The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced the detection of negative ions on the lunar surface, days after the Chinese National Space Agency's Chang’e-6 lander placed their detection equipment on the far side of the Moon.Chang'e-6 landed on the Moon at 22:23 UTC on June 1, before collecting samples from the lunar surface and lifting off for its 4.5 day return journey to Earth at 23:38 UTC on June 3.                IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.Before it took off again with its haul of a planned ~2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) taken from up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) below the lunar surface, the lander delivered other payloads to the far side of the Moon. This included the ESA's Negative Ions at the Lunar Surface (NILS) instrument, aimed at detecting negative ions. The instrument began collecting data 280 minutes after landing at the South Pole-Aitken Basin, before the instrument powered down due to low voltage. The instrument came online again, and was able to collect more data in-between reboots and communication blackouts.“We were alternating between short bursts of full-power and long cooling-off periods because the instrument was heating up," Neil Melville, ESA’s technical officer for the experiment, said in a statement. "The fact that it stayed within its thermal design limits and managed to recover under extremely hot conditions is a testament to the quality of the work done by the Swedish Institute of Space Physics."        The Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere largely protects us from the solar wind; particles flung our way by the Sun. But other bodies in the Solar System do not have these protective properties, and the Moon only has a very thin atmosphere containing helium, argon, neon, ammonia, methane, and carbon dioxide.When particles from the solar wind hit the Moon's surface, they kick up secondary particles. Positively-charged particles are relatively easy to detect (if you happen to have a lunar orbiter) but negatively charged ions are short-lived and do not make it to that altitude, making detection at the lunar surface necessary. The team announced detections of the ions on Wednesday, and is working on papers on the findings.“These observations on the Moon will help us better understand the surface environment and act as a pathfinder to explore negative ion populations in other airless bodies in the Solar System,” NILS principal investigator Martin Wieser added, "from planets to asteroids and other moons".

Is it a snake? Is it a fish? No, it’s a northern snakehead! This bizarre creature – technically a fish, though someone should tell its face – is an invasive species capable of breathing air and slithering like its reptilian doppelganger. Last month, one was caught in Missouri by an astonished angler.Captured on May 25, below Wappapello Lake Spillway in Wayne County, it marks the fourth time a northern snakehead has been recorded in the state, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).The northern snakehead fish (Channa argus) has a long body and a snake-like head covered in python-patterned scales. They can grow up to 1 meter (3 feet) long and are fearsome predators, feasting largely on other fish, as well as crustaceans, frogs, small reptiles, and sometimes unfortunate small birds and mammals.Unlike most fish, which live a purely aquatic life, the northern snakehead can breathe air, which comes in handy in poorly oxygenated water. They can also survive on land for several days provided they stay moist, and are even able to slither like a snake to return to water.Snakeheads can live for days on dry land.Image credit: matt_whitbeck via iNaturalist (CC BY-NC 4.0)The species is not native to the US – it actually hails from Asia – and is a menace to native species, which they prey upon and compete for resources against. The most recent discovery is the fourth time the befuddled fish has been spotted in Missouri state – the first was found in a ditch in 2019 and two more were caught last year – and it came as quite a surprise to the fisher who found it on the end of their line.“The angler recognized they had something different and researched the fish’s characteristics, and realized it was indeed a snakehead,” said MDC Fisheries Biologist Dave Knuth. “The angler left it on the pavement for several hours thinking it would die, and it never did.”The fish was then bagged and transported to the local US Army Corps of Engineers office, where MDC agent Jacob Plunkett retrieved it after nearly four hours spent in a bag.“When I picked up the fish, it was still very much alive,” Plunkett said.If you too should find yourself having caught a strange snakey specimen, the MDC stresses that you should not release it. Once you’ve identified it as a northern snakehead, they recommend killing it “by severing the head, gutting it, or placing it in a sealed plastic bag”.Officials believe the invasive fish may have first entered US rivers after an accident at a commercial fish farm in Arkansas in 2008, and since then they’ve swum (and slithered) their way north through the waters of the St. Francis River watershed.

