t really know there was a massive star with this kind of super-jet out there before the observation.
Such a spectacular outflow of molecular hydrogen from a massive star is rare in other regions of our galaxy.
“Massive stars, like the one found inside this cluster, have very important influences on the evolution of galaxies.
Our discovery is shedding light on the formation mechanism of massive stars in low metallicity environments, so we can use this massive star as a laboratory to study what was going on in earlier cosmic history.”
https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/techandscience/space-scientists-spot-cosmic-lightsaber/ar-AA1MzgeR
G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storm levels reached
Monday, September 15, 2025 03:21 UTC
G3 (Strong) geomagnetic storm levels were reached at 15/0259 UTC (2259 EDT on 14 Sep) following the onset of increased solar winds from a coronal hole high speed stream. Stay tuned to our website for updates.
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g3-strong-geomagnetic-storm-levels-reached
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wRQ8eS933E (Solar Storm, Galactic Evolution Forcing, Tropic Watch | S0 News Sep.15.2025)
https://spaceweathernews.com/
https://www.space.com/stargazing/the-moon-and-venus-visit-the-heart-of-the-lion-this-week-heres-how-to-see-it
The moon and Venus visit the 'Heart of the Lion' this week. Here's how to see it
September 15, 2025
Sometimes an unusual celestial sight will take place at a rather ungodly hour.
As a budding young amateur astronomer living in the Bronx, I remember the bemused look on my mother's face when I told her I was setting my alarm for 4 a.m. so that I could get a look at a meteor shower or lunar eclipse.
"How come these things don't happen at a more convenient hour?" she would ask.
In retrospect, that was a good question, for it seems that most of my nightly forays to observe something interesting tend to occur in the hours after midnight.
We have one such event coming our way early on Thursday morning, Sept. 19. But I assure you it will be something well worth getting up for.
A preview of winter
Probably the best month for stargazing is September. After the stretch of hazy, warm and humid summer nights running from June through August, September brings us cooler temperatures and generally clearer and more transparent skies.
My good friend, George Lovi (1939-1993), who for many years penned the "Rambling through the Sky" column in "Sky & Telescope" magazine and was a colleague of mine at New York's Hayden Planetarium, was also a railroad buff.
At the start of the summer season, in June, the brightest stars of Gemini the Twins, Pollux and Castor appear side by side low in the northwest twilight, bringing up the rear of the winter stellar procession in much the same way as the twin marker lights on a caboose bring up the rear of a train.
And during this week at around 9:30 or 10 p.m., if you look low down toward the north-northeast horizon, you'll see what George often referred to in his planetarium shows as the "headlight,": the brilliant golden-hued star Capella.
If you want to watch the emergence of the rest of the "celestial train," then stay up all night. By the break of dawn, the southeastern sky, dominated by Orion and his winter retinue, will be magnificent.
Incidentally, if you don't mind the late hours, this is the time to observe the winter stars in comfortable temperatures. Compare September predawn temperatures in the 40's and 50's to mid-winter subfreezing (or in some parts of the country) subzero readings!
Ghostly lunar ball
And speaking of the break of dawn, that happens nowadays at around 5:15 a.m. local daylight time.
And that's the time for when you should set your alarm clock Thursday morning, to see a tight gathering of three celestial objects: the moon, the brightest planet, and one of the brightest stars in the sky.
One prerequisite here is that you should have an unobstructed view of the east-northeast horizon. This "celestial summit meeting" will appear rather low — just 10 degrees above the horizon.
As we have noted many other times, your clenched fist at arm's length measures roughly 10 degrees in width. So, this celestial array will be sitting roughly "one fist" above the horizon.
1/2
The first object to catch your eye will be the moon. It will be a slender waning crescent, only 6 percent illuminated by the sun and just two days prior to the new phase.
In addition, you may be able to see the full globe of the moon, appearing as a thin arc of yellowish-white light enclosing a ghostly ball glowing with a bluish-gray hue interposed between the sunlit crescent and not much darker sky.
This vision is sometimes called "the old moon in the young moon's arms." Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was the first to recognize it as earthshine.
