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Thousands of satellites and rockets have been sent to space ever since humans started exploring this vast and fascinating world of infinite mysteries. These satellites serve multiple purposes, helping scientists make space discoveries, observations and also provide access to entertainment, Wifi, GPS and television. However, not all satellites remain active, and many become part of an ever-growing accumulation of space debris . Aging satellites, fragmented rocket parts, and smaller debris are contributing to an increasingly crowded orbital environment, which could eventually trigger a catastrophic scenario known as the Kessler Syndrome . It could set off a series of object collisions to the point where Earth's orbit became unusable. Let's understand all about space junk , its risks, and the implications of the Kessler Syndrome. What is Kessler Syndrome? Proposed by NASA scientist Donald Kessler in the year 1978, it is a hypothetical scenario where the space debris in Earth's orbit creates a cascading chain reaction of collisions, producing more fragments and amplifying the risks to satellites, spacecraft, and astronauts. The phenomenon describes a future where the accumulation of orbital debris becomes so dense that it could render Earth's orbit unusable for generations. This could jeopardize technologies like GPS, satellite communications, and weather monitoring, as well as interrupt our space exploration efforts. Though the scenario is theoretical, the risks are real and growing. Space has become increasingly crowded due to an increase in satellite launches, accidental collisions, and intentional destruction of space objects. Experts warn that even small pieces of debris, traveling at high speeds, can cause catastrophic damage. While efforts to being made to track and manage space debris, many scientists believe the early stages of Kessler Syndrome have already begun, which makes the future of space exploration bleak and raises a question about our reliance on satellite-based technologies. What is space junk? Space junk can refer to parts of objects, dead satellites, debris left by humans in space. There are many active satellites in space but there are also dead satellites that have failed or been left in orbit at the end of their mission. It also comprises of relatively smaller things like bits of debris, or paint flecks that have fallen off a rocket. Since the first space flight in 1957, there have been more than 650 “break-ups, explosions, collisions, or anomalous events resulting in fragmentation,” according to the European Space Agency . The recent years have witnessed many satellite launches, rocket explosions, and weapons tests that have added to the junk. Since the 1950s, approximately 50,000 tons of material have been launched into orbit. As of September 2024, over 13,000 tons of space objects remain in orbit. Of the 19,590 satellites launched since 1957, 13,230 are still in orbit, with 10,200 currently operational, according to the European Space Agency, citing data from the US Space Surveillance Network. Even a fleck of paint left in the space has the incredible power to smash through metal as per NASA. Any piece of junk left in space can be extremely dangerous and even catastrophic. Dangers of space junk At the moment space junk doesn't pose any danger to space exploration, but its growing size means the satellites have to move out of the way of the incoming space junk to ensure they don't get hit or damaged. Across all satellites, hundreds of collision avoidance manoeuvres are performed every year, including by the International Space Station (ISS), where astronauts live. How to clear the space junk One can avoid Kessler syndrome and prevent risk of collision by clearing up the space junk a bit. The United Nations recommends that all companies remove their satellites from orbit within 25 years of completing their missions. However, enforcing this guideline is challenging, especially since satellites can fail unexpectedly. To address this issue, innovative solutions have emerged, including using harpoons, nets, magnets, or lasers to remove defunct satellites by dragging them into Earth's atmosphere to burn up. These techniques, while promising, are primarily suited for large satellites and not for smaller debris like paint chips or metal fragments, which must naturally re-enter the atmosphere over time. Cleanup technology , such as the Drag Augmentation Deorbiting Subsystem (ADEO), developed by the European Space Agency and HPS GmbH, offers passive deorbiting methods by increasing atmospheric drag, as demonstrated by a successful prototype in December 2022. However, such technologies remain experimental and costly, raising questions about funding. Beyond cleanup, regulation plays a critical role. The United Nations' recent Pact for the Future emphasizes discussions on space debris and traffic, though enforcement mechanisms are lacking. Space policy experts argue for national laws to hold space stakeholders accountable, with the United States potentially taking a leadership role in establishing clear frameworks. Explained: Why this 'spooky space object' went viralThe commentary piece in German was launched online on Saturday ahead of being published on Sunday in the flagship paper of the Axel Springer media group, which also owns the US politics news site Politico. Mr Musk uses populist and personal language to try to deny AfD’s extremist bent and the piece expands on his post on the social media platform X that he owns, on which he last week claimed that “only the AfD can save Germany”. Translated, Mr Musk’s piece said: “The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!” Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has classified the AfD at the national level as a suspected extremism case since 2021. Shortly after the piece was published online, the editor of the opinion section, Eva Marie Kogel, used the US tech mogul’s own platform to post on X that she had submitted her resignation. “I always enjoyed heading the opinion department at Welt and Wams. Today a text by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. Yesterday I submitted my resignation after printing,” she posted. She included a link to the Musk commentary article. The AfD has a strong anti-immigration stance and, like incoming president Mr Trump in relation to the US, is calling for mass deportations from Germany. Earlier in December, Mr Musk not only posted in favor of AfD but the party’s hard line on immigration appeared to resonate with the incoming US vice-president, JD Vance , MSNBC reported. Senior Welt Group figures weighed in on Saturday. “Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression. This includes dealing with polarising positions and classifying them journalistically,” the newspaper’s editor-in-chief designate, Jan Philipp Burgard, and Ulf Poschardt, who takes over as publisher on January 1st, told Reuters. They said discussion about Mr Musk’s piece, which had about 340 comments several hours after it was published, was “very revealing”. Underneath Mr Musk’s commentary, the newspaper published a response by Burgard. “Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally false,” he wrote, referencing the AfD’s desire to leave the European Union and seek rapprochement with Russia as well as appease China. The AfD backing from Mr Musk, who also defended his right to weigh in on German politics due to his “significant investments”, comes as Germans are set to vote on February 23rd after a coalition government led by German chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed late this autumn. The AfD is running second in opinion polls and might be able to thwart either a centre-right or centre-left majority, but Germany’s mainstream, more centrist parties have pledged to shun any support from the AfD at the national level. – GuardianA warming climate fed drought that in turn fed the worst year for fires since 2005. And those fires contributed to deforestation, with authorities suspecting some fires were set to more easily clear land to run cattle. The Amazon is twice the size of India and sprawls across eight countries and one territory, storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise warm the planet. It has about 20% of the world’s fresh water and astounding biodiversity, including 16,000 known tree species. But governments have historically viewed it as an area to be exploited, with little regard for sustainability or the rights of its Indigenous peoples, and experts say exploitation by individuals and organized crime is rising at alarming rates. “The fires and drought experienced in 2024 across the Amazon rainforest could be ominous indicators that we are reaching the long-feared ecological tipping point,” said Andrew Miller, advocacy director at Amazon Watch, an organization that works to protect the rainforest. “Humanity’s window of opportunity to reverse this trend is shrinking, but still open.” There were some bright spots. The level of Amazonian forest loss fell in both Brazil and Colombia. And nations gathered for the annual United Nations conference on biodiversity agreed to give Indigenous peoples more say in nature conservation decisions. “If the Amazon rainforest is to avoid the tipping point, Indigenous people will have been a determinant factor," Miller said. Forest loss in Brazil’s Amazon — home to the largest swath of this rainforest — dropped 30.6% compared to the previous year, the lowest level of destruction in nine years. The improvement under leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva contrasted with deforestation that hit a 15-year high under Lula's predecessor, far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who prioritized agribusiness expansion over forest protection and weakened environmental agencies. In July, Colombia reported historic lows in deforestation in 2023, driven by a drop in environmental destruction. The country's environment minister Susana Muhamad warned that 2024's figures may not be as promising as a significant rise in deforestation had already been recorded by July due to dry weather caused by El Nino, a weather phenomenon that warms the central Pacific. Illegal economies continue to drive deforestation in the Andean nation. “It’s impossible to overlook the threat posed by organized crime and the economies they control to Amazon conservation,” said Bram Ebus, a consultant for Crisis Group in Latin America. “Illegal gold mining is expanding rapidly, driven by soaring global prices, and the revenues of illicit economies often surpass state budgets allocated to combat them.” In Brazil, large swaths of the rainforest were draped in smoke in August from fires raging across the Amazon, Cerrado savannah, Pantanal wetland and the state of Sao Paulo. Fires are traditionally used for deforestation and for managing pastures, and those man-made blazes were largely responsible for igniting the wildfires. For a second year, the Amazon River fell to desperate lows , leading some countries