On July 2‚ 1937‚ while attempting to become the first woman to circumnavigate the globe‚ Amelia Earhart's plane disappeared somewhere between Lae‚ New Guinea‚ her last known location‚ and Howland Island where she was headed next. And thus started a mystery that has never properly been answered.Despite an initial 16-day search involving 66 aircraft and four boats‚ as well as plenty of unofficial searches since‚ the experienced pilot and her navigator‚ Fred Noonan‚ have never been found. Theories on her disappearance range from the obvious (her plane crashed and sank) to the not-so-obvious (she was eaten by giant crabs)‚ and even suggest she survived on a nearby island. One such conspiracy claims that she became captured by Japanese forces‚ before being freed and taken home to the US where she became one "Irene Bolam"‚ despite Bolam already existing long before Earhart's disappearance.After 87 years‚ an explanation seems unlikely. However‚ one former US Air Force pilot and intelligence officer believes he may have found her plane. Tony Romeo funded an $11 million search for Earhart by selling off his real estate business and began scanning the ocean floor using sonar back in September 2023. The search appears to have paid off‚ as Romeo now claims to have found sonar evidence of "what appears to be Earhart’s Lockheed 10-E Electra" plane.      IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.The image‚ captured by a submersible‚ was found 4‚900 meters (16‚000 feet) below the surface of the Pacific Ocean‚ 160 kilometers (100 miles) off the coast of Howland Island‚ her next scheduled stop. The team did not initially notice the potential plane but now intends to return to the site to investigate further.    "This is maybe the most exciting thing I'll ever do in my life‚" Romeo told the Wall Street Journal. "I feel like a 10-year-old going on a treasure hunt."After all this time it seems unlikely that we may finally have an explanation. But who knows‚ stranger things have happened.

Down in the Três Lagoas municipality of Mato Grosso do Sul state‚ in Brazil lives a very special individual. Alvinho is the world’s only known living albino anteater and he is just as fascinating as he is downright adorable. Alvin was found on a ranch clinging to his mother's back in 2022. He is a giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)‚ the largest member of the anteater family. Alvin is a true albino rather than leucistic with a genetic mutation that affects the production of melanin‚ a pigment within the cells. The more melanin you produce‚ the darker hair‚ skin‚ and fur is. This lack of melanin means that Alvin lacks the distinctive black and gray color of his kin and instead has light-colored fur all over‚ even in his magnificent tail.Alvin's lack of the typical darker color pattern could make him more vulnerable to both predators and temperature extremes.Image Credit: Alvin - April 2023 © Edu Fragoso | Ondrej Prosicky/ShutterstockBecause of this lack of typical coloration researchers at the Institute of Conservation of Wild Animals (ICAS) were concerned with how Alvin would survive. The team fitted a GPS tracking device to him so they could monitor how he was getting on and how he would adapt to the Cerrado savannas of Brazil.Remarkably this is the second individual with albinism that was found in the area. A juvenile was found by veterinarian Débora Yogui in August 2021. Unfortunately‚ that juvenile was already dead when the team arrived‚ likely through a predation event. "When we got there‚ he was already dead‚ but we were able to collect genetic samples that were sent to the lab for analysis‚" explained Yogui in a statement sent to IFLScience. "And now‚ a year later‚ a female appeared in the same area with a small albino cub‚ “Alvin”‚ on her back. This time‚ we managed to put a monitoring collar in order to conduct an unprecedented study on this rare feature in these animals."In India‚ an extremely high proportion of tigers are born with the opposite genetic mutation known as melanism or in their case a variation known as pseudomelanistic expression.The typical dark coloration of the anteater helps them not only become camouflaged against predators such as jaguars but also helps them beat the heat‚ filtering the Sun’s rays and keeping them at the right temperature. "There is an ecological theory that says that albino animals living in the wild tend to be less adapted to nature‚ so we chose to conduct a monitoring study that will allow us to understand if they are more susceptible to the sun‚ heat‚ predators and understand more about the behavior and needs of these rare individuals‚" said Nina Attias‚ biologist and researcher at ICAS.Elsewhere in Brazil‚ anteaters have returned across the border thanks to a rewilding project in neighboring Argentina.View this post on InstagramA post shared by IFLScience (@iflscience)Almost a year later‚ the team happily reported that Alvinho is doing well. At a health check in May 2023 shared on the project's Facebook page‚ the team reported that Alvin weighed almost 14 kilograms (30 pounds) and was 1.52 meters (5 feet). Full-grown giant anteaters weigh up to 45 kilograms (100 pounds) and reach lengths of 1.8-2.4 meters (6-8 feet).           IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.He has also received a second GPS collar to make sure that it continues to fit and help monitor him as he grows. 

