Sit back, relax, and let’s Break It Down in episode 39...

It played a role in the formation of the asteroid and maybe even in the formation of the giant planets.

Today, I hosted two academic professionals, Andrew Simmons from Washington DC and Lourdes German from Cambridge MA, who confessed that they had been following my search for extraterrestrial artifacts over the past few years. They asked me how I came to pursue this search. I explained that my interest was triggered by the discovery of the first astronomical object from outside the Solar system, `Oumuamua on October 19, 2017. This 100-meters-size object was anomalous in its inferred pancake-like shape and non-gravitational acceleration with no sign of evaporation. In short, `Oumuamua did not resemble familiar asteroids or comets from the Solar system. `Oumuamua’s wake-up call revealed a research opportunity that I never encountered before in the preceding thirty years of my academic career. The search for extraterrestrial artifacts could carry huge implications for the future of humanity but is largely abandoned by the scientific community.Other transformative themes, like the search for the unknown nature of dark matter, often have a long history and are crowded with many competing practitioners. This means that the prospects for making a unique contribution to their knowledge base is small. However, here was a research path not taken, to which I can make a major contribution. My training was in theoretical physics, but I was willing to lead the experimental Galileo Project, aimed to collect evidence that could guide us towards a better understanding of our cosmic neighborhood. The general public resonated with my agenda and was extremely interested in my research. Paradoxically, the more attention I received from the world outside academia, the more intense were the push back and personal attacks I received from science popularizers, reporters, social media influencers or jealous scientists, who pretended to `defend’ science. Their attempts to suppress the scientific collection of evidence through the Galileo Project reflected an anti-science bias, which is meant to protect cherished beliefs from the burden of attending to anomalies. Andrew and Lourdes asked why is this research area avoided by the academic mainstream? I reasoned that the public is definitely intrigued by the possibility that some Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) near Earth may reflect extraterrestrial technologies. Surely, members of academia are drawn from the public, so deep down many of them must share this sentiment. However, because of stigma they never discuss it openly. Paradoxically, the stigma is promoted by members of the SETI community who banned discussions about UAP in their conferences. I started in an academic culture of `chess players,’ where considering new possible signatures of dark matter is rewarded, but now I find myself among `mud wrestlers’ who resist thinking outside the box. They prefer to speculate that the anomalies of interstellar objects like `Oumuamua represent rocks of a type that we had never seen before but at the same time dismiss artificial interpretations as speculative. Some of them ignore the vast collection of papers which attempted — with serious difficulties — to explain `Oumuamua’s anomalies, and suggest to forget the anomalies and move on. They miss the fundamental lesson from the history of science that revolutionary knowledge first appears in the form of anomalies. As of now, the academic gates in the search for technological signatures of extraterrestrial civilizations are occupied by gatekeepers who tolerate unsuccessful searches for radio signals but ban a possible technological interpretation of the anomalies exhibited by interstellar objects like `Oumuamua. Whether the U.S. government has classified data on UAP that indicates an extraterrestrial origin will be discussed at the congressional hearing to be held next Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Andrew and Lourdes asked me how would the academic community respond to disclosure of related government data, if it exists? In response, I quoted Arthur Schopenhauer, who wisely stated: “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” Based on my experience, I added a fourth stage: “Finally, the early critics claim that they were first to propose it.” As a scientist leading the Galileo Project, I wish to collect as much data as possible so that my critics will have no way out but to admit that at least one of the anomalous objects in our sky is of extraterrestrial technological origin. But I am not delusional. If other astronomers will use the Rubin Observatory and the Webb telescope to conclude that a new object like `Oumuamua is artificial in origin, they would still insist that `Oumuamua could have been a natural rock. This would constitute their version of the fourth stage. Nevertheless, I am at