“In the long run, there are no secrets in science. The universe will not cooperate in a cover-up.”

— Arthur C. Clarke

Resembling a nightmarish beast rearing its head from a crimson sea, this monstrous object is actually an innocuous pillar of gas and dust. Called the Cone Nebula (NGC 2264) - so named because, in ground-based images, it has a conical shape - this giant pillar resides in a turbulent star-forming region. This picture, taken by the newly installed Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) aboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, shows the upper 2.5 light-years of the nebula, a height that equals 23 million roundtrips to the Moon. The entire nebula is 7 light-years long. The Cone Nebula resides 2,500 light-years away in the constellation Monoceros. Radiation from hot, young stars [located beyond the top of the image] has slowly eroded the nebula over millions of years. Ultraviolet light heats the edges of the dark cloud, releasing gas into the relatively empty region of surrounding space. There, additional ultraviolet radiation causes the hydrogen gas to glow, which produces the red halo of light seen around the pillar. A similar process occurs on a much smaller scale to gas surrounding a single star, forming the bow-shaped arc seen near the upper left side of the Cone. This arc, seen previously with the Hubble telescope, is 65 times larger than the diameter of our solar system. The blue-white light from surrounding stars is reflected by dust. Background stars can be seen peeking through the evaporating tendrils of gas, while the turbulent base is pockmarked with stars reddened by dust. Over time, only the densest regions of the Cone will be left. Inside these regions, stars and planets may form. The Cone Nebula is a cousin of the M16 pillars, which the Hubble telescope imaged in 1995. Monstrous pillars of cold gas, like the Cone and M16, are common in large regions of star birth. Astronomers believe that these pillars are incubators for developing stars. Credits NASA, H. Ford (JHU), G. Illingworth (UCSC/LO), M.Clampin (STScI), G. Hartig (STScI), the ACS Science Team,

Cone Nebula (NGC 2264) by nasa

Assad Returns To Ophthalmology At Moscow LensCrafters MOSCOW—Just days after rebels seized Damascus, deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reportedly returned to practicing ophthalmology at a Moscow LensCrafters, sources confirmed Tuesday. “Which one ...

Assad Returns To Ophthalmology At Moscow LensCrafters — theonion.com/assad-return...

@humblyjay.bsky.social Be Kind ☺️

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs on Her GOP Opponent's Attempt to Toss 60k Ballots YouTube video by Democracy Docket

"There are 60,000 voters who did everything they're supposed to do, and my opponent wants their ballots to be tossed."

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs sat down with @marcelias.bsky.social to explain what's happening in the state Supreme Court race. Watch the full interview.

Mysterious Disease X Kills Scores In Democratic Republic Of The Congo Scores of people have died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Researchers from the WHO are investigating the cause of this mysterious Disease X.

How timely. In 43 days RFK Jr. will be able to use his vast experience as a virologist to help sort this out.

www.forbes.com/sites/davewe...

"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom."

- Isaac Asimov

THIS is my Sentiment

Pick up a copy today.

UPDATE: a spokesperson from JP Morgan Chase told the @texasobserver.org they fired the operator of a neo-Nazi X account who we identified as their employee.

"This person is no longer at the firm. We do not tolerate hate in any form and take incidents such as this very seriously."

Closing asset loophole can raise $100 billion in taxes, Treasury now says The new estimate doubles what the agency previously said it could recover by preventing certain large businesses from manipulating the taxable value of assets.

If the IRS keeps going after the wealthy tax cheats abusing just this one loophole, that’ll save $100 billion over the next decade.

Republicans want to defund the IRS and put a commissioner in place who will go after you — not the billionaires skirting taxes.

Russian state media is celebrating Donald Trump's cabinet picks.

"If they are allowed to get in, they will quickly dismantle America, brick by brick. They are so great!”

Bravo, MAGA.

🤦‍♀️

Such a lovely day with you son🤗

Austin Tice’s family says he is alive and well, but they are deeply frustrated after meeting with Biden administration | CNN Politics The family of Austin Tice, a freelance journalist held in Syria since 2012, said they have new confirmation that Tice is still alive and well but expressed deep frustration with the Biden administrati...

The family of Austin Tice, a freelance journalist held in Syria since 2012, said they have new confirmation that Tice is still alive and well but expressed deep frustration with the Biden administration.

Manhunt underway for UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter: Live updates | CNN Police are searching for the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan in an apparent targeted attack. Follow for live news updates.

A backpack found in Central Park is believed to belong to the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a source says.

How do you feel about your health insurer? Share your story with CNN | CNN Politics The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has revealed many Americans’ fury and frustrations with their health insurance coverage. They have taken to social media to relay their storie...

The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has revealed many Americans’ fury and frustrations with their health insurance coverage.

Read more to learn how you can share your story.