Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge HeHealth’s AI-powered Calmara app claimed, “Our innovative AI technology offers rapid, confidential, and scientifically validated sexual health screening, giving you peace of mind before diving into intimate encounters,” but now it’s shut down after an inquiry by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The app prompted daters to submit dick pics to check for sexually transmitted infections, promising “clear, science-backed answers about your partner’s sexual health status,” according to an FTC letter dated July 11th. The letter lays out some of the agency’s concerns with the information HeHealth relied on for its claims, including one saying that it could detect more than 10 sexually transmitted infections with up to 94 percent accuracy. ... Continue reading…

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security on Monday issued a joint intelligence bulletin warning of possible retaliation attacks after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.

Rocket company SpaceX will move its headquarters to Starbase, Texas from California, CEO Elon Musk said Tuesday in a post on X.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a heartfelt address to the American people today, Director of the Secret Service Kimberly Cheatle assured the nation that she wasn't trying to get Trump assassinated, stating instead that she's just very highly incompetent.

ORLANDO, FL — A spokesman for Nike has just confirmed that the athletic apparel giant has just finished signing a $12 million pickleball endorsement deal with Ethel Jenkens, an 82-year-old New York and Florida snowbird.

Scientists uncovered a species of fungi that had never before been seen in humans. They say warmer temperatures could drive its evolution, for the worse.

The crew of NASA’s first Mars habitat simulation, CHAPEA 1, exited their Earth-based environment after 378 days on July 6 at 5 p.m. EDT. Greeted by friends, family, mission team members and project directors, the crew of four expressed gratitude and optimism about their time in isolation and the data collected, which will contribute to the future goal of putting boots on Mars. The egress event at the Johnson Space Center was initiated by Deputy Director Steve Koerner, who expressed sincere gratitude to the team and their families and highlighted the crucial data gathered over the course of the project. The four crew members included Mission Commander Kelly Haston, Flight Engineer Ross Brockwell, Medical Officer Nathan Jones, and Science Officer Anca Selariu. NASA astronaut and Deputy Director of Flight Operations Kjell Lindgren ceremonially opened the habitat door, officially bringing the team out of isolation. Koerner remarked on the mission’s significance: “Mars is our goal. As global interests and capabilities in space continue to expand, America is poised to lead.” The mission, primarily focused on nutrition-based science but included cross-disciplinary experiments that simulated various aspects of life on Mars. “They’ve been separated from their families, placed on a carefully prescribed meal plan, and undergone a lot of observation. By growing and harvesting their own vegetables, dealing with communication delays and conducting simulated Mars walks, this team has helped us obtain crucial information as we prepare to return to the moon and on to Mars,” Koerner added. Principal Investigator Grace Douglas reiterated her thanks on behalf of NASA to the team and their families for their incredible sacrifice. “This project has enabled the collection of thousands of data points, yielding a unique and valuable integrated dataset in a Mars-realistic simulation. These data will provide unprecedented insight into how engineers, scientists, and astronauts can work together to achieve mission objectives while maintaining health and performance for the success of future human missions to Mars.” Douglas also thanked the science, engineering, and mission control teams who worked tirelessly to support the crew and ensure data integrity for mission success. The development of this analogue mission was a unique challenge for the engineering teams. Director of Engineering Julie Kramer White noted, “From working with the teams to outfit the habitat, whether it was Mars walks, robotic operations, or habitat maintenance—planned and unplanned—the analogues are crucial in understanding what it’s going to take and if our architectures will work when plans meet reality.” One of the key reasons for conducting missions like CHAPEA 1 is their ability to gather critical data in a controlled, safe environment. By simulating Mars-like conditions on Earth, researchers can test the limits of human endurance, develop effective countermeasures for potential health risks, and fine-tune the technological systems necessary for long-term space missions. This controlled setting allows for rigorous experimentation and monitoring without the immediate dangers posed by actual space travel. The information obtained from these simulations is invaluable; it helps identify potential issues and solutions before committing resources to more dangerous and expensive missions beyond Earth’s atmosphere. This approach not only enhances the safety and well-being of future astronauts but also ensures that every step taken towards Mars is based on robust scientific evidence and meticulous planning. As Douglas pointed out, the data collected from CHAPEA 1 will provide unprecedented insights into maintaining health and performance, which are crucial for the success of future human missions to Mars. By testing scenarios and gathering data on Earth, NASA can mitigate risks, improve mission outcomes, and ultimately, make human exploration of Mars a safer and more achievable goal. Mission Commander Kelly Haston expressed pride and gratitude for the experience, noting the support from her crew, friends, family, and partner. Flight Engineer Ross Brockwell highlighted the importance of sustainable living principles learned during the mission. Medical Officer Nathan Jones shared his appreciation for the opportunity and the crew’s camaraderie and Science Officer Anca Selariu emphasized the mission’s role in uniting and inspiring humanity. NASA also conducts isolation research across multiple projects, such as the Human Exploration Research Analog, expeditions to Antarctica, and other simulation environments, in addition to human spaceflight missions aboard the International Space Station. These efforts aim to achieve specific and essential research objectives that will guide future human expeditions to the Moon and Mars. The CHAPEA simulated missions stand out because they examine the effects of prolonged isolation and confinement, incorporating Mars-like communication delays with Earth – up to 44 minutes roundtrip – and resource constraints pertinent to Mars, including a more restricted food system compared to what can be supported on the space station and in other simulation environments. The completion of CHAPEA 1 is a significant milestone as NASA prepares for future Mars missions. Stay tuned for CHAPEA Mission 2 next year and CHAPEA Mission 3 in 2027, as the journey to Mars continues. Learn more about CHAPEA: https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/chapea/ The post Volunteers Complete a Simulated Year on Mars appeared first on Universe Today.

