North Carolina Teen Charged with Murder Breaks Down in Court

NASA has made a groundbreaking discovery by capturing the first clear images of auroras on Neptune, the eighth planet in our solar system. These stunning displays of green, blue, and purple lights are caused by charged solar particles colliding with the planet’s magnetic field and atmosphere, similar to the auroras observed on Earth. According to NASA scientists, this historic observation was achieved using advanced instruments, including the Hubble Space Telescope and data from the James Webb Space Telescope. The newly released images reveal enchanting light patterns shimmering above Neptune's icy surface. This phenomenon not only captivates space enthusiasts but also provides invaluable insight into the planet's atmospheric structure and magnetic dynamics. As NASA noted, “For the first time, we can see auroras on Neptune,” adding to the understanding of gas giants in our solar system. This discovery emphasizes that the universe still holds many wonders waiting to be unveiled, marking a significant advance in space exploration and our comprehension of cosmic phenomena.

Latino-owned businesses in the U.S. are experiencing significant declines in clientele due to heightened fears of immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump's administration. Daysi García, owner of Dana Beauty Salon in Mount Rainer, Maryland, reported a 60% drop in customers following an ICE operation targeting undocumented employees, stating, "What is happening now is worse than what we experienced during Covid." The crackdown has disproportionately impacted small businesses in Latino communities, including restaurants and beauty salons, leading to employee withdrawals and customer fears. Percy Pelaez-Contti, president of the Central American Chamber of Commerce, noted a "domino effect," indicating that even documented residents are anxious about their safety around immigration agents. Although U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) claims its actions target undocumented migrants with criminal records, many detained individuals have not committed any crimes related to their immigration status. This environment of fear is contributing to an estimated 30% decline in business for small Latino establishments since Trump's return to power, according to Pelaez-Contti.

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have identified a new phase of matter termed “half-ice, half-fire.” This discovery relates to the ordered and disordered states of electron spins in an external magnetic field, potentially advancing quantum information storage technologies. The findings were published in the journal *Physical Review Letters*. According to Weiguo Yin, a co-author of the study, understanding and controlling transitions between different states of matter is critical in condensed matter physics and materials science. This phase can switch between states at finite temperatures, making it an attractive option for quantum computing and spintronics. The new discovery builds upon prior research conducted in 2015 that uncovered a related "half-fire, half-ice" phase within the magnetic compound Sr3CuIrO6. In this context, Yin and colleague Alexei Tsvelik found that electron spins could alternate in temperature, with implications for various applications including refrigeration and data storage. As the research progresses, the team aims to further explore the “fire-ice” phenomenon to unlock additional possibilities in material science.