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RNA compound and vitamin B3 found in samples from near-Earth asteroid

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:53:31 GMT

(CNN) — Organic molecules have been detected in samples collected by Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission from the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu.“When researchers analyzed the samples, collected from two different locations on the asteroid, they found uracil, one of the building blocks of RNA, as well as vitamin B3, or niacin (a key cofactor for metabolism in living organisms).Uracil is a nucleobase, or a nitrogen-containing compound. It’s one of five nucleobases in DNA and RNA, the proteins and molecules that contain genetic information and instructions crucial for the cells of living organisms.A study detailing the findings published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.Ryugu is a carbon-rich, diamond-shaped asteroid that measures about 3,000 feet (1 kilometer) wide. Hayabusa2 was the first mission to return a subsurface sample from an asteroid to Earth.The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency mission collected one sample from the asteroid’s surface in Febr...

Shooting investigation on SR-826 south entrance ramp causes traffic delays in Doral

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:53:31 GMT

A shooting investigation is currently underway in Doral, causing traffic delays for drivers on the SR-826 South on-ramp near Northwest 79th Avenue and Northwest 36th Street. The details surrounding the incident are limited, but Doral police appear to be focusing their attention on the on-ramp, where a white SUV is believed to be involved in the shooting.At around 2 a.m. Thursday, a call came in reporting shots fired on the entrance ramp, prompting Doral police to block off the entire section of the road. Upon arrival at the scene, authorities found the driver of the white SUV in need of medical attention, and he was taken to an area hospital by trauma alert.The incident is still under investigation and it remains unclear what led to the shooting. K9 units have been deployed to search the area for evidence, as authorities work to piece together the details of the incident.The police presence and road closures have caused significant delays for drivers in the area, and motorists are a...

2 additional deaths linked to bacteria in recalled eye drops, CDC says

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:53:31 GMT

(CNN) — A rare strain of bacteria found in recalled eye drops has been linked to dozens of infections, as well as cases of vision loss and surgical removal of eyes. This week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported two additional deaths — a total of three — have been linked to the bacterial infection.Global Pharma Healthcare recalled its Artificial Tears Lubricant Eye Drops that were distributed by EzriCare and Delsam Pharma last month, and the agency has been warning people not to use the drops.As of March 21, the CDC has identified 68 people in 16 states with infections of a rare strain of drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa never before reported in the United States. Most of the patients reported using artificial tears, the CDC said, and EzriCare Artificial Tears was the brand most commonly reported.Reported adverse events include infections of the cornea, bloodstream, respiratory tract and urinary tract. There are eight...

White House to disband Covid-19 response team in May

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:53:31 GMT

(CNN) — The White House will disband its coronavirus response team after the Covid-19 public health emergency ends in May, a current and former official said.The team, led most recently by Dr. Ashish Jha, has begun to dwindle in recent months as the administration has started to shift its response to the virus from the emergency that defined the early part of President Joe Biden‘s term in office. The team will now be disbanded as the public health emergency is set to expire on May 11.“As a result of this Administration’s historic response to COVID-19, we as a nation are in a safer, better place than we were three years ago. COVID no longer disrupts our lives because of investments and our efforts to mitigate its worst impacts,” a senior administration official said in a statement.“COVID is not over, fighting it remains an Administration priority, and transitioning out of the emergency phase is the natural evolution of the COVID response....

Mild, Few Showers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:53:31 GMT

We notched in another nice one yesterday, albeit, it was much cooler along the coast vs. what we had on Tuesday. Nonetheless, the sunshine was nice as winds were fairly light as well. Today, the milder pattern continues despite more clouds and a gusty breeze. With a southwest wind gusting 20-30mph, no sea breeze kicks in today, so even in Boston, temps run into the upper 50s to near 60. With the clouds in place, occasionally a few passing sprinkles/shower run through here as well. With that said, rain will be limited, so while you can keep the umbrella handy, there will be good chunks of the day when you don’t have to use them. Showers taper off overnight tonight and we’ll be be dry and seasonable tomorrow with cloudy to partly sunny skies. Saturday is chilly as highs top off midday in the low 40s and then backtrack in the afternoon into the 30s as a cold rain takes over. Expect a few sleet pellets mixed in as well, with the best chance for minor snow/sleet accumulation...