That faint bluish-gray light is light from the Earth reflected back to the moon. The Earth's light of course is reflected sunlight, so earthshine is really sunlight which is reflected off Earth to the moon and reflected back to Earth.
The season of year and an observer's latitude determine the angle a line joining the crescent moon's cusps make with the horizon and on this morning this line is more nearly horizontal, making the crescent looking more like a cup that might hold water — call this a "Wet Moon" if you want to follow old-time tradition.
Queen and a king get together
The next object that stands out is the planet Venus; queen of the planets. It shines with its usual powerful radiance, though in telescopes it is now a rather small and featureless gibbous disk.
Venus blazes at magnitude -3.9 and on the morning of Sept. 19, it will sit less than a degree to the lower right of the moon and itself will be positioned a half-degree to the upper left of the 1st-magnitude star Regulus, the brightest star of Leo the Lion.
Venus outshines the star by a factor of 120 to 1, and yet their proximity for several mornings intensifies the contrasting yellow-white of the planet and bluish white of the star.
Copernicus has been credited with giving Regulus its name, a diminutive of Rex, or "king" which may relate to the four "royal stars" (with Aldebaran, Antares and Fomalhaut) about 90 degrees apart in the sky.
Arabic astronomers gave the star the name "Qalb al-Asad," or "Heart of the Lion." Ancient Greek astronomers also referred to it by the same name, "Kardia Leontos."
As the brightest star in Leo, Regulus has been almost universally associated in ancient cultures with the concept of royalty and kingly power.
This star lies in the handle of the so-called "Sickle of Leo," a star pattern resembling a large reversed question mark. The Sickle, when rising and climbing the sky at dawn, as it is doing now, is seen cutting upward.
To modern sky-watchers the Sickle outlines the majestic head and mane of a great westward-facing lion.
Illusion of perspective
These three celestial bodies will appear to be "scrunched" in a line measuring less than 1 and a half degrees in length. Binoculars will accentuate the beauty of this alignment and will make the Earth-lit moon seem like an eerie three-dimensional ball.
Keep in mind that what you will be witnessing will be an illusion. The moon will be positioned just 242,000 miles (388,000 km) from Earth. But Venus will be 153.1 million miles (217.3 million km) away, while Regulus is 79 light years distant.
So, the light you're seeing from Regulus now, started on its journey toward Earth in 1946, one year after the end of the second World War and the year of the premiere of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" and the introduction of the term "bikini."
2/2
https://thedebrief.org/us-navy-scientists-teach-zero-gravity-robot-to-fly-in-space-without-human-interference/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEuAVK1nNp0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALUhG2Wm2CA
US Navy Scientists Teach Zero-Gravity Robot to Fly in Space Without Human Interference
September 15, 2025
The US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has announced the successful test of reinforcement-learning (RL)-based autonomous robotic flight in space, using an ‘Astrobee’ zero-gravity robot stationed aboard the International Space Station.
According to a statement provided to The Debrief, the first-of-its-kind autonomous spaceflight took place aboard the ISS on May 27th, with the Astrobee robot successfully undocking, maneuvering, and then re-docking with its station over a five-minute period without any need for human assistance.
The scientific team behind the project, known as APIARY (the Autonomous Planning In-space Assembly Reinforcement-learning free-flYer), believes using RL to teach robots to carry out complex tasks without direct human control could offer unparalleled capabilities to scientists, such as assembling large space telescopes or future solar power beaming stations.
“This research is significant because it marks, to our knowledge, the first autonomous robotic control in space using reinforcement learning algorithms,” explained NRL Computer Research Scientist Kenneth Stewart, Ph.D.
“We believe this breakthrough will build confidence in these algorithms for space applications and generate further interest in expanding this research.”
The NRL team said the successful test also opens the possibility of teaching robots to operate autonomously in other environments, thereby providing military personnel with a critical tactical advantage.
“Reinforcement learning provides flexibility and potential to control robots across domains, from space to the ground, and from ships to underwater,” explained NRL Senior Scientist for Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Glen Henshaw, Ph.D.
Simulated Zero Gravity Robots
In most space robotic applications, a controller uses teleoperation—the remote control of a mechanical device—to command and control the robot’s movements.
