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In our search for exoplanets, we’ve found that many of them fall into certain types or categories, such as Hot Jupiters, Super-Earths, and Ice Giants. While we don’t have any examples of the first two in our solar system, we do have two Ice Giants: Uranus and Neptune. They are mid-size gas planets formed in the cold outer regions of the solar system. Because of this, they are rich in water and other volatile compounds, and they are very different from large gas giants such as Jupiter. We still have a great deal to learn about these worlds, but what we’ve discovered so far has been surprising, such as the nature of their magnetic fields. When the Voyager 2 spacecraft flew past Uranus and Neptune in the 1980s, it found that neither world had a strong dipolar magnetic field like Earth’s. Instead, each had a weaker and more chaotic magnetic field, similar to that of Mars. This was surprising given what we understand about planet formation. Models for the interior structures of the ice-giant planets Uranus and Neptune. Credit: Burkhard Militzer, UC Berkeley In a planet’s youth, the interior becomes very hot due to gravitational compression. This would allow heavier material such as iron to sink to the core, while lighter material such as water would move toward the surface. For Earth, this created a nickel-iron core with a crust of silicates, water, and organics. The tremendous heat in the core would also allow for a convective region, where hot core material rises a bit before cooling and sinking, creating a circular flow of dense material. In Earth, this convective iron region generates our planet’s strong magnetic field. Since Uranus and Neptune likely have an Earth-sized metallic core, we would expect them to have a similar convection region generating a similar magnetic field. But that isn’t what we observe. After the Voyager 2 discovery, it was thought that perhaps some mechanism prevented a convection region from forming. Perhaps the layers within a gas giant don’t mix, similar to the separation of oil and water. But the details remained unknown. Since we can’t create the tremendously high-density, high-pressure conditions of a gas giant’s core in the lab, we had no way to test various models. We also haven’t sent another probe to either planet, so we have no way to gather new data in situ. Simulated phase transitions for ice giant interiors. Credit: Burkhard Militzer, UC Berkeley One approach that could work to solve the mystery would be to use computer simulations. However, simulating the interactions of hundreds of molecules to calculate their bulk properties is extremely intensive. Too complex for computer systems of a decade ago. But a new study has simulated the bulk properties of more than 500 molecules, which is enough to calculate how an ice giant’s layers form. The simulations show how water, methane, and ammonia in the middle region of Uranus and Neptune separate into two unmixable layers. This primarily occurs because hydrogen is squeezed out of the deep interior, which limits how mixing can occur. Without a convection zone in these layers, the planets cannot form a strong dipolar magnetic field. Uranus likely has a rocky core about the size of Mercury, while Neptune likely has a rocky core about the size of Mars. Future lab experiments could confirm some of these bulk properties, and there is a proposed mission to Uranus that would gather data to confirm or disprove this model. Reference: Militzer, Burkhard. “Phase separation of planetary ices explains nondipolar magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121.49 (2024): e2403981121. The post What's Inside Uranus and Neptune? A New Way to Find Out appeared first on Universe Today.

