NASA’s Perseverance rover has given us a twirl and created a beautiful 360° panorama of a Martian region known as Jezero Crater. It’s believed this vast basin was once flooded with water‚ making it a promising location to search for evidence of life. The video is a mosaic of 993 individual images captured by Perseverance’s Mastcam-Z instrument over the course of three days in November 2023.Editors have lightly touched up the image to increase contrast and exaggerate color differences‚ endowing the scene with Earth-like lighting conditions. In reality‚ Mars would appear darker and more reddish.Perseverance successfully landed in the 45-kilometer (28-mile) wide Jezero Crater on February 18‚ 2021 alongside a plucky little buddy: an accompanying robotic helicopter called Ingenuity. The pair’s mission is to study the rocky Martian environment‚ scouring for signs of biosignatures that could potentially show that Mars once had conditions favorable to microbial life. Jezero Crater is an especially promising site because scientists believe it was a 250-meter (820-foot) deep lake filled with organic material around 3.5 billion years ago. If extraterrestrial microbes ever lived on Mars‚ this would be an ideal place to look.In December 2023‚ Perseverance celebrated its 1‚000th Martian day of the mission – but the science is still coming in thick and fast.Even within this latest 360° shot‚ it’s possible to dig out evidence of Mars’ turbulent past and its potential for microbial life. “In this area‚ different rock layers record different parts of the crater’s history. The flat‚ light-colored rocks were deposited on the banks of a river flowing slowly across the landscape‚” Ken Farley‚ a geochemist on the Perseverance project‚ said in the video’s accompanying audio. “The boulders in the distance were deposited later‚ in what was likely a raging torrent. And if this peculiar outcrop caught your attention‚ it did ours as well. It doesn’t look like sediment at all – perhaps it's a remnant of a lava flow‚ now mostly eroded away‚” explains Professor Farley.Don't fret: Perseverance and Ingenuity aren't too lonely on the Red Planet. NASA's Curiosity Rover is also currently working away on Mars‚ albeit on another part of the planet called Mount Sharp. Just a few months ago‚ Curiosity captured a stunning 25-frame video showing the progress of a Martian day from dusk until dawn.

Pierce Brosnan‚ the former James Bond actor‚ has reportedly been charged with going off the prescribed trail near the Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. As a result‚ Brosnan is due to appear at a Wyoming court on January 23.This may sound like a trivial situation – wandering off the path in a national park – but it is an offense the US National Park Services take very seriously. This is because the area in question‚ the Mammoth Hot Springs‚ is extremely dangerous.There are over 10‚000 different hydrothermal features that are active across the park‚ ranging from hot springs and mudpots‚ to fumaroles and geysers. The latter are so numerous that‚ the Park reports‚ over half of the world’s active geysers are located at Yellowstone.All of these hydrothermal features are the “visible expression of the immense Yellowstone volcano” that heats the groundwater and forces it to the surface. It’s a spectacular and equally dynamic phenomenon to witness‚ which can drastically transform in short periods of time. However‚ the waters can be deadly as well.The hot springs can reach temperatures of around 92°C (198°F)‚ while the steam vents can reach as high as 135°C (275°F).According to the National Park‚ more than 20 people have been killed after falling into the boiling waters. The ground around this place is fragile and can easily give way‚ plunging visitors into the hot acidic water below them.In 2022‚ a human foot in a shoe was seen floating in the boiling springs‚ and a year earlier a 20-year-old woman recieved significant burns after she tried to save her dog from the springs. In 2016‚ a 23-year-old man was killed at the Lower Geyser Basin after he wandered from the prescribed boardwalk trail. In the end‚ the authorities were unable to recover his body as the waters had almost completely dissolved it by the next day.In less fatal circumstances‚ three men were banned from the national park after being caught cooking two chickens in the springs. This act of fowl play earned them a hefty fine.To date‚ Brosnan has remained silent on the trespassing matter‚ as per the BBC. Still‚ it's important to recognize that not even Bond is above the law‚ and the warning signs at Yellowstone are there for everyone – not just for your eyes only. Follow them and you may live to die another day.