peace with Schopenhauer’s forecast. What really matters is the knowledge that humanity will gain from a superhuman intelligence, including its technologies and scientific insights. If we had the benefit of surveying all the inhabited planets in the ten-billion-year history of the Milky-Way, we could have found evidence for past civilizations that perished billions of years ago by self-inflicted wounds or natural catastrophes. This knowledge would have allowed us to avoid their mistakes. Instead, by staying at our current vantage point and looking around, we could learn from the most accomplished civilizations which managed to reach us with their technological products. This local search would be most effective if government agencies and private donors funded it on a larger scale. Without searching, we will surely not find anything. The post Could UAP Save Us from Ourselves? appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Making several appearances Thursday on CNN to discuss the aftermath of Donald Trump winning the presidential election, CNN chief climate correspondent Bill Weir fretted over a second Trump administration's climate policies, and declared that the President-elect is "the most notorious climate denier in history" who will let the climate "go to hell." This is the same Bill Weir who famously declared "even the seagulls" were "awed" with Barack Obama's first inauguration.  Shortly before 9:00 a.m. during extended election coverage, CNN host Sara Sidner hinted at global warming being to blame for recent extreme weather, and provocatively called Trump a "climate denier" as she set up the segment: These wildfires are just the latest in a slew of unprecedented severe weather events -- including, as you remember, back-to-back hurricanes and extreme heat. President-elect Donald Trump is a known climate denier vowing to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord a second time. His election comes on the heels of startling new data showing worsening effects of delaying action against climate change. Her reference to a high hurricane frequency being "unprecedented" flies in the face of data showing there have been many times since the mid 1800s that several hurricanes have made landfall in the U.S. in just one hurricane season. Weir then came aboard and recounted the different possibilities for how many degrees warmer the world might become and argued that it is necessary to cut back fossil fuel burning within five years to prevent dire consequences. He soon took aim at President-elect Trump: "Every country in the world says we're going to try to hold the line at 1.5, and now we're here just as maybe the most notorious climate denier in history takes power once again." As he appeared again in the afternoon shortly before 3 p.m., Weir fearmongered that there would be "hell on Earth" if the world fails to cut carbon emissions, and then took aim at Trump again: "Once we hit two degrees, if you think things are bad now, imagine the hell on Earth that would be three degrees of global warming. Well, Donald Trump is basically saying, 'Go to hell -- go to that hell,' because he doesn't want to even acknowledge the existence of the problem." He soon repeated his claim that Trump is "the most notorious climate denier in the public eye these days." Transcripts below: CNN November 7, 2024 8:57 a.m. Eastern SARA SIDNER: These wildfires are just the latest in a slew of unprecedented severe weather events -- including, as you remember, back-to-back hurricanes and extreme heat. President-elect Donald Trump is a known climate denier vowing to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord a second time. His election comes on the heels of startling new data showing worsening effects of delaying action against climate change. CNN's Bill Weir is joining us now. What could a second Trump administration mean for the -- for the planet? Which is a huge question. BILL WEIR: It is a very big question at such a vital time. Science says these next five years are everything when it comes to winding down the fuels that burn, replacing them with the abundant clean energy of the sun in the sky. But he wants to roll it all back. If the first term was any indication, he will gut all environmental regulation, give oil and gas producers sort of carte blanche, as he promised there, as well. It will be interesting to see how much he can claw back of the Inflation Reduction Act because a lot of that money is going to the Republican districts -- over 75 percent of it right now. But this is really the crux of it. Take a look at this temperature chart, Sara. This year, 2024 -- according to Copernicus, the European space unit -- will shatter all records, being the warmest ever. And it's the first year where we've blown past the 1.5 degrees Celsius or three degrees Fahrenheit limit of the Paris climate accords. Every country in the world says we're going to try to hold the line at 