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voyager

NASA To Give The Voyager 2 Backup Power So It Lasts Until 2026

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NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft has been probing around the solar system for over 45 years. Now, the spacecraft is running out of power, but the Agency has a new plan to keep Voyager 2 running for at least three more years. 

The Voyager 2 initially launched in 1977, and has been helping scientists view and investigate planets far from Earth, as well as learn about how the heliosphere protects the Earth from its volatile interstellar environment. The heliosphere is the sun’s outermost layer that traps particles and magnetic fields within it. 

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NASA engineers and scientists have begun turning off heaters and nonessential parts to preserve power in the Voyager 2, and now have a plan to use reserved power from a safety mechanism within the spacecraft’s voltage, according to reports from NPR. 

“The move will enable the mission to postpone shutting down a science instrument until 2026, rather than this year,” NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory said. 

Both Voyager 2 and Voyager 1, which was launched the same year as its twin Voyager 2, are the only spacecraft to have explored past the heliosphere. 

Ed Stone was the chief scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, who retired last year, has spent decades working on the Voyager program. He was able to see firsthand new data and discoveries from planets such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. 

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“What it revealed was how complex and dynamic the solar system really is. Before Voyager, the only known active volcanoes were here on Earth. Then we flew by Jupiter’s moon, Io, and it has 10 times the volcanic activity of earth. Before Voyager, the only known oceans in the solar system were here on Earth.

Then we flew by another moon of Jupiter, Europa, which it turns out has a liquid water ocean beneath its icy crust,” Stone told NPR. 

Voyager 2 is currently 12.3 billion miles away from Earth, and getting further, Voyager 1 is also expected to lose power in the coming years, and is currently 14.7 billion miles away. 

“The science data that the Voyagers are returning gets more valuable the farther away from the Sun they go, so we are definitely interested in keeping as many science instruments operating as long as possible,” Linda Spilker, the Voyager program’s project scientist at the Jet Propulsion Lab, said in a statement.

china

China’s President Xi Jinping Vows To Bolster National Security In First Speech Of New Term 

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China’s president, Xi Jinping, recently made his first speech as a third-term president in which he vowed to bolster China’s national security and build the military into a “great wall of steel.”

Xi spoke at the closing of China’s annual rubber-stamp parliament meeting regarding the need to “modernize” China’s national defense and military. 

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“We must build the People’s Liberation Army into a great wall of steel that effectively safeguards national sovereignty, security, and development interests.”

Xi was unanimously endorsed by the NPC as China’s president for another five years, making him the longest serving head of state of Communist China since it was founded in 1949. 

“This is my third time assuming the lofty position as president. The trust of the people is the biggest driving force for me to move forward, and also a heavy responsibility on my shoulders,” he said, as reported by CNN.

“China’s suffering at the hands of bullying foreign powers in the modern era, the Communist Party has led the country to wipe clean the national humiliation. The Chinese people have become the masters of their own destiny. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process,”  he said.

According to Xi the “essence of that rejuvenation is national unification, namely reunifying Taiwan with mainland China.”

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Despite China never controlling Taiwan, it considers the self-governing democracy as part of its territory. 

During his presidency, Xi has ramped up economic, diplomatic, and military pressure on Taiwan’s Democracy with Beijing. 

“We must… actively promote peaceful development of cross-strait relations, firmly oppose interference of external forces and Taiwan’s separatist activities, and resolutely advance the process of national reunification,” Xi said.

“Security is the foundation for development, stability is the prerequisite for prosperity,” he said.

The focus of strengthening China’s military also follows tensions between the nation and the US. Xi even accused the US of “leading Western countries to contain and suppress China and bring it unprecedented severe challenges. 

Qin Gang, Xi’s new foreign minister, also warned that China and the US will “descend into conflict and confrontation,” if the US doesn’t “hit the breaks.” 

Texas Update: Recovery Projected To Take Months For Some Residents 

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Texas officials are continuing to work on turning the power back on for the remaining households still left in the dark while they also navigate widespread water shortages and disruptions. It’s currently expected that some residents could take weeks or months to recover from the excessive damage done by this deadly winter storm. 