Imagine a story that tugs at your heartstrings: a dog‚ once abandoned‚ learning to trust and love again. One video beautifully captures this emotional journey. It starts with a touching scene: a loyal dog‚ left behind‚ waits at the doorstep of her former home‚ symbolizing a mix of unwavering loyalty and the hope for a... The post Abandoned dog found cowering in bushes learns to trust again after making ‘special friend’ appeared first on Animal Channel.

Just like us‚ dogs have their own bedtime rituals‚ and Leroy‚ a beagle‚ takes his very seriously. Every night‚ he meticulously prepares his bed‚ ensuring everything is perfect for a good night’s sleep. Leroy’s routine is so unique and amusing that his owner couldn’t resist capturing it on video. The caption of the video perfectly... The post Beagle melts thousands of hearts showing off his hilarious ‘bedtime routine’ appeared first on Animal Channel.

A video from a YouTube account called “Ivan the Evangelist” was shared by Students for Life America on social media Thursday afternoon and detailed one woman’s horrific experience after taking an abortion pill. Now‚ users online are blasting Planned Parenthood and the chemical abortion process for its prioritization of killing babies over keeping women out of harms way. “The last abortion I had I actually saw the baby come out‚” Desiree‚ the woman in the video started with. She explained how she went to a Planned Parenthood location and two doctors came into her room and gave her a chemical abortion pill to start the slow process of killing her baby. Desiree confessed that she felt conflicted at the time. She said she felt “so much pressure” and eventually “gave in‚” then she “put this dumb pill in [her] mouth.” The video details that Desiree went home to finish the other four pills to continue the process when she began feeling immense pain. She went to her bathroom and “delivered a baby‚” she confessed. “I saw the little tiny limbs‚ little arms‚ little everything. And the baby’s heart was still beating and it starts to go slower and slower and slower until the baby passes away. And after that‚ precious life was lost‚” Desiree said. She was pressured into an unwanted abortion at Planned Parenthood. Weeks later‚ she was nearly dead at a hospital. Desiree's traumatic experience is the heartbreaking reality of what chemical abortion drugs do to women. To learn more‚ go to https://t.co/aZB9qOC0jL. pic.twitter.com/PnfMeDTj3f — Students for Life of America (@StudentsforLife) January 4‚ 2024 While that was obviously heartbreaking to hear‚ Desiree then went on to explain how she almost lost her own life. She was “bleeding uncontrollably for months‚” she said. She called Planned Parenthood and they essentially told her that the bleeding was normal. Desiree also mentioned that Planned Parenthood made her sign a waiver indicating that if she died‚ Planned Parenthood wouldn’t be held liable. Desiree eventually went to the hospital and underwent an emergency surgery after finding out her placenta was never delivered and it was rotting inside of her‚ causing an infection. The sad part is‚ Planned Parenthood‚ and the left in general‚ rarely‚ if ever‚ talk about these sorts of stories. They paint the idea that the abortion pill is safe‚ harmless and a great option‚ when the reality is that they are far from safe whatsoever for the woman or her child. During a chemical abortion‚ which requires two drugs called mifepristone and misoprostol‚ a woman’s pregnancy hormones are blocked which simulates her child to be expelled from her body. If successful‚ it results in at least one death.  Users on X shared their heartbreak for Desiree regarding her situation.  “The fact Planned Parenthood knew what could happen to her body if she took the pill‚ and didn’t inform her of the side effect is so sick. It shows they don’t care about women. They just care about making a profit‚” one user wrote. “How long are abortion businesses going to get away with the lie that Chemical Abortion Pills are ‘safe’ and ‘easy’ for women? Wake up America‚” Students for Life America president Kristan Hawikins wrote. Over on the full video‚ which is accessible on YouTube as well as Desiree’s Facebook page‚ users commended her bravery and thanked her for sharing. At the same time‚ there were various comments insisting that Desiree was lying and that Planned Parenthood and the abortion pill aren’t harmful. “How long are you going to spend your time lying to grift more donations?” one asked on X. “Gee I wonder how much she is getting paid to act out this script‚” another said‚ while yet another wrote‚ “You’re liars and the drugs have proven safe for the vast majority of women for many years.” Now‚ can I somehow go back and corroborate Desiree’s story? No. But Desiree isn’t the only one who’s shared about the heartbreaking reality of what a chemical abortion is and does. This information needs to be shared‚ not silenced by Planned Parenthood and the leftist regime.

