Racial Disparities in Child Mortality Persist in the U.S., New Study Reveals

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting carbon dioxide (CO2) on four exoplanets located in the HR 8799 system, approximately 130 light-years from Earth. This finding, reported in The Astronomical Journal, suggests that these giant planets likely formed similarly to Jupiter and Saturn, through a core accretion process. William Balmer, an astrophysicist at Johns Hopkins University, emphasized the significance of identifying heavier elements in the atmospheres of these planets, which provides insights into their formation. The HR 8799 system is relatively young, at 30 million years, and emits significant infrared light, allowing researchers to analyze its characteristics and compare them to our solar system. Balmer stated that understanding these exoplanets could illuminate the habits of Earth-like planets in the future. The James Webb Space Telescope played a crucial role in this discovery, using its coronagraphs to block starlight and directly measure the atmospheric composition of these distant worlds. Future observations are planned to explore the commonality of such formations among other long-period exoplanets.

Senior members of the Trump administration have inadvertently exposed sensitive military discussions regarding operations against the Houthi armed group in Yemen by including a journalist in a secret chat. The incident occurred on the encrypted messaging app Signal, which is not authorized for sharing classified information. Key figures involved included Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth, among others, according to an article by Jeffrey Goldberg published in The Atlantic. The breach was confirmed by Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, who acknowledged that the chat appeared authentic and would be reviewed. Concerns regarding the efficiency of operational security have escalated, especially given the involvement of a high-profile journalist like Goldberg, who noted that the content discussed matched with real military actions. Democratic Representative Pat Ryan expressed outrage, calling for immediate hearings to address the breach described as “FUBAR” (fouled up beyond all recognition). Military and intelligence experts have labeled the breach unprecedented, highlighting the risks posed to national security by such disclosures.

A 12-year-old boy from Memphis, Tennessee, named Jackson Oswalt recently garnered attention for building a nuclear fusion reactor in his bedroom, culminating in a visit from the FBI. Inspired by Taylor Wilson's TED talk on achieving controlled nuclear fusion at age 14, Oswalt embarked on his project at just 11 years old, funding the venture with parental support. After a year of experimentation, Oswalt constructed a "demo fusor," although he acknowledged it was not yet a fully functional reactor. He shared on social media his progress, detailing how he overcame various challenges to successfully achieve fusion shortly before his 13th birthday. His accomplishment earned him a Guinness World Record as the youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion, which was verified by fusion expert Richard Hull. The media attention surrounding Oswalt's project led to an FBI visit, where agents conducted a radiation inspection but found no hazards. Recognizing his potential, Jackson has since toured various scientific startups, further advancing his passion for fusion energy.