“For many people in our city with means, with insurance, this week has been a significant inconvenience, but they have the means and ability to quickly transition and move forward. For many people in our city who are already on the margins … and were fighting every day just to keep a roof over their head and food in their refrigerator, this past week has been a major, major event and has really disrupted their lives. For many of these individuals, many of these families, they will be in crisis mode for weeks and months to come,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner stated. 

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As of Monday this week more than 15,000 individuals are still left without power. Texas Governor Greg Abott said that he expects power to be fully restored to every house by the end of the day. Meanwhile, over 8.8 million Texans are still experiencing water disruptions. These disruptions have impacted more than 1,200 water systems in 199 counties in the state. 

According to Gary Rasp, a media specialist for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, “147 public water systems serving around 120,000 people are non operational. About 258 boil water notices have been rescinded as of this weekend.”

“Customers should flush their water system by running cold-water faucets for at least one minute, cleaning automatic ice makers by making and discarding several batches of ice, and running water softeners through a regeneration cycle,” Houston officials said in a news release.

For residents experiencing excessive property damage, Abbott claims that more plumbers and electrical workers will be deployed to help meet the high demand of customers with broken pipes or faulty wirings. He also recommends documenting all damage before moving to recover. 

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“If you do not have insurance, you may qualify for a FEMA reimbursement. We have had FEMA assistance granted by the federal government and part of that is individual assistance that will assist individuals whose homes or apartments have been harmed because of the winter storm. If so, you’ll need to document any type of loss that you have. Residents should also connect with their local emergency response coordinator to provide that information to be able to receive a reimbursement,” the governor said. 

Turner also spoke to her cities residents and claimed that the government is “Recognizing that there are many families who are in situations where they don’t have insurance, they don’t have the financial means to make the repairs … their ceilings have fallen in, and furniture and other things have been damaged, and they’re really stressing out in terms of how do we move forward … we’re working to put together a relief fund to help assist people.”

Abbott also announced that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits can be used to buy hot food and ready-to-eat meals at all retailers that accept SNAP payments. The government is also working nonstop to combat an increase in energy costs that have come as a result of this storm. However, the lack of preparedness for a disaster of this magnitude has actually exposed just how faulty the energy systems in this country are to handle the drastic effects of climate change. Only time will tell how much longer our government prolonged making the necessary changes to our nation’s infrastructure to better protect from and prevent climate damage.

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Twitter Chief Says Banning Trump Was The Right Choice But Sets A ‘Dangerous Precedent’

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Dorsey is speaking out for the first time since Twitter and a multitude of other social media platforms permanently suspended the president’s account following the violent riot that occurred at the Capitol last week.

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Wine Storage

Great Pandemic Gear To Improve Your Stay At Home Lifestyle This Winter 

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As we all continue to navigate the Covid-19 pandemic into the winter season, many of us are trying to prepare for the next few months of cold weather and total isolation. Considering we’ve been enduring this pandemic for nine months, many of us have already found ways to occupy all the newfound free time we have. Here are some of the most popular “pandemic supplies” that individuals throughout the country are buying in preparation for the next phase of this pandemic: 

HEPA Air Purifier: HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air, and is also the quality many individuals look for in the face masks they buy to ensure they are receiving the greatest amount of protection and ventilation possible. These kinds of air purifiers have become very popular throughout the pandemic as they invisibly cleanse the air of any pollutants that we may not see (Covid-19). While an air purifier alone won’t stop the spread of the coronavirus, it will greatly improve the quality of the air in your home and decrease the likelihood that any foreign bodies are remaining in the air you’re breathing. 

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Indoor Garden: As the weather really cools down many individuals with green thumbs are opting to create an indoor garden as a project to keep the summer vibes alive. Companies like Aero Garden or Rise Gardens make it easy for you to start your own indoor garden. You simply buy one, or however many you want, of their bookcase freestanding style garden boxes and begin planting. Rise Gardens specifically makes it easy for beginners by providing a supporting app that one could download on their smartphone and monitor the progression of their garden. 