Newly released emails show that an anti-free speech State Department subagency faced scathing accusations of “targeting Americans” through alleged taxpayer-funded plots. Journalist Matt Taibbi published a May 2019 email exchange between a Democratic Senate staffer and an unnamed official at the Global Engagement Center (GEC). The emails show that the two discussed allegations that the infamous government agency weaponized taxpayer money to target American journalists and academics. Taibbi raised the alarm that even Democrats have blasted GEC over disturbing reports it is colluding with entities to censor Americans on social media. According to screenshots shared by Taibbi‚ Alex Carnes‚ then a Senate Appropriations  Committee staffer‚ reached out to the GEC asking it to respond to allegations of impropriety stemming from a taxpayer-funded group. Carnes specifically told a GEC official that he had “received word from a few different people that were stories circulating about the GEC targeting Americans.” Carnes further queried‚ “I don’t see anything about this save for old conversations we’ve had. Is there something you expect to be in the press on this topic?” Related: EXCLUSIVE: Taibbi Tells Bozell Big Tech‚ Big Media Did ‘Complete 180’ on Free Speech At the time‚ Jason Rezaian‚ an opinion editor for The Washington Post‚ had accused GEC of funding the Iran Disinformation Project—an Iranian-based nonprofit that would ultimately target him on Twitter. The GEC-funded group allegedly accused Rezaian of spreading anti-Iranian propaganda through various since-deleted tweets. Rezaian wrote in an op-ed he expected the Iranian government to attack him‚ later decrying: “But I never imagined the U.S. State Department would be funding my attackers.” The GEC ultimately pulled its funding from the infamous pro-Iranian group. The GEC official communicating with Carnes claimed not to know specifically what he was referring to but pushed back against the accusations anyway‚ according to Taibbi’s screenshots. Addressing Carnes specifically‚ the individual claimed that dubious allegations had come up before‚ which he dismissed. “Broadly speaking‚ I can tell you that in various parts of the internet‚ the conspiracy narrative that the GEC is a piece of the U.S. government’s grand plan to brainwash Americans isn’t a new one‚” the GEC official reportedly said. But that’s not all.  According to the exchange shared by Taibbi‚ Carnes blasted GEC for the response‚ highlighting that the federal government was being accused of misusing taxpayer-funded programs to attack Americans. The Senate responded by highlighting concerns that “State resources had been inappropriately used to target Americans.” He added that it was a “fine line the GEC itself has wanted to walk” and that the concerns were “not totally unfounded.” Taibbi’s revelations come on the heels of widespread condemnation against the GEC over its contentious funding of pro-censorship organizations. Most infamously‚ GEC was heavily involved in the launch of the Election Integrity Partnership (EIP)‚ which engaged in election-interfering censorship in 2020. Republican lawmakers in both chambers of Congress have aimed to defund GEC over the disturbing accusations.  Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) directly addressed the GEC-tied EIP in December 2023. He  said: “Under this scheme‚ government officials and federally funded organizations flagged posts they deemed ‘misinformation’ to EIP analysts‚ who in turn would flag them for the intended social media platform.”  Conservatives are under attack. Contact your representatives and demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency‚ clarity on hate speech and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored‚ contact us using CensorTrack’s contact form‚ and help us hold Big Tech accountable.