to declare a state of emergency and distribute food and water to struggling residents. The situation was most critical in Brazil, where one of the Amazon River's main tributaries dropped to its lowest level ever recorded. Cesar Ipenza, an environmental lawyer who lives in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, said he believes people are becoming increasingly aware of the Amazon's fundamental role “for the survival of society as a whole." But, like Miller, he worries about a “point of no return of Amazon destruction.” It was the worst year for Amazon fires since 2005, according to nonprofit Rainforest Foundation US. Between January and October, an area larger than the state of Iowa — 37.42 million acres, or about 15.1 million hectares of Brazil’s Amazon — burned. Bolivia had a record number of fires in the first ten months of the year. “Forest fires have become a constant, especially in the summer months and require particular attention from the authorities who don't how to deal with or respond to them,” Ipenza said. Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana also saw a surge in fires this year. The United Nations conference on biodiversity — this year known as COP16 — was hosted by Colombia. The meetings put the Amazon in the spotlight and a historic agreement was made to give Indigenous groups more of a voice on nature conservation decisions , a development that builds on a growing movement to recognize Indigenous people's role in protecting land and combating climate change. Both Ebus and Miller saw promise in the appointment of Martin von Hildebrand as the new secretary general for the Amazon Treaty Cooperation Organization, announced during COP16. “As an expert on Amazon communities, he will need to align governments for joint conservation efforts. If the political will is there, international backers will step forward to finance new strategies to protect the world’s largest tropical rainforest,” Ebus said. Ebus said Amazon countries need to cooperate more, whether in law enforcement, deploying joint emergency teams to combat forest fires, or providing health care in remote Amazon borderlands. But they need help from the wider world, he said. “The well-being of the Amazon is a shared global responsibility, as consumer demand worldwide fuels the trade in commodities that finance violence and environmental destruction,” he said. Next year marks a critical moment for the Amazon, as Belém do Pará in northern Brazil hosts the first United Nations COP in the region that will focus on climate. “Leaders from Amazon countries have a chance to showcase strategies and demand tangible support," Ebus said. The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .
NoneThese were the most Googled questions by Canadians in 2024
, /PRNewswire/ -- Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE: AHT) ("Ashford Trust" or the "Company") announced today the conversion of its 226-room in to a Tribute Portfolio property. Marriott's Tribute Portfolio is a growing global family of characterful, independent hotels drawn together by their passion for captivating design and their drive to create vibrant social scenes for guests and locals alike. The property recently completed a renovation which included extensive exterior work, upgrading the restaurant, guestrooms, guest bathrooms, corridors as well as a reimagined hotel lobby bar. The new lobby bar, , draws inspiration from the rich history of and , honoring the year Emperor Napoleon signed the Louisiana Purchase. Legend has it Napoleon conceived the idea while soaking in a marble bathtub filled with rose water – one of which (perhaps the very one) resides in one of our suites. The bar's design showcases this heritage with a striking image of Napoleon and a lenticular art piece capturing two sides of the French icon: a 'serious' Napoleon and a 'spirited' one. This playful nod reflects French roots and vibrant culture. Inspired by the amber hues of iconic NOLA cocktails, Bar 1803 blends history, elegance, and the unmistakable spirit of into an unforgettable experience, paying tribute to the city's enduring legacy and the hotel's storied past. Located in the heart of downtown on historic Poydras Street, the 226-room Le Pavillon Hotel is known as the It sits adjacent to the historic French Quarter, is located only four blocks from the celebrated music clubs of Bourbon Street and is close to the famous restaurants and antique shops of Royal Street. Originally the site of one of the area's first great plantation homes, the Le Pavillon Hotel was built in 1907 and is a member of Historic Hotels of America. "We are thrilled to announce the successful conversion of this iconic property to ," said , President and Chief Executive Officer of Ashford Trust. "With its prime location near key demand drivers in downtown , this transformation positions the hotel to stand out as a premier destination in the vibrant market. We expect that completing this conversion ahead of Super Bowl LIX and will position the property for an exceptional start to 2025. This milestone reflects our commitment to maximizing asset value, and we are confident it will drive enhanced financial performance for this property." Tribute Portfolio hotels participate in Marriott BonvoyTM, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit . Ashford Hospitality Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing predominantly in upper upscale, full-service hotels. View original content: SOURCE Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc.