For example, rovers on Mars receive driving instructions from Earth-based operators, which they then execute based on those specific instructions.
Although engineers are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence into robotic systems on Earth, the team behind the new achievement notes that the complexity of operating in space has thus far limited the adoption of similar AI systems.
“Space robotics are currently in the early stages in terms of how complex autonomy is in space,” Stewart said. “It’s a risk-averse environment where teleoperation by humans is still the norm for critical tasks.”
The team also highlighted the difficulty in testing autonomous systems in space due to the high cost, noting that “one can’t realistically send a robot up to space solely for training.”
As a result, researchers in this field must rely on Earth-based simulations before deploying a real-world system in space. Unfortunately, the gap between simulation and reality can often hamper these efforts.
Hoping to bridge what they termed the “sim-to-real” gap, the NRL team utilized reinforcement-learning algorithms and powerful simulation tools to create a highly accurate simulated zero-gravity robot platform.
Unlike most operator-directed robotics, RL provides the robot with a general task and a promised reward for completing it, but doesn’t tell the robot how to go about it.
Instead, an RL-trained robot uses a trial-and-error process to test and eliminate different approaches before finding the correct one.
“We specialize in reinforcement learning, a cutting-edge approach to robotic control,” NRL’s Computer Research Scientist, Roxana Leontie, Ph.D., said.
For their zero-gravity robot application, the team used the Proximal Policy Optimization algorithm, a method of deep reinforcement learning.
Stewart explained how, in this approach, an ‘actor network’ trains the robot to perform actions like maneuvering, while a separate ‘critic network’ evaluates its performance.
Together, the two networks “efficiently train the robot to move effectively in a 3D, zero-gravity environment,” the researcher explained.
To create a simulated version of the environment aboard the ISS to train their simulated Astrobee, the NRL team used NVIDIA’s Omniverse, a highly accurate physics simulator that can simulate the space station’s zero-gravity environment.
The team also used curriculum learning, which starts training the robot in simplified environments before gradually increasing the complexity of the assigned task.
1/2
For example, the team initially tasked the simulated Astrobee zero-gravity robot with moving to a single, fixed position in space.
Then the team increased the levels of randomization over time to prepare the robot to adapt to greater variation without the need for real-world testing.
Stewart said this progressive training approach “substantially helped in bridging the ‘sim-to-real’ gap.”
The Test in Space
To verify if their simulated robot training would translate to the zero-gravity robots aboard the ISS, the team took advantage of a five-minute window of operations where one of the Astrobees was available.
Because the small robot, which navigates the ISS with enclosed, ducted fans, is also equipped with multiple cameras, it was considered ideal to test the RL training.
“In addition to acting as a platform for space robotics experimentation, these volleyball-sized robots can help provide NASA Mission Control with flexible camera views in areas lacking fixed cameras,” Henshaw explained.
“This allows ground teams to remotely inspect equipment or monitor operations without requiring astronaut intervention, freeing up valuable crew time.”
In a video released by NRL, an Astrobee loaded with the RL-trained algorithm can be seen leaving its dock, completing a maneuver, and then returning to its dock, all without operator intervention.
Due to a camera glitch, the team was unable to witness the redocking of the Astrobee. However, when the video feed resumed, they saw that the zero-gravity robot had successfully completed its five-minute mission and returned to its docking station.
“Our experiment marked a momentous milestone: the first successful application of reinforcement learning to a free-flying robot in space,” Leontie said.
“This is particularly critical in the highly risk-averse space environment, where the immense cost of orbital assets often hinders the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.”
Applications of RL-based Robot Autonomy for Space Science
Although the test was relatively short compared to other robotic missions, NRL Space Roboticist Samantha Chapin, Ph.D., said the success of APIARY proved the viability of using RL for robot control.
The researcher also described the achievement as “transformative” because it validated the team’s ability to implement highly complex autonomous robotic behaviors, “paving the way for a new era of advanced robotic operations and services in orbit.”
Leonite agreed, noting that by completing this demonstration, the team had taken a “crucial step” toward increasing mission planner confidence for incorporating autonomous robots into future space missions.