Axios’s lead story on Friday morning by Alex Thompson was one of the least surprising revelations for anyone who’s observed a White House press briefing: the impressively incompetent Karine Jean-Pierre seems to be jealous and upset with having to share so many briefings with National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. Why? It’s obvious as Kirby‚ unlike Jean-Pierre‚ has a grasp of the English language and shown a basic level of competence in handling of issues in his portfolio‚ such as Israel vs. Hamas war. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s even smacked down a few reporters for their pro-Hamas takes. “They share a podium — and a mutual frustration. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and the National Security Council's John Kirby frequently split the podium at media briefings‚ but behind the scenes their relationship is fraught with tension‚ White House sources tell Axios‚” Thompson began. He added that such an iciness could bode ill for President Biden as he has not one‚ but two spokespeople with Kirby now taking almost-daily questions from reporters on foreign policy issues beyond Israel vs. Hamas and Jean-Pierre left with the scraps. Despite Jean-Pierre checking off three spaces on a diversity bingo card (woman‚ African-American‚ and LGBTQ)‚ Thompson said Kirby’s “a Biden favorite” and” has told people he'd like to be White House press secretary one day.” Thompson explained that‚ barring quitting‚ Jean-Pierre is stuck with this arrangement since “Biden likes it” with Kirby having “become more influential publicly and behind the scenes as he has developed a close relationship with the president” to the point that the President “frequently asks for Kirby to personally brief him” with Mao Zedong enthusiast and Biden aide Anita Dunn now having him join Biden “on...domestic trips.” Thompson even did the math that‚ since Hamas’s October 7 terror attack‚ there’s been “more than 30 press briefings and gaggles” and “Jean-Pierre has briefed reporters solo just once — during a gaggle on Air Force One.” Cue the race hustlers currently raising hell over Claudine Gay facing consequences for plagiarism. Look out‚ Alex and John! Al Sharpton might picket outside your place next! Kirby‚ for his part‚ has reportedly become “frustrat[ed]” by Jean-Pierre still calling on reporters for him to take questions from with Thompson’s sources stating another obvious point‚ which is it’s a sign of Jean-Pierre’s “insecur[ity].” Instead of wondering if this was due in large part to Jean-Pierre’s incompetence‚ Thompson carried water and fretted Kirby’s role really hadn’t existed in previous administrations (click “expand”): The intrigue: But several other White House sources say Jean-Pierre was wary of Kirby         from the beginning. When Biden offered Jean-Pierre the press secretary job in 2022‚ he awkwardly added that Kirby also would be joining and that they'd be a team‚ Jean-Pierre told people afterward. Jean-Pierre left the meeting with Biden upset and confused about whether she actually had the job and what Kirby's role would be‚ according to three people familiar with her comments at the time. (....) National Security Council leaders then were told‚ to their surprise‚ that Kirby — the two-time Pentagon press secretary and State Department press secretary — would join their team. After haggling over what Kirby's role would be‚ the White House and the NSC settled on the title of "coordinator for strategic communications." Kirby‚ however‚ doesn't supervise or report to the NSC communications director. His role is more focused on public communications than coordinating messaging across the administration. (....) Zoom out: Many current and former Biden officials argue that Klain and Dunn are responsible for the current tension‚ saying the unusual setup is unfair to both Jean-Pierre and Kirby. The piece ended with even more fun (alongside more insinuations of Jean-Pierre being under the gun because she’s a black) as Thompson revealed Jean-Pierre has had a “bumpy” relationship with her own top deputy‚ Olivia Dalton‚ has “voiced frustrations” with having helmed only one briefing last year.