Los Angeles area hit by rare tornado — the strongest one to hit the county since 1983

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:53:31 GMT

(CNN) — At least one person was injured after a rare tornado hit a city just southeast of Los Angeles Wednesday, local officials said.The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado “briefly touched down” in an industrial park and warehouse district in the city of Montebello and rated the tornado an EF-1 with estimated peak winds of 110 mph — the strongest tornado to hit the Los Angeles area since 1983.The “intense microcell” damaged at least 17 buildings, 11 so severely the fire department deemed them too dangerous to use, according to Michael Chee, a city public information officer.“There was flying debris and everything!!!!” tweeted one person who shared a video of the storm. The video zooms in on a mass of dark gray clouds consuming the sky and tapering down toward land.The reported injury is considered minor, Chee said at a news conference.The tornado collapsed one building’s roof, snapped a power pole...

Hummer EV is unfathomable

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:53:31 GMT

The name Hummer is no secret in the automobile industry, but one that has gone dormant for many years. With the elimination of Hummer in the GM organization back in the 2000’s, the big and brawny gas guzzler fazed itself right out of business. In 2022, that mantra changed as GM needed to evolve something extravagant with an EV introduction to the market and the Hummer EV was born. This time under the GMC brand, the Hummer EV comes in both an SUV and Pickup version.Backed with 1000 horsepower and 329 miles on a full charge, the Hummer EV is amazing. 3 Motor Performance E4WD with 11.5 KW High Voltage Charging Module standard in the mechanical department . Riding on 18” black aluminum wheels with 2 spares in the bed of the truck. Did I mention the Crabwalk feature? 4-wheel steering with crabwalk allows you to get in those tight areas when you are off-roading etc.; A cool feature and one that Hummer stands alone with.Its spacious interior boasts Hummer-like large 12-way power front seat...

Battenfeld: You can’t fight Michelle Wu’s City Hall

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:53:31 GMT

You can’t fight Michelle Wu’s City Hall – and if you do try, expect some old school hardball tactics to send you packing.That’s the message Wu’s sending out to employees and critics who dare challenge her, with the release of a summary of an “internal” affairs police report against a fired anti-vaccine police sargent.Wu’s police department – or Wu herself – put out the summary report about terminated Sgt. Shana Cottone to disgrace her and rally public sentiment against her.This handoff to media outlets is the worst kind of heavy-handed politics, the equivalent of shooting a mosquito with a cannon.Now Wu or her new supposedly progressive police commissioner is going after one of the mayor’s most public critics. Firing her wasn’t enough, they had to shame her, too, with a Machiavellian smear job.The shocking details of the report include things like Cottone wouldn’t leave a pizza restaurant when she was supposed to, and allegedly followed Wu with her car.These acts may not be appropri...

From video games to trash-talking, competitive bonds among Orioles’ top young stars fuel return to contention

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:53:31 GMT

Gunnar Henderson knows how dangerous Adley Rutschman can be with the game on the line.“You can just tell by his face: He gets locked in,” Henderson said. “You want to keep it away from him or get him on his heels. It’s tough to do, but you’ve got to be more strategic.”Henderson wasn’t talking about the approach to attacking a key at-bat against his predecessor as baseball’s top prospect. He was referring to the only way to beat Rutschman in Spikeball.The net-and-ball game is one of the several ways in which the Orioles’ many young stars go head-to-head, forming the competitive bonds they hope will usher in Baltimore’s return to prominence. That group — helmed by Rutschman and Henderson, their first two draft picks in 2019, and pitchers DL Hall and Grayson Rodriguez, their top selections in 2017 and 2018 — will arrive in force in 2023 after several of them made their first major league contributions in last seaso...

Near-Earth asteroid 2023 DZ2, Dizzy, will ‘get very close’ but won’t crash into Earth this weekend

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:53:31 GMT

A newly discovered asteroid will safely whiz by Earth this weekend, as the 115-foot space rock approaches us at a staggering 17,000 mph.The large near-Earth asteroid titled 2023 DZ2, nicknamed Dizzy, will “get very close” but it won’t crash into Earth, according to astronomy experts.While close approaches are a regular occurrence, one by an asteroid of this size happens only about once per decade.“This is the kind of encounter that happens about once a decade, so it’s not once in a lifetime but it doesn’t happen every day,” Davide Farnocchia, navigation engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, told the Herald on Wednesday.The exceptionally close and rare approach to Earth will happen on Saturday, but the best time to try to get a look at Dizzy will be Friday night.“You would need to have a pretty good telescope to see it because it won’t be bright enough to see with the naked eye,” said John Boisvert, curriculum ...