The world's largest cruise ship – the Icon of the Seas – set sail from Miami on its maiden voyage last weekend. Not everyone was celebrating the departure of the all-singing‚ all-dancing colossus‚ however. Although it's been pitched as a climate-friendly vessel‚ numerous environmental groups have raised concerns about the huge amounts of methane that will be coughed up by its engines. Owned by Royal Caribbean Group‚ the Icon of the Seas is 365 meters long (1‚197 feet)‚ features 20 decks‚ and can hold a maximum of 7‚600 passengers. It’s essentially a floating water park‚ equipped with seven different pools and six record-breaking water slides. On top of that‚ there are dozens of entertainment venues‚ bars‚ and restaurants.All of this commotion requires a heap of energy. The floating city is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG)‚ which Royal Caribbean dubs “the cleanest-burning marine fuel”. While LNG engines are more efficient and emit less carbon dioxide (CO2) than conventional maritime fuels‚ they still pump out substantial amounts of methane.Methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas produced by human activities and it's especially problematic because it traps substantially more heat than CO2. Fortunately‚ it does have a shorter atmospheric lifetime than CO2‚ persisting for just over a decade compared with centuries.The Icon of the Seas has six record-breaking water slides‚ plus more than 40 restaurants‚ bars‚ and entertainment venues.Image credit: Royal CaribbeanThe problem with LNG engines is “methane slip”‚ a process in which unburned fuel that is not fully combusted leaks into the surrounding atmosphere. Here‚ it will rise into Earth’s atmosphere to help trap heat‚ thereby increasing the temperature of the planet. Just last week‚ a new report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) concluded that LNG engines likely produce significantly more methane than most international regulators assume. They also argue that the methane-producing potential of LNG could be enough to scupper current plans to decarbonize the shipping industry."It's a step in the wrong direction‚" said Bryan Comer‚ director of the Marine Programme at the ICCT‚ according to Reuters news agency."We would estimate that using LNG as a marine fuel emits over 120 percent more life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than marine gas oil‚" he added.The Icon of the Seas is powered by LNG‚ which Royal Caribbean dubs “the cleanest-burning marine fuel”.Image credit: Royal CaribbeanEnvironmental groups also denounced the maiden voyage of the Icon of the Seas‚ reaffirming the idea that the cruise industry is not taking the necessary steps to cut their emissions.“The ships are getting bigger and bigger and that is the wrong direction for the cruise industry to be going. If you were really thinking about sustainability and not your bottom line‚ you would not be building a cruise ship with a capacity of nearly 10‚000 people‚” Marcie Keever‚ director of the Oceans and Vessels Program at the environmental organization Friends of the Earth‚ told the New York Times.For their part‚ Royal Caribbean Group says they view as LNG as a transitional fuel and plan to introduce a net-zero ship by 2035 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.Despite growing awareness of greenhouse gases and climate change‚ the cruise industry is booming. The cruise tourism market is set to surge by $21.02 billion from 2022 to 2027 with an annual growth rate of 11.4 percent. While many have criticized the Icon of the Seas for being a “step in the wrong direction‚” it looks like many people are eager to join along on the journey regardless. 