Friday was Ana Navarro’s birthday and she and her colleagues on ABC’s The View marked the occasion by welcoming and celebrating a bunch of drag queens from the R House‚ which was investigated by Florida. Naturally‚ the investigation was mentioned in order to allow Navarro to claim R House defeated Gov. Ron DeSantis‚ but the reason for the investigation was never mentioned. Sara Haines offered up an affirmation for the guests‚ “One of my favorite things about a drag show is there’s no one's that's out of place at a drag show. It does feel so inclusive which I love‚ but the R House is located in Miami‚ which is under the state rule of Governor DeSantis and I know he's really come for drag shoe-- shows and LGBTQ+ communities lately—”     Amidst the laughter from Haines’s shoes/shows slip up‚ Joy Behar would ask “What's his problem? What's his problem?” DeSantis’s “problem” with R House was summarized by NBC’s Miami affiliate in September‚ “Gov. Ron DeSantis announced in July 2022 that an investigation by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation was launched following the release of a video showing an exposed drag queen and young girl hand-in-hand at an R House show. In the clip‚ the drag queen is seen wearing lingerie as she parades the girl around the restaurant.” In the accompanying video‚ NBC Miami censors the drag queen in question the way that a network would typically censor frontal nudity. They go onto report that the state and R House settled with R House paying a fine‚ but not having to admit guilt. Eventually‚ Haines continued‚ “Why is it so important now more than ever to keep performing?” One of the assembled drag queens‚ who goes by the name Athena Dion‚ answered that‚ “Drag shows bring people together. When you come to our show‚ you leave your problems at the door. You leave whatever the governor said at the door‚ whatever the president said at the door‚ you don't want to hear about them on our show. You come to hear Cher‚ Beyoncé‚ Lady Gaga‚ have a good time.” Dion added‚ “And regardless of where you come from‚ regardless of who you are‚ you're all there to celebrate one thing: the drag queens‚ the show‚ the art that we're providing and you become closer together. I’ve seen people who would probably never talk to each other on the streets‚ they come to our show and leave laughing and joking and it's a place where people come together. It's magic.” Behar further wondered‚ “Do you think that maybe DeSantis secretly wants to get dressed up in lady's clothes. Is that possible?” As for Navarro she omitted the context surrounding the investigation as she tried to suggest his fight with R House has something to do with his presidential poll numbers‚ “Anyway‚ I think it’s really important that we understand it's not that DeSantis went after‚ you know‚ LGBTQ and drag. He went after The R House in specific. He tried to shut them down for over a year‚ they've been under attack and targeted‚ they've been terrorized. They spent a fortune in legal fees and so you know what‚ the drag queens survived and his campaign is dead.” One can debate why DeSantis’s presidential numbers are what they are‚ but it is silly to pretend that the man who won re-election by almost 20 points is being punished by Republicans for opposing lingerie-clad drag queens parading around with young children. Here is a transcript for the January 5 show:   ABC The View 1/5/2024 11:05 AM ET SARA HAINES: One of my favorite things about a drag show is there’s no one's that's out of place at a drag show.  [crosstalk] HAINES: It does feel so inclusive which I love‚ but the R House is located in Miami‚ which is under the state rule of Governor DeSantis and I know he's really come for drag shoe-- shows and LGBTQ+ communities lately-- ATHENA DION: And our shoes too.  JOY BEHAR: What's his problem? What's his problem? HAINES: Why is it so important now more than ever to keep performing?  DION: Well‚ let me tell you something‚ the arts saves lives. Can I get an amen? [crosstalk] DION: Drag shows bring people together. When you come to our show‚ you leave your problems at the door. You leave whatever the governor said at the door‚ whatever the president said at the door‚ you don't want to hear about them on our show. You come to hear Cher‚ Beyoncé‚ Lady Gaga‚ have a good time. And regardless of where you come from‚ regardless of who you are‚ you're all there to celebrate one thing: the drag queens‚ the show‚ the art that we're providing and you become closer together. I’ve seen people who would probably never talk to each other on the streets‚ they come to our show and leave laughing and joking and it's a place where people come together. It's magic.  HAINES: I love it. I love it. BEHAR: Do you think that maybe DeSantis secretly wants to get dressed up in lady's clothes. Is that possible?  DION: Well‚ he has my number‚ so I don’t know— ANA NAVARRO: Anyway‚ I think it’s really important that we understand it's not that DeSantis went after‚ you know‚ LGBTQ and drag. He went after The R House in specific. He tried to shut them down for over a year‚ they've been under attack and targeted‚ they've been terrorized. They spent a fortune in legal fees and so you know what‚ the drag queens survived and his campaign is dead.   

