This giant gas planet is as fluffy and puffy as cotton candy

posted in: News | 0

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Astronomers have identified a planet that’s bigger than Jupiter yet surprisingly as fluffy and light as cotton candy.

The exoplanet has exceedingly low density for its size, an international team reported Tuesday. The gas giants in our solar system — Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune — are much denser.

“The planet is basically super fluffy” because it’s made mostly of light gases rather than solids, lead author Khalid Barkaoui of Massachusetts Institute of Technology said in a statement

Scientists say an outlier like WASP-193b is ideal for studying unconventional planetary formation and evolution. The planet was confirmed last year, but it took extra time and work to determine its consistency based on observations by ground telescopes. It’s thought to consist mostly of hydrogen and helium, according to the study published in Nature Astronomy.

The planet is located some 1,200 light-years away. A light-year is 5.8 trillion miles. It’s the second-lightest exoplanet found so far based on its dimensions and mass, according to the researchers.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Related Articles

National News |


Sidewalk video ‘Portal’ linking New York, Dublin by livestream temporarily paused after lewd antics

National News |


Cargo ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse had power blackouts hours before leaving port

National News |


Check stubs, fake receipts, blind loyalty: Cohen offers inside knowledge in Trump’s hush money trial

National News |


Questions and grief linger at the apartment door where a deputy killed a US airman

National News |


‘Judge Judy’ Sheindlin sues for defamation over National Enquirer, InTouch Weekly stories

Cargo ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse had power blackout hours before leaving port

posted in: News | 0

By LEA SKENE and DENISE LAVOIE (Associated Press)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Investigators probing the March collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore said in a preliminary report Tuesday the cargo ship Dali experienced an electrical blackout about 10 hours before leaving the Port of Baltimore while undergoing maintenance.

The power outage was caused by a crewmember mistakenly closing an exhaust damper, causing the ship’s engine to stall, the report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board said. The ship lost power again and crashed into one of the bridge’s supporting columns shortly after leaving the port on March 26, which brought the bridge down in seconds.

A full investigation could take a year or more, the agency said.

The board launched its investigation almost immediately after the collapse, which sent six members of a roadwork crew plunging to their deaths. Investigators boarded the ship to document the scene and collect evidence, including the vessel’s data recorder and information from its engine room, according to board chair Jennifer Homendy. Investigators also interviewed the captain and crew members.

“Our mission is to determine why something happened, how it happened and to prevent it from recurring,” Homendy said at a news conference days after the disaster.

According to the preliminary report, at 1:25 a.m. on March 26, when the Dali was a little over half a mile away from the bridge, a primary electrical breaker that fed most of the ship’s equipment and lighting unexpectedly tripped, causing the ship to lose electrical power and experience a blackout. The main propulsion diesel engine shut down after the pumps lost electrical power. The ship’s crew was able to restore power, then called for an assist from tug boats and the senior pilot ordered the ship’s anchor to be dropped.

A second blackout then occurred and a marine radio call was made to warn waterborne traffic. The ship then struck a main support pier on the bridge, causing it to collapse within seconds.

The ship, which was headed from Baltimore to Sri Lanka, issued a mayday alert with just enough time for police to stop traffic, but not enough to save the workers filling potholes on the bridge.

The last of the victims’ bodies was recovered last week.

On Monday, crews conducted a controlled demolition to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, a major step in freeing the grounded Dali container ship.

The board’s preliminary report released Tuesday likely includes a fraction of the findings that will be presented in its final report, which is expected to take more than a year.

Testing of the ship’s fuel did not reveal any concerns related to its quality, according to the preliminary report.

The FBI has also launched a criminal investigation into the circumstances leading up to the collapse.

Homendy said the National Transportation Safety Board investigation would probe all aspects of the crash, including what caused the ship’s power loss and whether it had been experiencing similar issues prior to the blackout.

Investigators also planned to review policies, training practices and other factors that could be relevant. And the design, engineering and condition of the bridge would be studied, she said.

Homendy said before a U.S. Senate committee last month that the investigation was focused on the ship’s electrical system generally.

Homendy said investigators were collecting information from the vessel’s engine room and circuit breakers, which she said “will help us tremendously.”

Marcel Muise, safety board investigator in charge, previously laid out a preliminary timeline assembled from the voyage data recorder comprising audio from the bridge and radio exchanges ahead of the collapse. He said experts would review the entire voyage data recording and develop a detailed transcript.

Kevin Hart, Doja Cat, ‘Up’ house part of Airbnb’s new Icon experience

posted in: Adventure | 0

Airbnb wants to give guests access to worlds they’ve only dreamed of.

The company unveiled its Icon category, described as “extraordinary experiences from the world’s greatest icons.”

Guests will be hosted by Kevin Hart, Doja Cat or TikTok sensation Khaby Lame, stay in Prince’s “Purple Rain” house, or spend the night in the Musée d’Orsay.

“Icons take you inside worlds that only existed in your imagination — until now,” Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and chief executive officer, said in a news release.

Throughout the year, Airbnb will release 11 Icon stays around the U.S. and the world.