“This achievement is vital for accelerating the integration of RL into future space applications, ultimately enabling more complex and adaptable robotic missions,” the researcher said.
When discussing potential applications of their RL robot training approach beyond controlling an Astrobee, Chapin said future projects that involve deep space exploration and large-scale construction “urgently need higher levels of robotic autonomy.”
“The goal for free-flying robots in in-space assembly and servicing is to enable rapid, multi-client operations, like refueling or correcting deployment failures,” the researcher explained.
“While current efforts, such as the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites [RSGS] project, largely rely on scripted maneuvers with limited autonomy for rendezvous and proximity operations due to their high-speed, contact-intensive nature, our research pushes for fuller autonomous capabilities.”
Conquering Diverse Domains for the Modern Warfighter
Although the successful test of the APIARY system occurred in space, the NRL team said the technology will allow the team to “rapidly adapt” robotic platforms to new tasks and environments.
According to Henshaw, the team is already developing tools to rapidly model “terrestrial, maritime, and undersea environments.”
“The APIARY team’s demonstration that reinforcement learning enables autonomous systems to operate effectively in orbit proves the technology’s viability and unlocks its potential across diverse domains,” the researcher explained.
One example Henshaw offered involved building a computer model of an environment and retraining a robot to operate in that environment “in under an hour,” with just a few scans of the location.
He added that this ability “will allow warfighters in the field to define new tasks and environments and then have the robot train itself to solve those problems.”
“Our vision is to equip warfighters with the power to adapt robots to any environment and any task, on demand,” Henshaw explained.
“Reinforcement learning provides flexibility and potential to control robots across domains, from space to the ground, and from ships to underwater.”
2/2
NATO ‘de facto’ at war with Russia – Kremlin
15 Sep, 2025 10:56
NATO is de facto at war with Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. According to him, the support the military bloc provides to Ukraine makes it a party to the conflict.
Peskov’s remarks came in response to a statement by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who questioned the idea of security guarantees for Ukraine that would involve NATO troops.
Sikorski argued that Kiev’s Western backers are wary of a direct confrontation with Russia, which has repeatedly rejected any Western military presence in Ukraine, whether as peacekeepers or otherwise.
Peskov countered that the US-led military bloc is already involved.
“NATO is at war with Russia. It is obvious and does not require any additional proof,” he said on Monday.
“NATO is de facto involved in this war. NATO provides both indirect and direct support to the Kiev regime. Therefore, it can be said with absolute certainty that NATO is at war with Russia.”
At least 41 countries have contributed to Ukraine’s war effort since the conflict escalated in February 2022, either through military, humanitarian, or financial assistance, according to Germany’s Kiel Institute.
Most of the support has come from NATO members, with 29 of its 32 states providing funding, as well as weapons systems ranging from armored vehicles, artillery, aircraft, and air defense to drones, missiles, and other equipment.
The US-led military bloc has also been pushing for increased militarization in response to what officials describe as the ‘Russian threat’, pledging to raise defense spending among European NATO members to 5% of GDP.
Several officials have claimed that Russia could attack member states once the Ukraine conflict is resolved.
Moscow has dismissed the claims as nonsense, accusing the West of stoking Russophobia to justify soaring military budgets and distract from domestic problems.
It has stressed that NATO expansion toward Russia’s borders was one of the main causes of the conflict, and insists that any settlement with Kiev must account for Russia’s security by guaranteeing Ukrainian demilitarization and neutral, non-nuclear status.
https://www.rt.com/russia/624670-nato-war-russia-kremlin/
Russia rejects NATO member’s new drone accusation
15 Sep, 2025 10:59
Moscow has rejected allegations that a Russian drone violated Romanian airspace, stressing that no evidence has been presented to prove the unmanned aircraft belonged to Russia.
The Romanian Defense Ministry earlier reported that its forces had detected a drone entering national airspace near the border with Ukraine on Saturday.
Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu said two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled and were close to shooting the aircraft down before it changed direction and returned toward Ukraine.
He added that such incidents occur “approximately every week.”
However, the Russian Embassy in Bucharest has dismissed the claims, emphasizing that the Romanian side has failed to provide any concrete proof of the UAV’s origin.