Ohio has seen a decrease in gun crime across several of its cities since it has allowed individuals to carry a concealed firearm without a permit.Ohio became the 23rd state to allow individuals to carry a firearm without permit in 2022‚ which was hit with criticisms when the state realized it could not require individuals to "get fingerprinted‚ pay a fee‚" or "ask for permission from the local sheriff."Michael Weinman‚ director of governmental affairs for the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police‚ told Governing in June 2022 that the move was potentially dangerous."It's still a bad bill. There's going to be people without any training‚ without any background check (carrying guns)."However‚ Ohio's own office of the attorney general released statistics that claim gun crime has actually decreased in the state since the constitutional carry has been enforced.The Center for Justice Research was assigned to study the relationship between the new rules and crime involving a firearm before and after permitless carry came into effect.The study tracked crimes involving a firearm‚ gunshot incidents‚ and the impact of the new rules on law enforcement.The study found in its trend analysis that there had been a "significant decrease in crime incidents involving a firearm for Akron‚ Columbus‚ and Toledo‚ and across all 8 cities combined from June 2021- June 2023."The other cities referenced were Cleveland‚ Cincinnati‚ Dayton‚ Parma‚ and Canton. However‚ two of those cities (Cincinnati and Dayton) saw an increase in gun crime since permitless carry was enacted‚ despite a downward trend across the state.According to SCNR‚ Parma‚ Ohio‚ saw the largest decrease in crimes involving firearms at 22%. The second-highest drop came in both Toledo and Akron at 18%‚ while Columbus saw a 12% decrease.Cincinnati's firearm crime rate rose by 6% while Dayton's was +5%.Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a statement he "genuinely did not know what the study would find."“I thought it would be useful either way‚" he continued. "The key takeaway from this study is that we have to keep the pressure on the criminals who shoot people‚ rather than Ohioans who responsibly exercise their Second Amendment rights‚" Yost added.In terms of injuries or death to police officers; June-December 2021 saw eight total officers injured or killed by a firearm in Ohio. From January 2022-June 2023‚ after permitless carry came into effect‚ an additional eight total officers were injured or killed by a firearm in 18 months.Comparing the rates‚ that makes eight injured/killed officers in six months before the new rules‚ as opposed to an average of less than three officers killed or injured every six months since concealed carry without a permit was allowed.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A California sheriff's office announced Wednesday that it does not plan on enforcing the state's new gun law‚ backed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.On Monday‚ a new concealed-carry law went into effect that prevents firearm owners from carrying weapons in "sensitive" public spaces‚ which includes parks‚ stadiums‚ government buildings‚ medical facilities‚ churches‚ public transit‚ many parking areas‚ anywhere liquor is sold and consumed‚ and several other places. While the law applies to concealed-carry permit holders‚ it also impacts open-carry permit holders in more rural areas of the state‚ the Los Angeles Times reported.Democrats and other supporters of the legislation believe the restrictions are commonsense measures that will curb gun violence. Critics contend that the list of restricted "sensitive places" is so extensive that it effectively prevents permit holders from legally carrying a firearm outside of their homes.Newsom signed the bill‚ authored by Democratic Senator Anthony Portantino‚ into law last year."When SB 2 is implemented‚ it will certainly increase public safety and‚ I believe‚ save lives‚" Portantino stated.In December‚ U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney blocked the gun law from taking effect on January 1‚ declaring portions of the bill unconstitutional. Carney wrote in his decision that the law's "coverage is sweeping‚ repugnant to the Second Amendment‚ and openly defiant of the Supreme Court."However‚ days later‚ a federal appeals court placed a temporary hold on the judge's ruling‚ which allowed the restrictions to take effect at the start of the year.Newsom called Carney's ruling "dangerous" and applauded the appeals court's temporary order. "Californians overwhelmingly support efforts to ensure that places like hospitals‚ libraries and children's playgrounds remain safe and free from guns‚" Newsom stated.Sutter County Sheriff Brandon Barnes and Sutter County District Attorney Jennifer Dupré released a joint statement Wednesday announcing that they would not enforce the new gun law."This past Saturday‚ December 30th‚ The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals suspended the December 20th injunction‚ essentially enacting the sensitive areas portion of the bill. We suspect this will be challenged further and will have to make it's way through the court process. It appears there are additional hearings on this matter scheduled in the coming weeks‚" the joint statement read."We certainly encourage all citizens to obey the law‚" the statement added.The sheriff's and DA's offices vowed to work together "to evaluate circumstances on a case-by-case basis.""We have no interest in criminalizing constitutionally protected behavior. We took an oath to uphold our Constitution and will work to protect the rights of our citizens‚" the joint statement continued. "This issue is far from being resolved and we are hopeful the courts will rule in favor of our constitution."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!