An Argentine politician has captured national attention with his extraordinary UFO encounter. Javier Pretto, deputy mayor of Córdoba, shared his vivid experience during a recent TV interview. When asked about aliens, Pretto revealed, “Not only do I believe, I have seen them; we are friends.” Pretto’s conviction stems from an incident during his tenure as mayor of La Carlota around a decade ago. He recounted how a Tibetan monk invited him and friends to Mount Uritorco to “see these special beings.” Standing on a large stone, the group witnessed a “white oval” light appear, soon joined by four more, forming a cluster of “five rings.” These lights hovered for about 15 minutes before vanishing, leaving Pretto and his companions in shock. Back at their hotel, the monk explained that the lights were an advanced, peaceful race of “special beings.” “We didn’t sleep that night, we went back to the hotel and talked all night,” he added. The impact of the experience was such that Pretto decided to return, this time with his son, to another mountain known as Cerro Alfa. From a viewpoint, they observed what they described as an “extraterrestrial city.” “There were like two cities,” Pretto said. One of them was Axis Cross , but the other with “different colors and brightness”, was apparently Erks’s portal. “They explained to us that it is the Erks portal, which is like the entrance to the center of the earth,” concluded the vice mayor. The post Argentine deputy mayor reveals astonishing UFO encounter appeared first on Anomalien.com.

As June rolls on, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel lamented on Wednesday that Pride Month gives conservatives an excuse to “spew poison.” Kimmel’s answer to this was to mock the conservative response to Peacock’s Queer Planet documentary with an ad for “The Straight Zoo,” complete with footage of gorilla and donkey sex. Kimmel lamented, “Pride Month unfortunately is a great excuse for some of these right-wingers to spew poison. The new thing they're pretending to be very outraged by is an animal documentary that premieres tomorrow on Peacock called Queer Planet.” (The following video contains depictions of animal sexual activity that may be considered not safe for work. Viewer discretion is advised)     The ad for Queer Planet included a narrator declaring that “It's clear that no matter where you look on our planet, nature is full of queer surprises. Gay penguins, bisexual lions. Sex-changing clownfish.” Kimmel sarcastically responded, “I've always said that, you know? The Earth is Siegfried, and our moon is Roy. So, anyway, a number—now people, of course, are very, very angry. They've been posting about this. ‘They’re turning our monkeys gay now,’ that kind of thing. There are even some wildlife sanctuaries making a thing out of this, too.” Kimmel then played a satirical ad for what he thought conservatives would want instead, which included clips of gorilla and donkey sexual activity: Want to see wild animals but don't want to be exposed to their woke and ultra-gay agendas? Grab the kids and step into – The Straight Zoo! Where every animal is a heterosexual, red-blooded breeder. Alpha males and Heady Betties. Cis sloths. Guy hyenas. Git ‘er done gorillas. Horny hornbills, motor boating otters and donkeys whose pronouns are hee and haw. If you're looking for flamingos, you can [bleep] right off. All our creatures are penis-fearing patriots, flag loving felines, MAGA meerkats, and bi-not-so-curious bison. The Straight Zoo, located on South Willis Street in Beaumont, Texas right behind the Holy Spirits Christian Church and Liquor store. It's the zoo for you.  Peacock’s intent was clear: they are trying to portray opponents of LGBTQism as out of touch with nature under the guise of a wildlife documentary, but penguins, lions, and clownfish are not humans, and Kimmel was simply upset people noticed. Here is a transcript for the June 5 show: ABC Jimmy Kimmel Live! 6/5/2024 11:48 PM ET JIMMY KIMMEL: Pride Month unfortunately is a great excuse for some of these right-wingers to spew poison. The new thing they're pretending to be very outraged by is an animal documentary that premieres tomorrow on Peacock called Queer Planet. NARRATOR: It's clear that no matter where you look on our planet, nature is full of queer surprises. Gay penguins, bisexual lions. Sex-changing clownfish. MAN: This is a queer planet. KIMMEL: I've always said that, you know? The Earth is Siegfried, and our moon is Roy. So, anyway, a number— now people, of course, are very, very angry. They've been posting about this. "They’re turning our monkeys gay now," that kind of thing. There are even some wildlife sanctuaries making a thing out of this, too. NARRATOR 2: Want to see wild animals but don't want to be exposed to their woke and ultra-gay agendas? Grab the kids and step into – The Straight Zoo! Where every animal is a heterosexual, red-blooded breeder. Alpha males and Heady Betties. Cis sloths. Guy hyenas. Git ‘er done gorillas. Horny hornbills, motor boating otters and donkeys whose pronouns are hee and haw. If you're looking for flamingos, you can [bleep] right off. All our creatures are penis-fearing patriots, flag loving felines, MAGA meerkats, and bi-not-so-curious bison. The Straight Zoo, located on South Willis Street in Beaumont, Texas right behind the Holy Spirits Christian Church and Liquor store. It's the zoo for you. 