On September 14, the Romanian Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipaev to lodge a formal protest.
Following the meeting, the embassy stated that “not a single specific and convincing answer was given to any question about the identification of the drone that allegedly flew into Romanian airspace.”
“Due to the lack of objective confirmation of the nationality of the aircraft, the protest of the Romanian side was rejected as far-fetched and unfounded,” the embassy said.
Lipaev also emphasized that “all the facts indicate that in reality there was a deliberate provocation by the Kiev regime,” suggesting it was an attempt by Ukraine to drag NATO into a direct confrontation with Russia.
Last week, Poland also claimed that 19 Russian drones had allegedly crossed into its airspace. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski described the event as an attempt by Moscow to test NATO’s reactions.
Moscow has vehemently denied Warsaw’s allegations, insisting they lack evidence and that the drones in question could not have physically reached Polish territory.
Russian officials have stressed that such accusations were being deliberately hyped up by the “European party of war” and have reiterated that Russia does not threaten NATO or European states.
The Kremlin has repeatedly said claims of a Russian “threat” are being used by Western European states to stoke fear and justify higher military spending.
https://www.rt.com/russia/624672-moscow-rejects-romania-drone-claim/
Trump claims he will ‘have to do all the talking’ for Putin and Zelensky
15 Sep, 2025 11:54
A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky is possible but would be hard to arrange because “they hate each other,” US President Donald Trump has said.
He claimed that he would need to “intervene” to bring the two leaders together.
Trump met with Putin for a summit in Alaska last month, after which he pledged to prepare a meeting between the Russian president and Zelensky.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday during a visit to the memorial of slain activist Charlie Kirk, Trump claimed the hatred between Putin and Zelensky was “unfathomable,” adding he believed he would “have to do all the talking.”
The US president also claimed to have “stopped seven wars,” and admitted he thought the Ukraine conflict would “be an easy one for me, but this has turned out to be tough.”
While no Putin-Zelensky meeting has been confirmed, Trump indicated that talks could take place “relatively soon,” without giving details on the potential format.
“We’re going to get it worked out one way or the other,” he said. “So I’m going to have to get involved.”
Putin has said he is ready in principle to meet Zelensky and suggested the Ukrainian leader could travel to Moscow for negotiations. Kiev has rejected the idea, saying it would not accept “deliberately unacceptable proposals.”
At the same time, the Russian president has raised doubts about the legitimacy of Zelensky’s position and whether talks would be “meaningful.” Zelensky’s presidential term expired last May, but he has refused to hold elections, citing martial law.
Putin has also said reaching agreements with Kiev on key issues would be “practically impossible.” He has noted that even with political will there were “legal and technical difficulties” tied to territorial disputes.
The remarks referred to Crimea and other regions that voted to join Russia in referendums in 2014 and 2022.
Moscow has repeatedly said it is ready for peace negotiations with Kiev if the “reality on the ground” is taken into account.
It has also said it would agree to an immediate ceasefire if Ukraine withdrew its troops from the new Russian regions or halted mobilization and Western arms deliveries.
https://www.rt.com/russia/624675-trump-putin-zelensky-talks/
Polish drone incident an attempt to escalate Ukraine conflict – Finnish politician (VIDEO)
15 Sep, 2025 13:31
Recent allegations of a Russian “drone incursion” into Poland benefited both Brussels and Kiev by potentially escalating the Ukraine conflict, Euroskeptic Finnish politician Armando Mema has claimed.
In an interview with RT on Monday, Mema argued that the incident served the EU’s interests by justifying a “tremendous” increase in military spending and reinforcing the alleged “Russian threat.”
He described Brussels’ rhetoric as “dangerous” and expressed doubt that Moscow was behind the episode.
”I don’t think personally it is Russia that sent the drones into Poland.
I think this is a desperate attempt by the [Ukraine’s Vladimir] Zelensky regime to escalate” and take the conflict to “another level,” said Mema, a former candidate for the European Parliament and a member of Finland’s national conservative Freedom Alliance party.
Poland has claimed its military tracked at least 19 violations of its airspace by Russian drones, calling the incursions “deliberate” and “unprecedented.”