Free-agent forward Jae Crowder is close to a deal with the Sacramento Kings , sources told ESPN on Tuesday. At 8-10 and dealing with injuries, the Kings are finalizing a deal with the 13-year NBA veteran, who has made two NBA Finals appearances. Crowder worked out for the Kings in the offseason as well, sources said. Crowder is expected to be available as soon as Wednesday's road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves . Crowder averaged 6.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 23.1 minutes over 50 games for the Milwaukee Bucks last season. In 803 games in the NBA, Crowder has averaged 9.3 points and 4.2 rebounds while playing for Dallas, Boston, Cleveland, Utah, Memphis, Miami, Phoenix and Milwaukee. He was part of Finals berths with the Heat in 2020 and the Suns in 2021.U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is “incredibly concerned” about the escalating use of different types of weaponry in Russia’s nearly three-year war on Ukraine, his designated choice for national security adviser said Sunday. Michael Waltz, now a Florida congressman, told “Fox News Sunday” that the decision by the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden to allow Ukraine to use anti-personnel land mines to try to halt Russia’s battlefield ground troop advances has turned the fight in eastern Ukraine into something akin to “World War I trench warfare.” Waltz said the decision “needs to be within a broader framework to end this conflict.” “It is just an absolute meat grinder of people and personnel on that front,” he said. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said last week the United States is sending the anti-personnel mines to Ukraine because of the changing nature of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the main battlefield. He said Russian ground troops, rather than forces more protected in armored carriers, are leading Moscow’s advance, so Ukraine has “a need for things that can help slow down that effort.” Waltz said Trump, who takes office January 20, is concerned about the carnage but said that in the broad picture, the question that must be preeminent is, “How do we restore deterrence and how do we bring peace?” “We need to, we need to bring this to a responsible end,” he added. Trump has often claimed that he would end the Russia-Ukraine war even before he is inaugurated as the 47th U.S. president. Trump has never said how and refused to say during a campaign debate in September that he wants Ukraine to win. Biden gave Ukraine authority to launch Washington-supplied missiles with a 300-kilometer range deep into Russia in response to North Korea’s dispatch of 10,000 troops to fight alongside Moscow’s forces. Within two days, Kyiv targeted weapons warehouses in Russia’s Bryansk region with the missiles. Then, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a new experimental rocket, targeting Dnipro in Ukraine’s eastern region. “This is a clear escalation,” Waltz said. “Where is this escalation going? How do we get both sides to the table” for peace negotiations? Waltz, whose appointment does not require Senate confirmation, said he has been meeting with Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser. Waltz said that any U.S. adversary “is wrong” if it thinks it can “play one side off against the other” with the switch in power in Washington from Biden, a Democrat, and his long-time political foe, Trump, a Republican. Waltz said he is “confident” Trump will restore peace “in pretty short order” in the multiple conflicts in the Middle East involving Israel fighting Iran-funded militants — Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. But months of cease-fire talks on the conflict in Gaza are stalemated and talks to reach a halt in the Hezbollah-Israel fighting have yet to produce a deal.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Londynn Jones scored 15 points, making all five of her 3-pointers, and fifth-ranked UCLA stunned No. 1 South Carolina 77-62 on Sunday, ending the Gamecocks’ overall 43-game winning streak and their run of 33 consecutive road victories. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * LOS ANGELES (AP) — Londynn Jones scored 15 points, making all five of her 3-pointers, and fifth-ranked UCLA stunned No. 1 South Carolina 77-62 on Sunday, ending the Gamecocks’ overall 43-game winning streak and their run of 33 consecutive road victories. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? LOS ANGELES (AP) — Londynn Jones scored 15 points, making all five of her 3-pointers, and fifth-ranked UCLA stunned No. 1 South Carolina 77-62 on Sunday, ending the Gamecocks’ overall 43-game winning streak and their run of 33 consecutive road victories. The Gamecocks (5-1) lost for the first time since April 2023, when Caitlin Clark and Iowa beat them in the NCAA Tournament national semifinals. Te-Hina Paopao scored 18 points and Tessa Johnson scored 14 for the Gamecocks, whose road winning streak was third-longest in Division I history. It was the first time UCLA took down a No. 1 team in school history, having been 0-20 in such games. The program’s previous best wins were over a couple of No. 2s — Oregon in 2019 and Stanford in 2008. Elina Aarnisalo added 13 points as one of five Bruins in double figures. UCLA (5-0) dominated from start to finish, with the Bruins’ suffocating defense preventing the Gamecocks from making any sustained scoring runs. Takeaways South Carolina: The Gamecocks trailed by double-digits at halftime for the first time since Dec. 21, 2021, against Stanford, according to ESPN. Chloe Kitts, who averages a team-leading 14 points, finished the game with 2 points on 1 of 7 shooting. UCLA: The Bruins led 43-22 at halftime. Eight different players scored and contributed to 11-0 and 7-0 runs in the first and second quarters as they shot 52% from the field. Key moment The first quarter set the tone for a game in which the Gamecocks never led. They missed their first nine shots and were 4 of 18 from the floor in the quarter. UCLA ran off 11 straight points to take a 20-10 lead into the second quarter. Key stats Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The Bruins dominated the boards, 41-34, and held the Gamecocks well under their scoring average of 80.2 points. Up next South Carolina travels to Florida to meet Iowa State in the Fort Myers Tipoff on Thanksgiving. UCLA travels to the Rainbow Wahine Showdown in Hawaii to play UT Martin on Friday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball Advertisement Advertisement