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Astronauts’ brains take a hit during long spaceflights

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:32:24 GMT

(CNN) — Spaceflights lasting six months or longer take a toll on the brains of astronauts, and crew members may need to wait at least three years before returning to space, according to new research.Scientists compared the brain scans of 30 astronauts taken before spaceflights lasting two weeks, six months or a year with scans taken after they returned to Earth. The scans revealed that the ventricles, or cavities within the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid, expanded significantly within the brains of astronauts who went to the International Space Station on missions lasting at least six months.The findings have implications for future longer-term missions as NASA and its international partners aim to establish a sustained human presence on the moon with the Artemis program, with the eventual goal of sending humans to deep-space destinations such as Mars. A study detailing the findings was published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports.Cer...

Travel: What it’s like to surf in Waco, Texas, where machine-made waves create the stoke

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:32:24 GMT

The woman in the Austin airport gave us a perplexed look.“What ya’ll got in those big bags?” she asked in her thick Southern accent.Surfboards, of course.Texas isn’t known as a surfing hotspot, though there are a few coastal towns that can get fun, yet fickle, waves. But my husband Jon and I weren’t headed to the beach — instead, we were taking a surf safari inland to Waco, a small town hours away from the ocean.For many people, Waco is known for Magnolia Farms, a quaint-and-cute tourist destination for home-renovation enthusiasts enthralled with Chip and Joanna Gaines, who helped popularize rustic-yet-chic designs for their reality show “Fixer Upper.”Reporter Laylan Connelly checks out the sites in Waco, Texas at Magnolia Farms, created by Chip and Joanna Gaines and made popular for their television show Fixer Upper. It’s a must-see stop en route to Waco Surf. (Photo courtesy of Jon Perino)Reporter Laylan Connelly checks out the sites in Waco, Texas at Magnolia Farms, created...

Pope drinks liquids, makes brief call after surgery to remove intestinal scar tissue, repair hernia

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:32:24 GMT

By NICOLE WINFIELD (Associated Press)ROME (AP) — Pope Francis drank liquids, received the Eucharist and even made a brief phone call Thursday on his first full day recovering from a three-hour operation to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in his abdominal wall, the Vatican said.The 86-year-old Francis rested “extensively” overnight and continued resting Thursday at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where his condition was stable and his post-operative recovery deemed to be regular, the Vatican said in a statement. He was on a liquid diet but received the Eucharist.Among the well-wishes Francis received was a poster from the Peruvian family whose infant Francis baptized March 31 at Gemelli during his last hospital stay, while he was recovering from bronchitis. Francis called the mother briefly to thank her, the Vatican said.The poster featured a widely seen photo of the pope caressing the cheek of baby Miguel Angel after the baptism as his mother looke...

Yankees expect to play doubleheader vs. White Sox despite poor air quality from Canadian wildfires, Aaron Boone says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:32:24 GMT

The Yankees expect to play both games of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, manager Aaron Boone said, despite poor air quality from Canadian wildfires continuing to linger.“Had a call with Major League Baseball and said we are a go, so here we go,” Boone said at his pregame press conference. “We’re expecting to play and that’s how we are going forward now. We’ve got two games to play.”The Bronx sky appeared clearer Thursday afternoon than it did Wednesday evening, when a red haze hovered above Yankee Stadium before the game was postponed by a day.The air quality index remained at an “unhealthy” level of 173, however, shortly after Boone’s update Thursday afternoon. The Environmental Protection Agency agency considers an index between 0-50 to be good and between 51 to 100 to be moderate.The first game is scheduled to begin at 4:05 p.m. That’s only a few hours after Major League Baseball postponed...

Biden and Sunak hold White House talks on daunting challenges to Ukraine and world economy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:32:24 GMT

By AAMER MADHANI and SEUNG MIN KIM (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak launched wide-ranging talks at the White House on Thursday by vowing that they would work in lockstep as the globe tries to adapt to a period of rapid economic, political and technological change.The leaders’ Oval Office talks were expected to cover the war in Ukraine, China, economic security, international cooperation on regulating the growing field of artificial intelligence, and more. Biden and Sunak have already had four face-to-face meetings since Sunak became prime minister in October, but the talks in Washington will offer the two leaders a chance for their most sustained interaction to date.“We will put our values front and center,” Biden said.Sunak reflected on the significant conversations that their respective predecessors have had over the years in the Oval Office and acknowledged that both he and Biden were facing the...

Update your beach read: 52 books for summer 2023, with some themes in mind

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:32:24 GMT

Christopher Borrelli | Chicago Tribune (TNS)Let’s try something new this summer.Rather than burdening yourself with postcard dreams of a beach towel and a book, instead of picturing yourself inside a portrait of lazy mornings with a hammock and a Stephen King, toss out the bougie old summer reading mirage. Has it ever been attainable for more than an hour or two? Replace it — as I do, to the detriment of family, TV and sleep — with a small project. But not a project project. More like a personal dare.Pick a theme for your summer reading and dive into it until Labor Day: Read only books banned in Florida. Or only Nordic noir, or only Asian sci-fi. Alternate novellas with epics. Or stick to novellas. Make a list so long you never finish it, but show up every day for it: Give yourself a minor degree in true crime or octopuses. Spend your summer scaling just the mountain of great Chicago-centric books so far this year — Jonathan Eig’s “King,” Catherine Lacey’s “Biography of X,” Aleksand...

Chollas Creek residents asked to shelter in place amid search for 'armed and dangerous' suspect

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:32:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Police are searching for a suspect Thursday in the Chollas Creek area who is considered armed and dangerous.According to the San Diego Police Department, officers are searching for a Hispanic man who is approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs approximately 150 pounds. He is bald and was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt.Residents in the Chollas Creek were asked to shelter in place due to the police activity and to call 911 if the suspect is seen.No further information was immediately provided by police.This is a developing story, check back for updates.

No fair days at 'sunny San Diego' airport last month: NWS

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:32:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- "May Gray" truly lived up to its name this year in "sunny San Diego."Climate report data collected at San Diego International Airport shows more than half -- 58% -- of days last month were cloudy, according to National Weather Service. Besides those 20 days, the remainder of the month -- 11 days -- were partly cloudy. Partly cloudy refers to 30 to 60% cloud cover.That means there were no fair days, or days with "generally pleasant weather conditions," according to NWS. NOAA outlook: Cooler-than-average June expected for San Diego There was, however, rain on seven days, and fog was recorded on nine days.The average sky cover logged at the airport was 82%, a significant increase from the normal average, which sits around 63%.

Hamilton police officer charged in sexual assault of woman: SIU

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:32:24 GMT

The province’s police watchdog has charged a Hamilton police officer in the alleged sexual assault of a woman last year.The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said the Hamilton officer committed the criminal offence between February 2022 and April 2022.The Hamilton Police Service notified the SIU of the incident on April 14, 2022, and the province’s police watchdog launched an investigation into the allegations.The SIU said Const. Jeffery Turnbull is facing one count of sexual assault.Const. Turnbull will make a court appearance on July 6, 2023.The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

Ex-adviser to PM says government’s approach to classified intel ‘particularly weak’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:32:24 GMT

OTTAWA — A former top adviser to the prime minister said Thursday that a memo warning about Beijing’s alleged targeting of Conservative MP Michael Chong was produced after he retired — but he was aware of issues in the way intelligence is handled. Vincent Rigby continues to call for a full review of Canada’s national-security system to respond to ongoing concerns over how authorities are dealing with foreign interference. He made the comments at a meeting of a parliamentary committee investigating allegations that MPs were targeted by foreign interference.His testimony came after the release of watchdog David Johnston’s first report last month, which found serious issues with the way the government handles confidential information.Former public safety minister Bill Blair, who is now the minister of emergency preparedness, blamed the Canadian Security Intelligence Service last week for the fact he did not receive the July 2021 classified memo about Chong.“The ...