Changed his mind about pardoning his son, eh? In a move that shocked literally nobody who knows how corrupt Washington DC is, President Joe Biden issued a pardon yesterday for his youngest son, Hunter Biden, after months of denying that he would be pardoning his son. Hunter was convicted on three felony charges earlier this year for federal gun violations, after it was found that he illegally possessed a firearm while he was using drugs, lied on his forms while purchasing a gun, and made false statements to the dealer in order to buy the gun. He also plead guilty to three felony charges and six misdemeanors related to tax evasion and filing false tax returns, and was scheduled to be sentenced in both cases later this month. Not only did the president pardon Hunter for those crimes, the pardon also dates all the way back to January 1, 2014 - when Joe Biden was Vice President, and Hunter began working for Ukrainian energy company Burisma, a position that has come under intense scrutiny and brought allegations of corruption on the part of both Joe and Hunter Biden. But now, thanks to a pardon from his pops, Hunter doesn't have to worry about being convicted for anything related to his time with Burisma, or going to prison for his convictions. Joe Biden had long denied that he would issue a pardon to his son. Back in June, after Hunter was convicted of the gun offenses, the president claimed that he respected the jury's decision: "I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him." But yesterday, in a statement announcing the pardon, Biden claimed that his son was unfairly prosecuted: “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.” So which one is it? Of course there's been plenty of conversation about Biden pardoning his son just months before Donald Trump takes office, and country singer John Rich hasn't held back in his opinion. Rich, who is one half of Big & Rich and has been an outspoken supporter of President Trump, took sharp aim at Biden and his son after the pardon was announced: "Joe Biden just pardoned Hunter, but Jesus won't." https://twitter.com/johnrich/status/1863383284962472112 He also questioned whether there were crimes committed by Hunter Biden before 2014 that wouldn't be covered by the pardon, implying that the incoming administration should investigate and prosecute Hunter for anything they can find that is not within the timeframe of the pardon by the president: "What other crimes is Hunter guilty of that weren't covered in this pardon? Did he just start being a bad actor in 2014? I doubt it." https://twitter.com/johnrich/status/1863573359843311927 And he speculated that Biden would issue a preemptive pardon for Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who has come under scrutiny for his actions related to the COVID pandemic: "It wouldn't surprise me if Fauci was pre-pardoned as well." https://twitter.com/johnrich/status/1863576769179062404 Of course Biden isn't the only president to issue pardons to his allies, though experts have called this the most sweeping pardon issued since President Richard Nixon was pardoned by Gerald Ford for his role in Watergate back in 1974. But again, it shouldn't come as a surprise given how corrupt Washington DC is. Anybody who didn't see this coming hasn't been paying attention.

Changing his tune. Zach Bryan is on his final leg of the Quittin' Time Tour, which he claims will be his last major tour. This leg of the tour comes with challenges that ZB is not used to, as he went through a very public breakup before finishing the tour. ZB and his now ex-girlfriend, Brinna Chickenfry, decided to part ways in October, and many accusations about the "Something In The Orange" singer have come out since the split. Brianna Chickenfry, who is a prominent social media personality, sat down with her BFFs Podcast co-hosts Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards and shared that ZB offered her $12 million in exchange for signing an NDA and overall detailed the relationship as very toxic. Since that initial podcast episode aired, she's also accused him of being a narcissistic abuser, taking her cat out of spite, and cheating on her throughout their relationship. Meanwhile, ZB has not commented on the situation after his initial statement about their relationship ending, but he has been putting out new music including "This World's A Giant" and "High Road." For the most part, ZB has kept his head down during all of this and kept his focus on music and finishing up this tour. Can't blame him for that. However, during his Portland show, ZB told a story, which is the first time we've seen him react to the breakup. On stage, when ZB was introducing "28," he gave a very different backstory of what inspired the song than he initially shared over the summer. Right after The Great American Bar Scene was released, ZB took to Twitter for a little Q+A session, answering many fans' questions about tracks off the record. One fan asked about what inspired "28," to which he replied he and Brianna's yellow lab, Boston, inspired the track. He shared that he and Brianna had a scary moment sending their new puppy into emergency surgery, unsure of the outcome. While everything worked out in their favor, it made Zach reflect on how blessed he is to have the life he does. “Boston, our puppy was going into surgery, and I told Brianna, “How lucky are we?” to have -had- a puppy so beautiful, and she came out of it just fine; I wrote it the next day because I felt like the luckiest man on the planet.” This response resonated deeply with fans as pet owners know how scary having a sick dog or cat is. However, this is far from the story that ZB told fans at the recent show. "I wrote this song because one night I and all the boys were bowling in New York City, and I felt lucky to have each and every one of them. And I was so glad to be alive, I wrote a song called '28.'"  