By a vote of 5-4‚ with two conservative justices joining the liberals‚ the Supreme Court has ruled that federal agents can cut razor wire installed along the Texas-Mexico border while a lawsuit over the wire continues. The Border Patrol Union and its agents who have spoken to reporters favor the razor wire installation because it is working in that section of the state in keeping migrants‚ criminals‚ and fentanyl out‚ but that apparently doesn’t matter to the court. While the emergency appeal of a lower court ruling upholding the action by Texas did not require an explanation for their votes‚ it likely is because the majority felt the Constitution grants power to the federal government over individual states when it comes to border control. The obvious question‚ which the court did not address: why is the federal government not enforcing immigration laws which migrants are breaking to enter the country? Suppose a Mexican army – no‚ forget an army – suppose a ragtag bunch of drug dealers decided to invade Texas‚ the governor acted to stop them – including installing more razor wire – and the Biden administration did nothing to stop them? Would the court be OK with that? The effect is the same as if an army of any kind was crossing the border. How many more murders‚ rapes and drug deaths are to be tolerated before the administration begins to enforce laws passed by Congress and signed by presidents of both parties? If this is not a violation of Biden’s Oath of Office‚ what would qualify? A statement from White House spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez is laughable: “Texas’ political stunts‚ like placing razor wire near the border‚ simply makes it harder and more dangerous for frontline personnel to do their jobs.” Except‚ as anyone can plainly see from watching pictures of tens of thousands of migrants streaming across the border‚ they are not doing their jobs because the Biden administration won’t let them. Even President Biden recently stated the obvious when he said after months of denials by himself and his Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that the bord er is not secure. If his previous statements weren’t lies‚ we need a new definition of the word. Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott said in response to the court ruling that the razor wire is an “effective deterrent” to the illegal crossings and “I will continue to defend Texas’ constitutional authority to secure the border.” Local police and the Department of Public Safety officers have been arresting migrants on trespassing charges‚ but ultimately they will be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) which is likely to continue releasing them into the country. From there they will likely head to already overcrowded cities seeking low- paying jobs‚ taking playground and other spaces from school children and in the case of New York‚ depositing human waste in parks‚ in the streets and in some cases in cups they leave on the doorsteps of local residents. That this will – and already is – a major issue in this year’s presidential race is clear. According to a new Harvard CAPS-Harris poll“ More voters pointed to immigration than to inflation as a top policy concern. The survey found that 35 percent of respondents listed immigration as their paramount concern among an array of issues‚ with inflation in a close second‚ named by 32 percent of respondents.” Beware Democrats. You are on the wrong side of this issue. Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America" (HumanixBooks).