Auto Starter/Power Supply: Powerful, portable, and effective are the three words used to describe the Zeus Auto Starter. Auto starters and power supplies of any kind are a necessity especially for those of us living in parts of the country that are prone to cold weather that can cause our cars to need an extra jump every once in a while. The Zeus model is one of the most popular on the market due to its long-lasting charges (which can reportedly last for months), easy-to-use indicators, and flashlight capability which helps provide full accuracy. 

Fire Pit: Just because the weather is getting colder that doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice our backyard outdoor social distance gatherings. Investing in a small fire pit can keep all the barbecue, outdoor grilling, patio party vibes alive into the winter months. The best part is now there are a multitude of smaller fire pits on the market that allow for yards of almost any size to get a lot cozier in the winter months. 

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Indoor BBQ Grill: If you don’t have a yard space of any kind, but also want to keep the summer backyard barbecue vibes alive in the winter months, a nice and easy solution is investing in an indoor barbecue grill. While this may not be anywhere close to the actual experience of grilling on the back patio on a warm July afternoon, it’s pretty close. Many models include detachable pieces to make the clean up even easier as well. 

Wine Storage: For those of you who like to indulge in a glass of wine on a cold winter evening as the snow gently falls outside, isn’t it high time you get a storage system that will properly keep all your favorite beverages. Wine fridges or cabinets not only keep beverages of any kind perfectly cool, but they also add a sleek and modern design element to any space. If you’re not someone who likes to drink alcohol, buying a beverage fridge and displaying your favorite soft drink has also been a huge interior design trend in terms of adding a personal, and symmetrical, touch to your space. 

Sterilizer: We’ve all become all too familiar with using antibacterial/alcohol wipes, sprays, and sanitizers to keep ourselves, and the many surfaces throughout our homes that are touched constantly, clean. While current evidence shows that it’s unnecessary for us to wipe down every grocery or package we receive, it’s still important to make sure we’re wiping down the other areas in our home, even if it is just for our peace of mind. Electric/UV LED disinfection devices have grown a lot in popularity due to their simplicity and lack of chemicals. Using things like UV flashlights or boxes, individuals can quickly disinfect utensils, glassware, cellphones, towels, water bottles, and more!

Power Plant

California to Build New Geothermal Power Plants

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Although the current federal government currently denies the science of climate change, many states seek to advance research and technology for transitioning to renewable energies in the future, most notably California, which is one of the largest states in the country. Under Governor Gavin Newsom, California has set some of the most ambitious environmental policies in the nation, as the state is committed to improving its air quality and transitioning towards sources of energy like wind and solar. However, the state is also beginning to invest into an often-overlooked form of energy production, which is geothermal power. Three energy companies in the state have signed contracts to build two new geothermal power plants in the state—one in Imperial County near the Salton Sea and one in Mono County along the Eastern Sierra. The new plants will be the first geothermal power plants built in the state in almost a decade, demonstrating that California’s approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions includes a multitude of sources of energy.

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According to Governor Newsom, California’s focus on environmental policy has stimulated the economy, not harmed it, as some opponents of environmentalism have feared. Investing in renewable energy creates new jobs as infrastructure to create wind turbines, solar panels, and more needs to be built. Although wind and solar provides cheap, renewable energy, these methods of energy production depend upon weather conditions, as solar panels work less efficiently on cloudy days and not at all at night, and wind turbines are useless on a still day. Geothermal plants, on the other hand, can produce emissions-free power 24 hours a day, though this form of energy production is significantly more expensive than competing renewable energy sources.

Currently, most of the power supply in California comes from natural gas, which makes up 34.9% of the state’s power source; renewable energy, including geothermal energy, is a close second at 31.4%, whereas the least environmentally-friendly power source, coal, accounts for just 3.3% of the state’s energy. While geothermal is not the prefered source of renewable energy due to its cost, California has passed a bill requiring the state to become 100% climate-friendly by 2045, and the state will need to use all forms of renewable energy possible to achieve that goal. In addition to generating power, the companies involved in building these new geothermal plants hope to use them to extract lithium from the ground. Lithium is a key element for manufacturing batteries, and large amounts of lithium will be necessary in the transition to electric cars as well as storing energy.