1.5, and now we're here just as maybe the most notorious climate denier in history takes power once again. SIDNER: It is concerning to a lot of people -- young people have talked about this quite a bit. What does this tell us about what we will see? I mean, temperatures hottest ever this year? WEIR: Right, right. And it stalls the knockoff effects and a new report out that insurance losses in the last decade 50 percent higher than the decade before. It's changing property values and building codes and immigrant streams and supply chains. All of this is happening in real time. So you have to adapt to the pain that's already built in while trying to mitigate the price of it right now. And then there's disaster response. under the Trump and Biden administration which we saw the very different approaches under the Trump and Biden administration as to who gets the aid -- sometimes it's a political favor under Trump. So all of this has folks in the climate environmental space very, very worried. And it also has a lot of brave faces. You've got folks from California saying, "We will continue to lead." The state of Washington passed a sweeping climate bond bill there and laws to sort of protect that. Californians passed that bond bill. So what you might see is a kind of balkanization of states like Minnesota, Michigan, California that are going to lead the way on this clean technologies. But at the end of the day, these cleaner alternatives now are the cheapest in human history. So Texas leads the nation in green energy right now. So we'll see. But the immediate pain -- that's what folks have to deal with -- these immediate storms and wildfires. SIDNER: Yup, and we're seeing them play out right now in California -- a place where some insurers have pulled back because they can't keep affording to rebuild those houses. It is always a pleasure to see you even though you bring us sometimes disappointing and sad news. (...) CNN News Central November 7, 2024 2:53 p.m. Eastern BORIS SANCHEZ: There is a wildfire raging in Southern California; a late-season hurricane tearing through Cuba and threatening the U.S. Gulf Coast; and also record autumn heat across the country. These are now just some of the realities of climate change. The question is: How will the U.S. respond to it under a second Trump administration? BRIANNA KEILAR: Yeah, there's a new report that finds that 2024 is on track to be the warmest year ever. I know we're feeling that in Washington, D.C., today for sure, and it may cross a red line scientists are really worried about. CNN chief climate correspondent Bill Weir is here with more on this. Bill, 2024 will be the first calendar year to exceed the Paris agreement threshold. What does it mean for the planet? BILL WEIR: Well, that line -- that 1.5-degree Celsius or three degrees Fahrenheit was the idea that anything beyond that would just be so hard to adapt and to do it in time. Once we hit two degrees, if you think things are bad now, imagine the hell on Earth that would be three degrees of global warming. Well, Donald Trump is basically saying, "Go to hell -- go to that hell," because he doesn't want to even acknowledge the existence of the problem. He won with a promise to supercharge the economy and fix the border and heal America, but climate change is the hole in every one of those buckets, making it that much harder to deal with streams of immigrants coming from Central America after storms or droughts down there, dealing with the economy in places like Asheville, North Carolina, completely devastated. We'll put up a map of the ocean temperatures as well, hitting records around the globe, especially around the United States -- the Atlantic and the Gulf there. That, of course, makes hurricanes stronger, faster. It moves water cycles in much less predictable ways. It effects everything from insurance rates -- there's a crisis on that -- to supply chains. And the wildfires that you're talking about now in California -- these warm planet dries things out faster, makes a more flammable Earth. And so at the absolute time scientists saying that humanity must rally together, decarbonize as quick as humanely possible, and brace for the pain that's built in, the United States has really elected the most notorious climate denier in the public eye these days. Next week at COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the world is supposed to meet to talk about finance for developing countries, helping them adapt and get green in time. But we're already hearing diplomats may not be going because of the clues from the United States the Trump administration not interested. And certainly global climate diplomacy, for the countries that really take this seriously, that's a major issue. But there may be enough built-in momentum green energy projects, especially in Republican districts, Brianna and Boris, that it will be hard to claw those back here in the United States.

On Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced the press for the first time since the election results were announced. During the briefing, multiple reporters challenged her regarding President Joe Biden's earlier comments about President-elect Donald Trump.Before Trump's victory on Tuesday, Biden frequently warned Americans that Trump posed a threat to democracy. With the election outcome, the Biden administration has now vowed a peaceful transfer of power to the incoming Trump administration.'I do not appreciate having my words twisted.'Jean-Pierre was pressed about Biden's role in the Democratic Party's Tuesday defeat. Reporters asked the press secretary whether the president regretted stepping down in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris and whether he felt responsible for the loss.Jean-Pierre placed a majority of the blame on "global headwinds.""Despite all of the accomplishments that we were able to get done, there were global headwinds because of the COVID-19 pandemic," she claimed. "And it had a political toll on many incumbents, if you look at what happened in 2024 globally. And that's part of what you saw."Reporters questioned Jean-Pierre about Biden's views on Trump before and after the election."The president repeatedly referred to Donald Trump as a threat to democracy over and over again. And this morning, though, he said we're all going to be okay. So was that just political rhetoric?" NBC News' Gabe Gutierrez asked.Jean-Pierre replied, "If you know the president, you know that him saying we're all going to be okay, he's an optimist, right? He believes when you get knocked down, you get back up. We are — we, we, we lost. But we're not defeated, right?""The president believes — uh, as, as you asked me about the threat to democracy — uh, believes in — being an obligation to be honest to the American people," she continued.Jean-Pierre claimed that Trump had "talked about an enemy within," "mistreating Americans who disagree with him," and "terminating the Constitution." She brought up comments by Trump's former Chief of Staff John Kelly and former Defense Secretary Mark Esper."To be clear, he still believes Donald Trump is a threat to democracy?" Gutierrez asked."I think that the president was very clear, what he stated, and was very honest," she replied. "Right now, we want to move forward, and we want to make sure there's a peaceful transfer of power. That's what the American people deserve."Another reporter asked Jean-Pierre whether Biden still stands by his comments about Trump being "an existential threat to democracy.""I don't have anything else to share beyond what I said," she responded.Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich said to the press secretary, "This administration's message to millions of Americans that they're going to wake up [the] day after the election, if Trump won, and have their rights stripped away, that democracy would crumble. And the president said today we're going to be okay. So how do you square that?""I can square that," Jean-Pierre replied, stating that she had already answered the question multiple times. "The American people made the decision." Heinrich asked Jean-Pierre what the message is to "people who are fearful based on" Biden's previous comments about Trump."Well, now you're just twisting everything around, and that's really unfair. No, it is, no, no, no, Jacqui, it's unfair because I've been standing here trying to be very respectful to what happened the last two nights, two nights ago," Jean-Pierre said.She appeared frustrated by the line of questioning, adding, "I do not appreciate having my words twisted."Moments later, Jean-Pierre closed her binder and ended the presser. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina announced that he is running to chair the National Republican Senatorial Committee that serves as the Senate GOP's campaign arm.Scott, who has been a longtime ally to President-elect Donald Trump, was rumored to be eyeing the position last month, confirming his ambitions in a statement Friday. Scott's announcement follows the GOP's Senate sweep where Republicans flipped seats in Montana, West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. "Let's do this!" Scott said in a statement. "I'm running for NRSC Chair because two years of a Republican agenda is good, but four years of success under Donald J. Trump is even better."'Tim's inspiring message, record of fundraising and vision for the party makes him the perfect partner for President Trump.'"That means the entire four years of his presidency will create low inflation, secure borders and safe streets, leading to a generation of American prosperity!" Scott continued. "With Donald J. Trump in the White House and Republicans leading the U.S. Senate, we will protect our majority in 2026 and create opportunities for all Americans." Scott, who had presidential ambitions this cycle, also received some high-profile endorsements alongside his announcement, including current NRSC chairman Sen. Steve Daines of Montana."We took back the U.S. Senate in 2024, and there is no one I trust more to protect the majority in 2026 than Tim Scott," Daines said in a statement. Scott was also backed by Republican colleagues like Senate GOP Conference Chairman John Barrasso and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. "Tim's inspiring message, record of fundraising and vision for the party makes him the perfect partner for President Trump," Barasso said. "Together, they will protect and grow the Republican majority. There's nobody better than Tim Scott." "Protecting the majority and growing the party starts with a vision and the resources to compete anywhere," Rubio said. "That is why I'm confident in Tim leading the NRSC in 2026." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