This Blueberry Shortcake is made with a shortcake-style biscuit and a delicious blueberry sauce topped with whipped cream. It’s a delicious summer treat! If you love blueberries, you will want to give this Blueberry Loaf Cake a try! It’s easy to make and wonderful for any gathering with coffee. ❤️WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE This...

Power outages are a frequent occurrence in our country, and it’s no wonder, given that the power grid is outdated and poorly maintained. The post Get these supplies before the next power outage appeared first on Survivopedia.

Just months after Republicans expressed concern over Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs' apparent willingness to "circumvent the laws of this state, the Democratic governor realized their fears, violating the law and unilaterally appointing 13 of her henchmen to lead state agencies. A judge said as much in his Wednesday ruling, indicating that when Hobbs failed to legally get her way, she elected instead to run roughshod over Arizona law. Frustrated by checks and balances By law, the governor's Cabinet nominees can only be appointed with the consent of the Republican-controlled Arizona Senate. The Senate's Committee on Director Nominations, led by state Sen. Jake Hoffman (R) and established last year to "evaluate executive nominations," grilled 11 of Hobbs' 22 nominees, approved seven, and rejected a handful, including pandemic shutdown champion Theresa Cullen. Hoffman indicated in February 2023, "Now, make no mistake, this is a check on executive authority, but that is exactly what the legislature is supposed to do," reported the Arizona Mirror. 'Hobbs is the only person to blame for her nominees struggling to succeed under actual due diligence.' Unwilling to put up with scrutiny from a co-equal branch of government, Hobbs withdrew her agency director nominations last fall, including her partisan nominees for the Arizona Department of Economic Security, the Department of Child Safety, the Department of Housing, the Department of Gaming, and the Department of Administration. Hoffman called the move a "temper tantrum," suggesting in a statement that "Hobbs is the only person to blame for her nominees struggling to succeed under actual due diligence." Hobbs told the president of the Arizona Senate, Warren Petersen (R), in a Sept. 25, 2023, letter that it had "become apparent over the past nine months that the Senate's process for reviewing and confirming agency director nominees has devolved into a sad display of partisan obstructionism." Hobbs accused Petersen and his peers of engaging in a "political circus" and demonstrating an unwillingness to "carry out a valid process." The Democrat then proceeded to engage in an invalid process all her own. Circumventing the law Upon withdrawing her 13 nominees, Hobbs branded those lawmakers who would dare evaluate her nominees as "extremists" and noted on X that she aimed to "pursue other lawful means of ensuring the state government can work for Arizonans." 'This move by the Executive Branch showcases another prime example of an elected official who believes they're above the law.' The Democratic governor proceeded to nominate Ben Henderson to serve as interim director of 12 of the 13 agencies at issue for the purpose of enabling herself to appoint the withdrawn nominees as executive deputy directors of the agencies. Hobbs then instructed Henderson to "ratify and confirm" the deputies prior to resigning as interim director for each agency. Hobbs made her 13 appointments on Sept. 25, 2023, and all were installed as de facto agency heads. Petersen, who ultimately sued Hobbs over the scheme, said in a statement, "This move by the Executive Branch showcases another prime example of an elected official who believes they're above the law and will go to extreme measures to bypass the requirements of the law when they don’t get their way," reported the Arizona Mirror. 'The Governor willfully circumvented that statutory process.' Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) meanwhile defended Hobbs' play, stating that she was "well within her right to move forward with other legal means of keeping state government functioning and working for the people or Arizona." "No law prohibits the Governor from withdrawing a person's nomination for an agency director and re-appointing him or her as a deputy director of that agency," added Mayes. Judge Scott A. Blaney of the Maricopa County Superior Court was evidently of a different mind. Hobbs violated Arizona law In his Wednesday ruling, Judge Blaney reiterated that the law requires that the appointment of a director for each of the 13 agencies requires the consent of the state Senate — something Hobbs did not bother with. "The Governor willfully circumvented that statutory process and eliminated the Legislative branch from its oversight role," wrote Blaney. Blaney found that "these 'Executive Deputy Directors' are de facto directors — unilaterally appointed to their leadership positions without Senate oversight in violation of Arizona law." The court acknowledged that the deputy directors enjoy "all the powers and authorities that the agencies' properly appointed directors would have," have identical reporting chains, and "serve as the leaders of their respective agencies indefinitely at the pleasure of the Governor." Extra to acknowledging that the Democratic governor made a mockery of the law, Blaney declared that state law still requires the governor to fill the director position lawfully, meaning a return to the senatorial confirmation process. A separate evidentiary hearing will be scheduled next month or in August to further address the matter of Hobbs' illegitimate agency directors. State Sen. Hoffman said in a statement in the wake of Hobbs' judicial rebuke, "Today Judge Blaney correctly slapped Katie Hobbs' illegal attempt to circumvent the constitutional check and balance of the senate confirmation process." "I look forward to continuing our confirmation hearings in the near future now that much needed clarity on the law has been provided by the courts to Hobbs and her staff," continued Hoffman. "If Katie wishes to continue her petulant insults against me and to play petty political games, so be it; but I'm going to continue faithfully fulfilling my duty to the people of this great state to ensure that we have a sane government that works for every Arizonan." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