Drift off in the ‘Up’ house:

In Abiquiu, New Mexico, you can sleep inside Disney and Pixar’s most iconic home by exploring Carl’s world in a detailed recreation — complete with more than 8,000 balloons. Oh, and it will rise into the air, in case you were wondering.

Spend the night in the Ferrari Museum:

For those with a need for speed or a love of heavy machinery, the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy, features a bed crafted from the same leather as Ferrari seats. You’ll sleep “next to 110 elite trophies, and the Ferrari cars that won those trophies.” You’ll also get to ride along with Marc Gené as he takes you on a lap around the Pista di Fiorano.

Step into X-Men ‘97:

In Westchester, New York, for a few days you can live out your childhood dreams like the Marvel X-Men in a recreation of professor Xavier’s mansion.

Go VIP with Kevin Hart:

The comedian is taking you on a journey into his members-only Coramino Live Lounge for an A-list evening. You’ll join Hart and his friends in this secret speakeasy, where you’ll enjoy a tequila tasting and live stand-up.

Wake up in the Musée d’Orsay:

Stay in the Paris art museum’s iconic clock room. From the terrace, you’ll see the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games along the River Seine.

Join a living room session with Doja Cat:

In an intimate experience, the singer will be hosting you and giving a living room performance of her favorite songs and her latest album.

Stay in Prince’s “Purple Rain” house:

Prince purchased the mansion in Minneapolis from the movie “Purple Rain,” and no one has been able to tour the land until now. You get a chance to stay at the mansion and listen to rare tracks by rock music icon.

Game with Khaby Lame:

The famed TikToker invites you to his hometown of Milan, ideal for those seeking an overnight gaming experience.

Go on tour with Feid Feid is going on tour and taking you with him. For one week you’ll join the reggaeton artist and his crew for rehearsals, ride along on the tour bus and get backstage access for every show.

Live like Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor:

Take a trip to Chennai, India, in style with Bollywood star Kapoor in her family home. The intimate experience includes learning her beauty secrets to tasting her favorite southern Indian dishes.

Make core memories with Inside Out 2:

You’re cordially invited to an overnight stay at Headquarters, aka the control center of Riley’s emotions.

How to book

The listings won’t go live all at once. In order to get your booking, Airbnb is doing it via lottery.

Each guest can request to book the location once it goes live. For example, you can request the “Up” house now through May 14, but a stay in Prince’s pad won’t be available until August.

From there, those selected will receive a “digital golden ticket.” The experiences are priced under $100 per guest — with some being free.

“As life becomes increasingly digital, we’re focused on bringing more magic into the real world. With Icons, we’ve created the most extraordinary experiences on Earth,” Chesky said.

For more information, visit the Airbnb Icon category page.

_________

©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Williams Pipeline Saga Ends, But the Fight to Phase Out Gas Continues

posted in: Society | 0

After three attempts to get permits for its pipeline project failed, Williams Companies Inc claims it’s walking away. But as other companies seek to expand fracked gas infrastructure in New York, activists say the fight feels far from over.

Jeff Reed/NYC Council

A rally against the proposed Williams pipeline on the steps of City Hall in March 2019.

Since 2017, environmental activists have been battling attempts to build the Williams Pipeline, a gas infrastructure project that would start in Pennsylvania, make its way through New Jersey and end in New York City’s Rockaways.

Now, the company claims the saga has finally come to an end. Williams Companies Inc, the entity responsible for the proposal, notified state authorities last month that it would let a 2019 federal permit that green-lit the project expire on May 3, and would not be seeking an extension.

And despite celebrating the decision as a victory, activists say the fight to end the expansion of fracked gas infrastructure across the state continues.

“The Williams pipeline may have been defeated. But the fight has shifted,” said Sara Gronim from the environmental non-profit 350 Brooklyn, which vehemently opposed the expansion over the years. “There are other forces in the natural gas industry in New York that have not yet recognized that New York State is moving off gas.”

Since 2019, when New York passed its landmark climate law that requires the state to mostly phase out fossil fuels like gas by 2050, utility companies have spent nearly $5 billion to maintain and expand gas infrastructure across the region, according to the Building Decarbonization Coalition. 

The latest fossil-fueled project to mobilize local environmental groups is the proposed enhancement of the 30-year-old fracked gas Iroquois pipeline, which runs from Canada to New York City.

The venture, carried out by the Iroquois Pipeline Operating Company, aims to boost capacity by enhancing four compressor stations to increase the flow of gas to New York City by November 2025. It seeks to add a total of 125 million cubic feet per day of natural gas to its existing infrastructure, to be distributed by utilities like National Grid and Con Edison.

And with the industry pushing hard to keep gas flowing, activists say there’s also no guarantee that Williams won’t reapply for an expansion in the future. 

“For now, they have admitted defeat with this particular project. But if they see another opportunity in the northeast they could come back,” Gronim said.

Three tries, three denials

Gronim has reason to worry, if precedent is any indication: in the past, Williams kept reapplying for permits even after they were denied.