Race-obsessive billionaire Mark Cuban continues to publicly defend the organizational discrimination scheme known as DEI — a numbers game in which human beings' immutable characteristics and sexual preferences are factored into hiring and advancement decisions. In his continued attack Sunday on color-blind meritocracy and what he previously termed "DEI-Phobi[a]‚" Cuban outed himself for apparently engaging in discriminatory practices. Although he may not have seen it that way‚ a commissioner from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission intervened to inform him the matter was clean-cut — and he was on the wrong side of it. Cuban was arguing on X with the Rabbit Hole‚ a user who has previously hammered the billionaire for his "DEI Denialism." In a Substack piece earlier this month‚ the Rabbit Hole discussed the mental gymnastics Cuban and other corporate bigwigs perform in their efforts to defend DEI. The critic suggested their routine comes down to a lack of familiarity with the issue‚ an inability to digest arguments‚ and apathy in the face of facts. Cuban afforded the Rabbit Hole an opportunity to test this theory‚ engaging the critic in a debate Sunday on the question: "Should candidate selection‚ at any level‚ consider non-merit based criteria like race and sex?" The debate began when Cuban shared a link on X to an NBC News article entitled‚ "How right-wing influencers turned airplanes and airports into culture war battlegrounds." The Rabbit Hole wrote in reply‚ "When shown proof of how DEI discriminates‚ you wrote it off by stating private entities can do whatever they want. Since then the goalposts have repeatedly been shifted. Given the weak nature of your defenses of DEI‚ I suspect there is no real rebuttal to the criticisms myself and others have raised." Cuban jumped into the fray‚ pushing back against the notion that "seeking out members of a certain demographic to fill [a] role" was reprehensible. "You are a CEO of a successful company that has 30 employees that are all black women‚ and you think a different perspective will help you grow the firm‚" wrote Cuban. "So you decide you want to hire a white man? You would be against that right?" The Rabbit Hole held firm and answered in the affirmative‚ stressing‚ "I believe in a colorblind meritocracy; this means I am against forms of hiring which undercut merit including forms of hiring which cut out merited individuals over their group association(s)." Turning the tables‚ the Rabbit Hole asked the billionaire whether he has "hired people on the basis of demographics on the belief that doing so better positioned your companies to succeed?" Cuban claimed that while he has "never hired anyone based exclusively on race‚ gender‚ religion‚" "race and gender can be part of the equation" if that would put his business in the best position to succeed. In response to Cuban's damning answer and apparent admission of a race-factored hiring approach‚ the Rabbit Hole responded‚ "Thank you for your transparency." @mcuban \u201cAnd yes‚ race and gender can be part of the equation.\u201d\n\nThank you for your transparency.\n\nTitle VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race‚ color‚ religion‚ sex and national origin. — (@) EEOC Commissioner Andrea L. Lucas ultimately weighed in‚ lending her expert insight on discrimination law and humiliating Cuban in front of millions of users. "EEOC Commissioner here. Unfortunately you're dead wrong on black-letter Title VII law‚" wrote Lucas. "As a general rule‚ race/sex can't even be a 'motivating factor' — nor a plus factor‚ tie-breaker‚ or tipping point. It's important employers understand the ground rules here." Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 notes that "an unlawful employment practice is established when the complaining party demonstrates that race‚ color‚ religion‚ sex‚ or national origin was a motivating factor for any employment practice‚ even though other factors also motivated the practice." — (@) Lucas provided Cuban with a link to "further information about the relevant legal standards‚ and corresponding potential risks" pertaining to DEI practices should he "need a primer on the law." Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt subsequently told Cuban‚ "Call your lawyer." America First Legal noted‚ "This is the beauty of @X --here you have [Mark Cuban] openly admitting to violating black-letter employment law‚ and getting admonished/corrected in real-time by an EEOC Commissioner. ... For the entire world to see." Cuban doubled down on his remarks Monday‚ stating‚ "Race is part of the equation never the deciding factor. As is diversity of background." @FutureConfirmed Race is part of the equation never the deciding factor. As is diversity of background — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Drop is all in on its CSTM line of keyboards as it reveals the CSTM65‚ a compact gaming keyboard that looks to continue the incredible typing legacy from its larger counterpart‚ the CSTM80. We reviewed the CSTM80 recently‚ and it's not surprising to see Drop bring forth a smaller model to appeal to the mini keyboard crowd. What is surprising‚ is that all of the customization that was possible with the CSTM80 is still present in the CSTM65. Continue reading New Drop CSTM65 gaming keyboard shows bigger isn’t always better MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card‚ Best gaming PC‚ Best SSD for gaming

After Nintendo issued a copyright claim against YouTuber ‘ToastedShoes’ for modding Pokemon into Palworld and planning to release it for free‚ they’ve come back and made the mod “legally distinct‚” meaning all the Pokemon IP has been removed. The mod is available as of right now‚ after Nexus Mods decided to distance itself from Palworld Pokemon mods for fear of Nintendo's legal action. Continue reading Palworld’s Pokemon mod is back‚ and now it’s “legally distinct” MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Palworld bosses‚ Palworld map‚ Palworld settings

The commandos‚ some of whom were disguised as nurses or women in hijabs‚ carried out the operation inside the Ibn Sina hospital in the West Bank.

‘Every loss truly traumatizes me in my stomach and in my heart. But I have to get up the next morning and keep on fighting‚’ Sotomayor said.

E. Jean Carroll BRAGS to Rachel Maddow About HOW She's Going to Spend Trump's Money (WATCH Her Attorney)