An international team of astronomers has detected a rare chemical in the atmosphere of Venus that could be produced by living organisms, according to a study published Monday. The discovery instantly puts the brightest object in the night sky back into the conversation about where to search for extraterrestrial life. The researchers made clear that this is not a direct detection of life on Venus. But the astronomical observations confirmed the presence of the chemical phosphine in the atmosphere. The chemical, produced on Earth by bacteria, is considered a potential “biosignature” of life.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a beloved Jewish figure who helped pioneer the feminist legal field and served on the Supreme Court for more than a quarter century, died from complications of cancer on Friday at the age of 87. Ginsburg had defiantly remained on the court as she battled five bouts of cancer and numerous recent hospitalizations, for fear of leaving another vacancy for President Trump to fill with a far-right conservative. NPR reported that not long before she died, Ginsburg dictated a statement to her granddaughter: “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.”
“Schitt’s Creek” broke a record with seven Primetime awards and nine Emmys in total in the comedy categories, and “Succession” took home five awards, including best drama series. Here are other notable moments from the night. Catherine O’Hara won her first acting Emmy for her role as Moira Rose on “Schitt’s Creek.” Tyler Perry accepted the Governors Award, which recognizes “extraordinary” or “cumulative” accomplishment, and gave a heartfelt speech that tied a story about his grandmother to the experiences of Black Americans. Zendaya made history by becoming the youngest winner for best lead actress in a drama for her role in “Euphoria.” Several winners implored viewers to vote. Others made statements about racial justice during speeches and through their wardrobe. Jimmy Kimmel hosted from a nearly empty Staples Center while nominees tuned in from around the world.
There are several characteristics of the changing climate that are helping to increase the risks of damage from Hurricanes, even though global warming is not directly causing such a storm to spin up. Katharine Hayhoe, a climate researcher at Texas Tech, put the relationship between climate change and storms such as Florence as follows: "Hurricanes are absolutely being affected by our changing climate, in many ways. As the world warms, the rainfall associated with hurricanes is becoming more intense; they are getting stronger, on average; they are intensifying faster; they are moving more slowly; and, as sea level rises, the storm surge from these events can be more damaging."