For years, Williams pushed for the new pipeline, claiming it was necessary to meet projected peak demand levels for gas. But environmental groups say the proposed expansion, which would include adding approximately 23.5 miles of underwater pipeline from New Jersey to Rockaway, would be harmful for the environment, churning up arsenic, lead, and other contaminants from the sea floor. 

Under a federal law known as the Clean Water Act, gas companies are required to seek out a state water-quality permit to lay down pipelines. In New York, the regulatory body responsible for sifting through these applications is the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). 

When Transco, the Williams’ subsidiary in charge of the project, applied for a water-quality permit for the first time in 2017, it was denied. The company resubmitted its plan a year later only to have it refused again. Despite the denials, it didn’t give up: a third attempt was made in 2019, but that too was shot down

FERC

The route of the proposed Williams pipeline.

On the national level, Williams was granted permission for the project from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the agency tasked with regulating the interstate transmission of gas in the U.S. But that expired earlier this month.

In an email a spokesperson for Williams reiterated that they “have decided not to pursue an extension of the [FERC] certificate.”

“Natural gas remains a critical part of our country’s energy mix, necessary to ensure reliability for more intermittent resources during periods of peak demand and to progress our nation’s climate goals,” the spokesperson added. 

All eyes on Iroquois 

Williams’ move to walk away from the federal extension is being viewed as a victory by the environmental community, which has already moved on to the next big pipeline fight. 

Now, they are hoping to stop the Iroquois Pipeline Company from enhancing two New York based compressor stations along its route, which runs from Wadington on the border with Canada all the way to Dover near Connecticut . 

In a brochure issued by the company, they cite a need to “meet the increasing need for natural gas in the northeast region” as a main driver behind the project.

The company applied for two air permits in late 2022 and is awaiting approval from the DEC. The decision is due any day now.

In this case, they didn’t need to apply for a water-quality certificate because they aren’t laying down new pipes. Instead, they have to justify the chemicals and pollutants that the project will release into New York’s air. 

Fracked gas releases greenhouse gasses that bring about climate change, including a potent pollutant known as methane. U.S. natural gas pipelines are leaking between 1.2 million and 2.6 million tons of methane per year, according to a report by the Environmental Defense Fund.

In the project’s brochure the company highlights that it “will be subject to an extensive environmental review as part of the regulatory process” and will seek to reduce “overall emissions at project sites,” through the use of specialized turbines and methane recovery systems. 

“We are dedicated to preserving our environment by seeking ways to minimize intrusions to, and maximize protection of, our natural resources,” the company’s brochure said.

The regulatory agency that governs utility companies, the New York State Department of Public Service (NYS DPS), issued a statement in February backing the company’s effort. The agency claims the expansion “is necessary to ensure Con Edison’s and National Grid’s continued provision of safe, adequate, and reliable gas service to customers in the downstate region.”

Food & Water Watch

Environmental groups rallying in Albany last week, pressing the governor to oppose the Iroquois pipeline expansion.

“The focus must continue to be on the legitimate energy needs of the state,” a spokesperson for the Iroquois Pipeline Company said in an email,  echoing the DPS’ statement.”This project is essential for Con Edison and National Grid to continue to reliably serve their New York customers during the transition to cleaner energy sources.”

The public was given a chance to weigh in during the permit approval process, too. Residents who live in Athens and Dover, NY, where the compressor stations are located, expressed concerns over health risks associated with pushing more gas through the pipeline. 

“Compressor stations are semi-permanent facilities that pollute the air 24 hours a day as long as gas is flowing through pipelines,” the Concerned Health Professionals of New York pointed out in the comments they submitted to the DEC. These pollutants, they argued, “are known contributors to preterm birth, childhood asthma, heart disease, stroke, respiratory distress, and shorter lifespan.”

According to environmental nonprofit Food & Water Watch, compressor stations also emit cancer-causing chemicals like nitrogen oxide (NOx), fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde. A 2019 study found that air emissions from 74 compressor stations in New York State contained 39 chemicals known to be human carcinogens. 

“The air is already terrible in Athens. Who knows what kind of repercussions we might see to our health,” said Mary Finneran, a retired high school teacher who lives in a neighboring community and says she drives by the compressor stations often. The Iroquois pipeline also passes less than a quarter mile away from an elementary school. 

“We have to fight for the well-being of our kids,” Finneran added.

The former teacher joined environmental groups Wednesday on a quest to personally deliver the comments they submitted to the DEC to Gov. Kathy Hochul. They’re urging the administration to ensure  the Iroqouis’ proposal for expansion meets the same fate that the Williams project did. 

“We saw with the Williams pipeline that the gas was not wanted. But now the fossil fuel industry is again pushing for a new project,” said Emily Skydel, a senior organizer at Food & Water Watch.  

“I think they are throwing darts at the board to see what sticks. So they’ll do whatever they can to get a project approved.” 

To reach the reporter behind this story, contact Mariana@citylimits.org. To reach the editor, contact Jeanmarie@citylimits.org

Want to republish this story? Find City Limits’ reprint policy here.