European leaders, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb, have pledged solidarity with Warsaw.
Moscow rejected the accusations, insisting that Poland’s claims lacked evidence and were being hyped up by what it called the “European party of war.”
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, several EU and NATO leaders have warned that Russia could attack the bloc within the coming years. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed such predictions as “nonsense.”
https://www.rt.com/news/624666-polish-drones-ukraine-escalation-mema/
Dozens of hostages rescued in Nigeria – media
15 Sep, 2025 10:27
The Nigerian Army has reported a string of operational successes across several regions of the country, including the neutralization of a terrorist, the rescue of 30 kidnapped victims, and the arrest of multiple suspects – part of a nationwide campaign aimed at dismantling criminal networks and restoring security.
An anonymous military source told The Nation Newspaper on Sunday about the results of a series of operations September 10-12 in the states of Niger, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, and Borno.
“Cumulatively, within the period, troops neutralized one terrorist, arrested six suspects, rescued 30 kidnapped victims, and recovered assorted weapons, ammunition, cash, petroleum products, motorcycles, mobile phones, and other logistics,” the source said.
The troops also dismantled an illegal oil site in Bayelsa and intercepted contraband in the states of Rivers and Adamawa.
Nigeria has long been plagued by kidnappings conducted by criminal gangs and terrorist groups operating across the West African nation.
The groups often hold victims for extended periods, demanding ransom payments for their release. The issue drew global attention in 2014 when Boko Haram militants abducted hundreds of schoolgirls from Chibok village in Borno State.
Last month, at least 45 women and children were abducted when armed men raided five villages overnight in Zamfara State.
Days before, gunmen on motorbikes killed 11 people and seized 70 others in Sabongarin Damri, in what local media described as the largest kidnapping this year.
This May, National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu stated that Nigerian troops had neutralized 13,543 terrorists since May 2023.
More than 130 children and staff were kidnapped from a school in northern Kaduna State in March 2024 but were rescued by the army days later.
In April, Russian Lieutenant General Andrey Averyanov reaffirmed the country’s commitment to boosting security cooperation with Nigeria, during a visit to the Defense Headquarters in Abuja.
“Russia is willing to share new counterterrorism techniques developed during its operations, while also providing Nigeria with a full range of required weaponry,” Averyanov said.
https://www.rt.com/africa/624667-dozens-of-hostages-rescued-nigeria/
Macron admitted NATO behind Ukraine conflict – Sachs
15 Sep, 2025 15:10
French President Emmanuel Macron has privately admitted that NATO is the driving force behind the Ukraine conflict, prominent American economist Jeffrey Sachs has said.
Macron, along with other Western leaders, has repeatedly claimed that Russia launched its military operation against Ukraine in 2022 without provocation and has insisted that Moscow is solely responsible for the conflict.
However, speaking during a foreign policy debate with the Italian daily il Fatto Quotidiano, Sachs recalled that when Macron awarded him the Legion of Honor in May 2022, the French leader privately told him “exactly the opposite of what he says publicly” and admitted that “NATO was causing this war.”
“I just want everyone to know this,” Sachs said, adding that he is “disgusted” by the French president. Sachs further condemned Western European leaders, describing them as warmongers who “just want to go to war.”
The economist emphasized that the Ukraine conflict had actually begun in 2014, when the US “actively participated in a violent coup” that overthrew the government in Kiev.
“That’s what started the war,” Sachs said, noting that in the following years Washington helped build the Ukrainian army into the largest in Europe.
He added that as Russia sought peace, then-US President Joe Biden rejected Moscow’s overtures and vowed to “crush” Russia with sanctions.
Sachs argued “there is an easy way to peace” which involves Ukraine committing to neutrality and NATO halting its eastward expansion.
He suggested that US President Donald Trump might be open to such an approach, but claimed that “now it’s Europe who’s filled with warmongers that continue the war,” singling out Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Moscow has long maintained that Kiev’s NATO aspirations were one of the root causes of the conflict and has repeatedly described the confrontation as a Western-led proxy war against Russia.