When American journalist Mark Halperin told Tucker Carlson what he thinks is destined to happen following a Trump victory, Tucker was so shocked, he legitimately thought Halperin was joking. However, Halperin was being “100% serious.” Although their conversation occurred three weeks prior to Election Day, Dave Rubin shares Halperin’s warning now that Trump has been declared the victor in his race against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. “Let's say Trump wins three weeks from today. What happens? ... A lot of Democrats, maybe the majority, believe that Trump becoming president again is the worst thing that ever could happen, so how do they respond to that?” Tucker asked. “I think it will be the greatest mental health crisis in the history of the country. I think tens of millions of people will question their connection to the nation, their connection to other human beings,” and “their vision of what their future for them and their children could be like,” Halperin predicted. “I think that will require an enormous amount of access to mental health professionals; I think it'll lead to trauma in the workplace. I think there'll be some degree of ...” he continued before Tucker cut him off. “Are you being serious?” Tucker asked, visibly shocked. “100% serious,” Halperin pledged, before finishing his thought that we’ll also see an uptick in “alcoholism” and “broken marriages.” “What?!” Tucker exclaimed. “Yeah, they think he’s the worst person possible to be president,” Halperin said, adding that many liberals will not be able to cope with “the fact that under a fair election, America chose ... Donald Trump again.” “I don't think it will be kind of a passing thing that by the inauguration will be fine. I think it will be sustained and unprecedented and hideous, and I don't think the country's ready for it,” he added. When Tucker brought up the fact that “mental health crises often manifest in violence,” Halperin agreed and predicted that there will indeed be “some violence,” from “workplace fights” and “fights at kids’ birthday parties” all the way to “protests that will turn violent.” “I think that's what's going to happen for tens of millions of people because they think that their fellow citizens supporting Trump is a sign of fundamental evil at the heart of their fellow citizens and of the nation. That's how they view it,” Halperin explained. Dave agrees with Halperin’s prediction. “Look what we have done to young people — ‘You live in a country that was founded on evil, on slavery and racism. Now a man who wants to bring all of that back using white supremacist magic, using evil language ... now he’s back, and he’s taking away women’s rights, and he’s going after those people, and he’s gonna jail these people,”’ says Dave, regurgitating the left’s phony Trump narrative. “They used all of the most evil tools, and not only did it not get them what they wanted — meaning the installation of Kamala Harris as president, who was just a cog in the machine — it now has broken the brains of millions and millions of Americans, and we better start thinking about this because we all know them,” Dave warns. To hear more on Halperin’s warning and Dave’s analysis, watch the clip above. Want more from Dave Rubin?To enjoy more honest conversations, free speech, and big ideas with Dave Rubin, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

The University of Oregon official who told voters of President-elect Donald Trump "go f*** yourself" and "go jump off of a f***ing bridge" has been placed on administrative leave, the New York Post reported.“As a public university we take our duty seriously to provide an environment that welcomes diversity of thought and respect in alignment with our education mission,” a university spokesperson told the Post. “While we investigate, we are providing support for concerned students and employees, including resources for mental and emotional health.”'I don't care if you are my family. I don't care if you are my friend. I don't care if we've been friends our entire lives.'As Blaze News previously reported, student newspaper the Daily Emerald said assistant director of fraternity and sorority life Leonard Serrato posted an Instagram story after Trump handily beat Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.The paper said Serrato told his followers — some of whom are Oregon students — "You can literally go f*** yourself if you voted for Donald Trump. If you are so sad about your groceries being expensive, get a better f***ing paying job. Do better in life. Get