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) was convicted on Tuesday of all 16 counts he faced in his corruption trial. Charges included accepting gold and cash bribes and acting as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government. The verdict was the culmination of a nine week trial. Prosecutors argued that Menendez abused the power of his office to protect and enrich his associates, including his wife. Menendez faces up to 222 years in prison but is unlikely to receive the maximum sentence. Several factors will play into his final sentencing, but Kevin O’Brien, a former federal prosecutor, told POLITICO, “A term in prison would be totally appropriate.” This trial was the second time Menendez has faced corruption allegations. An unrelated 2017 trial ended with a deadlocked jury. The verdict also comes just four months before Election Day, possibly ruining Menendez’s chances of running for reelection as an independent candidate. His move to run as an independent instead of as a democrat already complicated a race that would typically be a “layup” in liberal New Jersey. Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has called for Menendez’s resignation.  In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign.— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) July 16, 2024 If Menendez does not resign, his colleagues could vote to expel him. If he loses his seat, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy would appoint an interim senator to serve the rest of Menendez’s term. The senator is expected to appeal. He maintained to the press after the trial, “I have never violated my public oath.” The post Menendez Convicted on All Counts appeared first on The American Conservative.

In his home state of Wisconsin, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) gave a speech Monday at the Republican National Convention in which he highlighted the transformation of the GOP under the former President Donald Trump.  Centering his speech around the Democrat’s leftward shift on social issues, Johnson told the audience, “Today’s Democrat Party is not the party of our parents or grandparents, that party cared about workers and people struggling to get by. Now they are the party of open borders, reckless spending, weaponized government, and weakness on the world stage.” “This fringe agenda includes biological males competing against girls and the sexualization and indoctrination of our children,” said Johnson. “Democrats have forgotten American families, they have abandoned the hard working middle class, but with President Trump’s Republicans, those forgotten Americans are forgotten no more.” Shortly after his speech at the Republican National Convention, Senator Ron Johnson talked with The American Conservative’s Bradley Devlin about the center of gravity in the Republican Party shifting towards the Midwest, highlighting the decision to host the RNC in Johnson’s home state this year.  Johnson argued that Trump’s background has given him a particular strength in the former Blue Wall, stating: Think of his background, he’s a developer, right? So he’s into construction. He goes to construction sites, he loves the workers. And he talks to the workers. And they like the fact that he talks to him. So he has that connection with workers. Johnson reiterated his claim about the Democrats abandoning the working class, stating that they “used to be the party of workers and people struggling to get by,” but that they have become “the party of wokeness.”  “We’re the party that represents the forgotten men and women of this country,” Johnson said. The post Ron Johnson: President Trump ‘Catalyst’ for ‘Total Shift in Our Politics’  appeared first on The American Conservative.