Hmmm, that's a very different story from what you initially told us. I'm not sure I buy that bowling inspired such profound lyrics... "You took a train to the south side of BostonYou showed me where your whole heart stayedTook twenty-eight years of blood pumpin' through meTo feel loved on my own birthday..." @rojasxdavid 28 #zachbryan #quittintimetour #portland ♬ original sound - david rojas But hey, maybe that memory was a small piece of it or maybe the song was really about bowling with the boys and the previous explanation wasn't particularly true. At the end of the day, I can't blame ZB for not wanting to share the story that inspired the song now that he and Brianna are no longer together; however, when you've already been on record with a very specific story about this song, it's guaranteed to make fans raise their eyebrows a little. I'd probably stop introducing the song with an explanation and just let her rip. It's a beautiful song. Check out some comments left on the video calling ZB out for the sudden story change. "Wait, why is he changing the story behind the song?" "I just spit my drink out." "And that’s on being a pathological liar." "Is he gaslighting us?" "Ahh, yes, out with the boys, taking the train to where their dad stayed." "Dude is trying to rewrite history."  "Lmfao, we know this song is about Bri; why lie." "Whoa, he really does need help, lmao." "Lolol, that’s a new narrative." Give the full studio version a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJO0IoWY4t4&pp=ygUNemFjaCBicnlhbiAyOA%3D%3D

Coming in 2025. Cody Jinks announced his 2025 Hippies and Cowboys Tour this morning, which will feature openers Tanner Usrey and Shane Smith & The Saints. Slated to kick off in March in New Orleans, Louisiana, the extensive trek will run through September ending in Youngstown, Ohio. Along the way, Jinks will play impressive venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado and FirstBank Amphitheater near Nashville. Additionally, Cody announced today that he has a new album dropping this Friday, December 6th, which will be a special project called Cody Jinks Sings Lefty Frizzell, a tribute album to the late honky-tonk legend, Lefty Frizzell. Of course, it will include renditions of classics like "If You’ve Got The Money I’ve Got The Time," one of my personal favorites that I can't wait to hear. Of the big tour, Cody says he wants to bring people together through his blend of country, rock, blues and "everything in between," which will be on full display with all of these lives shows in 2025: "It’s a really divided time in our nation. But we've always been the type of band where we’ve wanted everybody. And so next year, it’s going to be a statement of, ‘Man, we're just an American band.’ That's what we are. We're a honky-tonk band. We're American music. You have country rock, rhythm and blues, all in one. We're hippies, we're cowboys — and we're everything in between.' General public ticket on-sale for all tour dates starts this Friday, December 6th at 10AM local time. Cody puts on a helluva live show, so don't miss it if he'll be anywhere near you next year. You can check out the full list of dates below. 2025 Hippies and Cowboys Tour dates: March 14, 2025 – New Orleans, LA– Mahalia Jackson Theatre of Performing Arts May 29, 2025 – Columbia, MO – 9th Street* May 30, 2025 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater* June 26, 2025 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater* June 27, 2025 – Idaho Falls, ID – Mountain America Center* June 28, 2025 – Casper, WY – Ford Wyoming Center* July 10, 2025 – Wheatland, CA – Hard Rock Live* July 11, 2025 – Stateline, NV – Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys* July 12, 2025 – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre UC Berkeley* July 17, 2025 – Kent, WA – accesso ShoWare Center* July 19, 2025 – Airway Heights, WA – Northern Quest Amphitheater* July 26, 2025 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre August 7, 2025 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage# August 8, 2025 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark# August 9, 2025 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion* August 11, 2025 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome# August 13, 2025 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17# August 15, 2025 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater* August 16, 2025 – Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion* August 17, 2025 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview* September 18, 2025 – Des Moines, IA – Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park* September 19, 2025 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park* September 20, 2025 – Youngstown, OH – Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre* *with Tanner Usrey #with Shane Smith & The Saints You can see the full tracklist for Cody Jinks Sings Lefty Frizzell here: 1. If You’ve Got the Money I’ve Got the Time 2. My Rough and Rowdy Ways 3. Saginaw, Michigan 4. That’s the Way Love Goes 5. Always Late (With Your Kisses) 6. She’s Gone, Gone, Gone 7. Long Black Veil 8. I Never Go Around Mirrors 9. Sick, Sober and Sorry

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