Californians need to be careful next week as a heat wave is expected to storm across the state, and some believe temperatures will set a new world record. Read on to discover some of the implications and precautions Californians can take in temperatures competitive with ovens at dinnertime. Temperatures Hit 130 in 2021 Marina Surniene Unsplash Extreme temperatures are not unprecedented for some part of California, with Death Valley National Park having hit 130 degrees Fahrenheit just a couple of years ago. A ranger at the park, Jennette Jurado, describes how, when she spent just a couple of minutes outside…
Author: Benjamin Carter
A recently re-discovered manuscript reveals an extensive list of spies working for Elizabeth I of England and her legendary spymaster, Robert Cecil. The document puts the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, an underground war with Spain and early spy techniques such as ciphers into greater context and tells the story of the formation of England’s first organized Secret Service. Secret Dossier with List of Spies Dim Hou Unsplash Robert Cecil, Elizabeth I’s spymaster, kept a dossier in his office with a list of spies that worked for him, operating all across Europe. When a coded message came in from one of his…
As Tesla models get older and newer car models are released from rival electric vehicle manufacturers, sales in Teslas have dropped in a way that hasn’t been seen since 2012. The drop in sales may have important implications for Tesla, its shareholders and the wider electric vehicle market. Tesla may look forward to their upcoming “robotaxi” reveal to help boost sales. Estimates Continue to Drop Vlad Tchompalov Unsplash On Monday, Factset reported an analyst estimate of 436,000 vehicles delivered in the second quarter of 2024 for Tesla. At the end of May, this figure was 448,000, meaning that the estimate…
There has been a recent surge in warnings for cannabis-based products by the Department of Cannabis Control in the first half of 2024, with 24 product warnings issued. The action represents a huge step-up after the agency recalled only 4 products throughout the entire year in 2023. Unusually Few Recalls in Comparison to Other States Gautier Salles Unsplash In comparison to other states with legalized cannabis, and for a state with a population as large as California’s, the number of recalls is considered unusual. The CEO of FOCUS, a nonprofit that looks at cannabis regulations, Lezli Engelking says: “Arizona probably…
Following the first of a series of presidential debates between Donald Trump and Joe Biden in the run-up to the 2024 US Presidential election, Biden, the incumbent President, was criticized for his performance by fellow Democrats and fundraisers. Already, at this early a stage in the debate cycle, responses to the performance suggest that it may have a major impact on the upcoming election. New Debate Format Reduces Interruptions Bruno Cervera Unsplash This debate used a novel format where, when one of the candidates spoke, the other’s mic was muted. The intention may have been to reduce the interruptions seen…
A popular fast food franchisee has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after running up excessive debt due to legal obligations. River Sub, a Texas-based Subway franchisee which operates almost 50 stores, filed for bankruptcy after paying out nearly $3 million in legal fees after the murder of one of their employees. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Allows Companies to Re-organize Debts Melinda Gimpel Unsplash If a company becomes overwhelmed by debt, it can apply for chapter 11 bankruptcy, which is often vital for allowing the company to remain in business. It allows for a court-supervised reorganization of the debtor’s liabilities and assets…
A Chinese probe, Chang’e 6, recently returned from the moon carrying samples that could hold important evidence supporting the main theory of how the moon was birthed. The capsule touched down on the plains of Inner Mongolia, a northern Chinese region bordering Russia, on Tuesday. Landed on the Mysterious Far Side of the Moon Aethrum Unsplash Notably, the Chang’e probe landed on the far side of the moon, unlike all previous missions. This side of the moon is always facing away from Earth due to gravitational forces. Landing on the Far Side Especially Challenging NASA Unsplash Landing on the far…
Apple have been accused by EU regulators of noncompliance with new rules designed to increase digital competition. If they are found guilty of breaching the new rules, they face fines of 10% or more of their entire global revenue, potentially totaling into the tens of billions of dollars. Pressure from EU Regulators Christian Lue Unsplash Apple have been feeling the heat from EU regulators in recent times, facing a large fine as recently as this year. In March, they were fined €1.8 billion for a breach in competition laws. The company had placed restrictions in their software to block information…
A solar geoengineering solution which involves ‘brightening clouds’ to reflect more of the sun’s energy has hit a major obstacle to its feasibility. A University of Washington experiment, intended ultimately to affect the Earth’s weather patterns, was unanimously blocked by Alameda City Council in California last month, but wealthy funders continue to support sun blotting projects. Solar Geoengineering as a Potential Climate Solution NASA Unsplash Solar geoengineering is the use of scientific techniques, such as spraying aerosols high in the Earth’s atmosphere at regular intervals, to reflect some of the sun’s heat and light back into space. This is intended…
Virginia candidate in the Republican primary race, Bob Good, as it stood on Tuesday night, is just 315 votes behind Senator John McGuire. With a fewer than one point margin, candidates are able to call for a recount. Good has faced criticism both from Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and former President Donald Trump. Bob Good is the Current Incumbent Dllu/Wikimedia Robert George Good took up the post as a member of the US House of Representatives back in January 2021. This will be the first election he has faced as the current incumbent. His seat, Virginia’s 5th District, has become…