Russian officials have nevertheless signaled readiness for a peace deal, provided it addresses Moscow’s security concerns and the new territorial realities.
However, they have repeatedly noted that neither Kiev nor its European backers appear to be genuinely interested in a settlement.
https://www.rt.com/russia/624687-sachs-macron-nato-ukraine/
WHO battles Ebola outbreak in African state
15 Sep, 2025 14:19
The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) with an Ebola vaccination campaign in Kasai Province.
The effort is centered in the Bulape health zone, one of the outbreak hotspots.
An initial 400 doses of the Ervebo vaccine were delivered from a national stockpile in Kinshasa, with more shipments expected in the coming days, the WHO reported on Sunday.
The vaccinations are being carried out using a ring strategy, targeting people who have been in contact with confirmed cases, as well as health workers at risk of exposure.
This marks the country’s 16th Ebola outbreak since 1976, with 28 deaths recorded so far and 16 of them occurring just this month.
“The case fatality rate is estimated at 57%, although investigations and laboratory analyses are continuing to refine the situation,” the Congolese Health Ministry stated.
The International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision has approved around 45,000 additional Ebola vaccine doses to be shipped to DR Congo as part of the ongoing outbreak response, according to the WHO.
In addition to vaccines, the health organization has deployed 48 experts to support disease surveillance, clinical care, infection control, and logistics.
The organization currently assesses the public health risk from the outbreak as “high at the national level, moderate at the regional level and low at the global level,” with neighboring countries stepping up readiness measures to detect potential cross-border cases.
Ebola, a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever, is spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or tissue. Symptoms often include high fever, fatigue, headaches, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, and internal or external bleeding.
https://www.rt.com/africa/624683-ebola-vaccination-campaign-begins-drc/
Ukrainian Drone Attack on Belgorod Region Kills 2 Women
September 15, 2025
A Ukrainian drone attack killed two women in a border village in southwestern Russia’s Belgorod region, authorities said Monday morning.
Belgorod region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said the attack took place in Golovichino, a village located around 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the border with northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.
Gladkov said one of the women killed in the attack died before paramedics could reach her, while the second died after being brought to a nearby hospital.
Three other people were injured in the drone strike, the governor said, adding that a car was destroyed.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted and destroyed six Ukrainian drones over the Belgorod region between Sunday night and Monday morning.
Separately, Gladkov said on Monday that a local man who had been injured in a Ukrainian drone attack in April died from his injuries at the hospital.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/09/15/ukrainian-drone-attack-on-belgorod-region-kills-2-women-a90525
Global oil prices rise as Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian energy sector escalate
September 15, 2025 10:35 am
Global oil prices rose on Sept. 15 as Ukrainian drone strikes continued to hit Russian oil refineries throughout the past week, Reuters reported.
Brent crude futures climbed 0.5% to $67.35 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude increased 0.6% to $63.05.
Both benchmarks gained over 1% last week amid Kyiv's intensified campaign against Russia's energy infrastructure.
Over the past week, Ukrainian forces struck multiple Russian energy facilities, including the Ilsky refinery in Krasnodar Krai, Russia's largest oil-loading port on the Baltic Sea, a major refinery in Bashkortostan, and the Kirishi refinery in Leningrad Oblast.
Kirishi, one of Russia's largest refineries, processes more than 17 million tons of crude annually.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 14 that Ukraine's strikes on oil facilities amount to the "most effective sanctions," weakening Russia's ability to finance its war.
"They have significantly curbed the Russian oil industry, which curbs the war," he said.
Oil exports constitute about one-third of Russia's federal budget, making them a critical source of funding for the war in Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump has tied Russia's declining oil revenues to his peace efforts, warning that reduced income could pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war.
The U.S. has tried to pressure Moscow's allies by imposing tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil.
India, one of Russia's top oil customers, temporarily paused imports after Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Aug. 1, followed by an additional 25% duty on Aug. 27.
U.S. officials have also warned of similar actions against Chinese exports if Beijing continues oil trade with Moscow.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Sept. 8 that European countries must end Russian oil and gas imports if they expect Washington to escalate sanctions further.
https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-drone-strikes-on-russian-energy-sector-push-oil-prices-up/