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Already, 43 geothermal plants exist in California, many of which were built in the 70s and 80s and have been generating clean power ever since. Because the state is geologically active, California has great potential for generating power through geothermal plants—according to a 2008 estimate from the U.S. Geological Survey, the state has the potential to produce about 15,000 megawatts of power from geothermal energy. For environmentalists and proponents of renewable sources of energy, California’s recent investment in geothermal energy is heartening, as it shows that the state is committed to exploring all possible options for greenhouse-gas-free methods of producing electricity.

Jeep Wrangler

Jeep Introduces a Wrangler that Runs on Diesel

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For many years, Jeep has searched for a diesel engine suitable to power its legendary Wrangler, with no success. However, the recent announcement of the Wrangler EcoDiesel shows that the auto manufacturer has finally realized its longtime goal of producing a diesel-powered Wrangler, though critics are complaining that diesel engines produce too many harmful emissions, particularly at a time when the world needs to drastically cut back on carbon emissions to curb the effects of climate change. Nevertheless, Jeep is intent on producing a vehicle that meets its customers’ requests for a Wrangler with the power and torque that a diesel engine affords, and the company’s branding, as well as advances in emissions-reduction technology, suggest that Jeep wants to position the Wrangler EcoDiesel as an environmentally-friendly solution.

Customers have long yearned for Jeep to produce a Wrangler capable of performing difficult tasks requiring a lot of power, such as pulling stumps and climbing steep and uneven terrain. Thanks to several years of work performed by engineers employed at the company, Jeep is confident that they can produce a vehicle which both offers the power of a diesel engine and meets increasingly-stringent environmental standards. Fiat Chrysler of America, the company that owns Jeep, has already passed the required certification to begin selling the vehicle in America, which they hope to do before Christmas. That being said, Fiat Chrysler has a history of illegally subverting emissions tests with fraudulent software, resulting in executives from the company facing fraud charges.

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While diesel engines burn fuel more efficiently and produce less carbon dioxide than gas-powered engines, they also emit more nitrogen oxides, which pose a threat to human health as they can cause asthma and other lung issues. However, diesel engines remain the clear choice when substantial power is needed, though electric motors can also prove to be quite powerful. According to engineers from Fiat Chrysler, the EcoDiesel is roughly 30 percent more fuel efficient than the standard Wrangler, which means an enhanced efficiency of an additional seven or eight miles per gallon.

This is not the first time Fiat Chrysler has included an EcoDiesel engine in one of its vehicles. The company included such an engine in Ram pickup trucks and Jeep Grand Cherokees as early as 2014, but these vehicles were pulled from the market after they were found to violate emissions standards. To make matters worse, these early implementations of the EcoDiesel engine were prone to system leaks and cracks, resulting in a forced recall of 108,000 vehicles. As a result of these failures, Fiat Chrysler has fallen behind Ford and General Motors in the diesel truck market, though these competitors have had issues of their own with regards to emissions and reliability.

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The first iteration of the engine to be used in the new Wrangler, the Gen III EcoDiesel, was included in the Ram 1500 pickup released a few months ago. The engine is a turbocharged V6 that displaces 3.0 liters, and includes a five-gallon diesel exhaust fuel canister in order to comply with emissions standards. This canister must be serviced every 10,000 miles, at roughly the same time that an oil change is needed. According to Jeep, the new Wrangler should be able to go over 500 miles on a single tank of fuel, beating the range of the gas-powered Wrangler by 200 miles.

The new Wrangler only comes with an automatic transmission and in the four-door variant, as Jeep concluded there was insufficient demand to sell other vehicle configurations. And the Wrangler EcoDiesel is not cheap, as the most basic version starts at roughly $40,000. But for Jeep fans looking for an efficient, extremely powerful compact SUV, the Wrangler EcoDiesel has the potential to make for a perfect choice. Only time will tell, however, how well this unique new entry to the Jeep family will sell, and whether the innovative EcoDiesel engine can live up to the ambitious promises of the engineers who created it.