BBC: Here’s how NASA plans to finally destroy the International Space Station
Enter Elon Musk, or, more specifically, his now dominant company SpaceX which on 26 June was officially awarded the contract by NASA to develop and deliver the ISS’s undertaker — a job worth an eye-watering $843 million to the private enterprise.
“Selecting a US Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations,” Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said in a statement.
ESPN: Brett Favre reveals Parkinson’s diagnosis at congressional hearing
Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre disclosed during a congressional hearing on Tuesday that he was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative nervous system disorder that causes parts of the brain to deteriorate and affects movement.
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When asked in a 2018 interview how many concussions he suffered, Favre, 54, said he knows of only “three or four” but believed he could have suffered more than 1,000 concussions during his 20-season NFL career.
“When you have ringing of the ears, seeing stars, that’s a concussion,” Favre told the “Today” show. “And if that is a concussion, I’ve had hundreds, maybe thousands, throughout my career, which is frightening.”
CleanTechnica: Soaring Sales for Heat Pump Water Heaters in 2023. Let the Party Begin!
Heat pump water heater sales saw their largest increase ever in 2023, according to the latest data released by ENERGY STAR. Shipments of heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) grew 35% last year to 190,000 units, their largest numerical increase (50,000 units) in history.
This trend of accelerating shipment growth is great news for fans of decarbonized water heating. It’s also great news for the environment, as HPWHs have energy efficiency levels 2–4 times higher than other types of water heaters, are emission-free during operation, and save one ton of CO2 annually on average compared to gas water heaters. The average gas tank water heater is responsible for 64% more greenhouse gas emissions than a comparable HPWH (factoring in both refrigerant leakage and upstream methane impacts).
NYT: U.S. Accuses Visa of Monopoly in Debit Cards
The financial giant, which processes the majority of debit card spending in the United States, unfairly imposed fees on merchants and deterred rivals, the Justice Department said.
Mastercard ($MA) might be happy.
The Verge: Caroline Ellison sentenced to two years in jail for role in FTX fraud
Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for her role in the FTX collapse. She must also forfeit $11 billion.
Ellison pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and five conspiracy counts in December 2022 as part of a cooperation agreement with the government. Prosecutors had recommended a lenient sentence because of Ellison’s “extraordinary” and “very timely” cooperation. Her own lawyers asked for no jail time, as did the federal Probation Department.
Fast Company: 3 reasons to transition to sustainable technology
Countries and organizations that adopt sustainable technology will experience a virtuous cycle—efficiency, stability, reduced geopolitical risks, and a more predictable energy supply. Conversely, those who forestall the transition by appeasing advocates legacy energy infrastructure will find themselves saddled with a more fragile, more expensive, and riskier system.
PBS: Supreme Court rejects final request to halt execution of Marcellus Williams
Williams, 55, has long maintained innocence in the 1998 death of Lisha Gayle, a social worker and former newspaper reporter who was repeatedly stabbed during a burglary of her suburban St. Louis home. The execution is opposed both by Gayle’s family and the prosecutor’s office that put Williams on death row – an unprecedented combination.
“The family defines closure as Marcellus being allowed to live,” the clemency petition stated. “Marcellus' execution is not necessary.”
Williams is among inmates in five states who are scheduled to be executed in the span of a week – an unusually high number that defies a yearslong decline in the use and support of the death penalty in the U.S. The first was carried out Friday in South Carolina. The others are scheduled to take place in Texas on Tuesday, and in Oklahoma and Alabama on Thursday.
Last Updated: 24.Sep.2024 22:08 MDT