German automaker BMW attempted to explain why its social media page for the Middle East did not switch its logo to the Pride Month, rainbow-themed logo that it sports on its main page.BMW's low-effort virtue signal of using a multicolored version of its logo is present on the official BMW X page, BMW South Africa, BMW Motorrad USA, and others.An anonymous X user asked the car company on a post about a new vehicle why it doesn't use the same rainbow logo for its Middle East page. "How come you don't proudly display your logos pride colors on your middle east posts ???" the user asked.To its credit, BMW responded:"This is an established practice at the BMW Group, which also takes into consideration market-specific legal regulations and country-specific cultural aspects." — (@) 'It is at the discretion of our sales companies and independent distributors to decide if they wish to join centrally initiated communication.'Surprisingly, the "established practice" didn't make its way to the BMW UK page but managed to be used on the company's museum pages and even on the Japanese page.Still, by changing its main page's logo, BMW said that this was the company making a "clear stance" about its viewpoint. "In recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, we have decided to take a clear stance and change the logo of our international communication and marketing channels (on behalf of all BMW Group markets and brands) until the end of June."In recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, we have decided to take a clear stance and change the logo of our international communication and marketing channels (on behalf of all BMW Group markets and brands) until the end of June. (1/4)— BMW (@BMW) June 1, 2024 The move was further justified by BMW claiming that the international pages could be accessed worldwide and as such send an obvious message. Of course, all the other regional pages can be viewed across the world, as well."The international channels can be accessed worldwide and thus show the logo change in all markets worldwide," BMW wrote.For the pages that did not have the logo, BMW also said that independent distributors and their marketing teams are able to opt out of certain campaigns and communications initiatives."As is customary with such communication and marketing activities, it is at the discretion of our sales companies and independent distributors to decide if they wish to join centrally initiated communication and marketing campaigns or not."However, as is customary with such communication and marketing activities, it is at the discretion of our sales companies and independent distributors to decide if they wish to join centrally initiated communication and marketing campaigns or not. (3/4)— BMW (@BMW) June 1, 2024 The German company's response saw a lot of pushback from both sides of the aisle with some readers replying that they were insulted that BMW chooses to support gay pride only in some regions, while others called out the carmaker for being dishonest."As a lesbian, I would prefer you don't pretend to take a moral stance on my human rights that is dependent on market conditions. Just drop the flag and go sell some cars," Ani O'Brien wrote, a woman with 27,000 followers."So you're only a supporter of LGBTQ+ human rights if it doesn’t upset the customers in a country that hates [gay] people?" another sizable account responded.A woman named Lucy Stone described BMW's stance as "opportunistic virtue signaling," while a man named Adam Carter wrote that he would "probably have more respect for BMW if they were just honest and said 'We see the potential to make more money with a rainbow.'"I’d probably have more respect for BMW if they were just honest and said “We see the potential to make more money with a rainbow”.— Adam Carter (@adammcarter) June 2, 2024 Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

HAVN is a fresh face in the gaming PC world, having been birthed by the same parent company responsible for noblechairs, Endgame Gear, APXN, Ducky, and more. HAVN is its new premium case line, and the HAVN HS 420 is its first case, and it brings a couple of striking features with it. While it's certainly too early to know if the HAVN HS 420 will be good enough for a spot on our best PC case guide, it has impressed us enough from our first hands-on play with it at Computex to give us plenty of hope. Continue reading This clever new PC case lets you mount a vertical GPU behind glass MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming

Night City is full of hustle and bustle. I grew up in London, so the sounds of the street are a comfort to me, much to the confusion of my countryside-raised friends. Now, the soundscape of Cyberpunk 2077 is going to get even better when Embody's Immerse game pack arrives via a big update from CDPR. If you thought Cyberpunk 2077 was finished after Phantom Liberty, think again. Continue reading Cyberpunk 2077 gets way more realistic as CDPR launches big update MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty review, Best Cyberpunk 2077 mods, Buy Cyberpunk 2077