a f***ing education. Do something, 'cause you’re f***ing stupid."Before he made a sideways peace sign, the video rant ended with him saying, "And I hope you go jump off of a f***ing bridge." You can view video of the rant included in the Daily Emerald's story here. A photo of Serrato was viewable Thursday on his bio page on the website of the university, which is a public college; however, access to that page was denied Friday morning.A longer video of the rant begins with the following: "I'm done crying. My sadness is over. My anger has set in. I am a very petty person, and I am very proud of that. Love it about myself, actually. And so, I say this in the most disrespectful way possible: I don't care if you are my family. I don't care if you are my friend. I don't care if we've been friends our entire lives."The Daily Emerald said Serrato soon made his Instagram account private and declined to comment to the paper.Previous to Serrato being placed on leave, Oregon spokesperson Eric Howald told the Daily Emerald the “university is currently collecting more information about the situation" and that for now "it appears that the individual made the post on their own time, which is well within their rights."What else do we know about Serrato?Serrato's LinkedIn profile indicates he's also a hazing prevention speaker. A month ago, Serrato reposted on his LinkedIn page a short item about himself from ForCollegeForLife — and the following excerpt appears to explain why he speaks against hazing:Leo Serrato could have never imagined he’d be delivering this message.Before August 31, 2012, his fraternity membership experience had been typical. That night, however, changed everything. One of the new members of his chapter died in an alcohol-related hazing incident. Due to his involvement, Leo was charged and sentenced to jail time, and, because of this, he made it a personal mission to work to end hazing.He vowed to his brother he would not let his death be in vain.A 2018 profile story in the Sonoma State Star student newspaper about Serrato — who had just become the new lead campus advisor for fraternity and sorority life at Sonoma State — noted that Serrato "was involved in a hazing related death while attending Fresno State in 2012, where one of his pledges died from excessive drinking caused by hazing." The Star added that Serrato pleaded "no contest to a misdemeanor charge of hazing and providing alcohol to a minor causing death in 2014. According to the Press Democrat, he was sentenced to 90 days in the Fresno County Jail, 90 days in the county’s adult offender work program, three years probation, and a $220 fine."Serrato was quoted in the story: “When I was new member educator, one of our new members passed away from a hazing related incident and it was that incident that truly inspired me and opened up my eyes to what my mission and purpose is in life and that is to educated [sic] students on hazing."Howald on Thursday afternoon didn't immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment asking whether the University of Oregon knew about the charges against Serrato when the school hired him.Serrato on Thursday afternoon didn't immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment, specifically whether he had anything to say in the wake of his reported statements about Trump voters in light of his declared "mission and purpose" in regard to educating others about hazing.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

How do Deadlock ranks work? There comes a time in a lot of our gaming careers where we want to take the next step, where we want to be truly tested, and where we want to see how far we can go. In Deadlock, the real grind is ranked mode. You’ll be matched with and against players playing for keeps, and might even earn yourself a thing or two. Deadlock is playable right now, and it’s in good shape, even though the full Deadlock release date is still a ways away. Valve recently introduced a ranked mode in the MOBA game, but how does it work? Also, have you dipped your toe into the competitive scene and wondered what your rank means? Here is the Deadlock ranked mode and ranks explained. Continue reading Deadlock ranks and ranked mode explained MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Deadlock release date , Deadlock crosshair, Deadlock characters

If you already own a Secretlab gaming chair and it's looking a little tired and/or dirty, or you're thinking of buying one but are concerned about marks and dirt degrading it over time, the new Secretlab Skins Lite might be just what you need. Secretlab has offered its range of Skins seat covers for a while, but the new Lite version is 50% cheaper, making it even easier to cover and protect your gaming chair. As we found in our Secretlab Titan Evo review, it's the customization on offer with this chair that really makes it the best gaming chair around. With these new Secretlab Skins Lite, you now have yet another way in which you can change the look and feel of your chair, without breaking the bank. Continue reading Secretlab just cut the cost of customizing and protecting your gaming chair MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming