Author: John Spears

Italian Museum Unveils Remarkable 11th-Century Artifact Showcasing Religious Harmony In a groundbreaking discovery, an 11th-century astrolabe in an Italian museum has been identified as a scientific instrument with inscriptions from Muslim, Hebrew, and Christian users. The expert behind this remarkable find is Federica Gigante from the University of Cambridge, who has hailed it as the most important object in the museum’s collection. The astrolabe, a tool used to chart stars, features Arabic, Hebrew, and Western numerals, highlighting the cross-cultural exchange that took place during that time period. Gigante’s study, published in the journal Nuncius, sheds light on the scientific collaboration…

On Wednesday, armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust.” This verdict marks the first time a jury has deliberated on the fatal shooting incident at trial. The verdict was read in court and prosecutors wasted no time in asking for Gutierrez-Reed to be taken into custody. The judge agreed and she was led out of the courtroom by a court officer. Gutierrez-Reed now faces up to 18 months in prison for her role in the tragic incident. In addition to Gutierrez-Reed’s conviction, actor…

Mesa Native and University of Arizona Graduates Selected as NASA Astronauts Mesa native and University of Arizona graduate Chris Birch has recently been chosen as one of NASA’s newest astronauts. Birch, along with 11 other astronaut candidates, including fellow University of Arizona grad Jessica Wittner, officially became astronauts at a graduation ceremony at Johnson Space Center in Houston on Tuesday. The newly minted astronauts could potentially be chosen for missions to the International Space Station, as well as future missions to the moon and Mars. ABC15 had the opportunity to speak with Birch and Wittner after their graduation ceremony, where…

Two Moon Landers Fail to Stick Landing on Lunar Surface In the past two months, two separate Moon landers successfully touched down on the lunar surface but unfortunately failed to stick the landing, resulting in both toppling over. NASA’s Odysseus lander, constructed by Intuitive Machines, encountered difficulties after scraping along the lunar surface, ultimately toppling over due to its substantial height of 14 feet which includes solar arrays. The lander was missing crucial data during its descent as its laser instruments malfunctioned, causing it to continue moving sideways. Former NASA engineer Philip Metzger explained that the unique lunar environment makes…

Tech Giants to Make Changes in Response to New EU Law In response to a new European Union law called the Digital Markets Act, tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Meta, and others are preparing to make significant changes to how they operate. The law, which is intended to increase competition in the digital economy, will require these companies to adjust their business practices by Thursday. One of the major changes coming is from Google, which will be altering how it displays certain search results. Microsoft, on the other hand, will no longer have Windows customers use Bing as…

Chris Mortensen, a prominent journalist known for his coverage of the NFL for over three decades, has passed away at the age of 72. Mortensen worked for ESPN since 1991 and was recognized for breaking major NFL news stories, including Peyton Manning’s retirement in 2016. In 2016, Mortensen was honored with the Dick McCann Award from the Pro Football Writers of America, highlighting his exceptional contributions to sports journalism. Colleagues and friends have remembered Mortensen as a pioneer in the field and a supportive teammate. Diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer in 2016, Mortensen took a step back from his…

Varda Space Industries Unveils Jaw-Dropping Footage of Space Capsule’s Return Journey Varda Space Industries has wowed space enthusiasts and industry professionals alike with the release of breathtaking footage capturing a space capsule’s return trip to Earth. The footage offers a first-person view of the entire journey, from the moment the capsule separates from its carrier satellite in orbit to its dramatic reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere and eventual touchdown at the Utah Test and Training Range on February 21. The W-1 capsule, which had spent an impressive eight months in low Earth orbit, faced its fair share of regulatory challenges…

A recent image captured by NASA’s Terra satellite has sparked intrigue and speculation, as it revealed stunning “hole-punch clouds” hovering over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. These intriguing formations, scientifically known as cavum clouds, have often been mistaken for evidence of UFO activity or extraterrestrial presence. However, the truth behind these unusual cloud formations is far less mysterious. Experts have determined that these sinkhole-like formations are actually caused by airplanes flying through the cloud layer. In this particular case, it is believed that the cavum clouds were created by planes taking off and landing at Miami International Airport. The process…

In a response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, U.S. military C-130 cargo planes conducted an emergency aid drop over the region on Saturday. Over 38,000 Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) were dropped in locations deemed safe for civilians to access the much-needed aid. The airdrop was coordinated with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, highlighting international cooperation in addressing the crisis. This is expected to be the first of many aid drops as the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. President Joe Biden authorized the aid drop after reports of over 100 Palestinians being killed while trying to access…

The International Space Station (ISS) crew is currently facing an air leak in the Russian segment of the station. Despite this development, specialists are closely monitoring the situation while the crew is working on locating and fixing possible spots of the leak. The Russian state space corporation, Roscosmos, has confirmed that there is no immediate danger to the crew or the station itself. NASA station project manager has noted that while the leak in the Russian segment has increased, it does not pose a threat to the crew’s safety or vehicle operations. This is not the first time a leak…