(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Overnight News Digest April 17th 2025 [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-04-17
x I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. — Senator Chris Van Hollen (@vanhollen.senate.gov) 2025-04-18T01:02:08.991Z
Missing Arizona toddler found 7 miles from home with rancher’s dog: 'He wouldn’t leave him'
In a video posted by the sheriff's office, the rancher, Scotty Dunton, said he had heard about the missing toddler and was headed to town when he spotted him. "When I was driving out the driveway, I noticed my dog was sitting down by the entrance," said Dunton, who owns Dunton Ranch in Kingman. "I look up and the little kid's standing there with my dog." "I can't believe that kid made it that far," he added. The sheriff's office said that during the overnight search, "DPS ranger rescue helicopter said they spotted 2 mountain lions among the terrain the boy traveled."
x A federal judge mostly sided with the Justice Department in a case about online advertising that could reshape the basic economics of running a modern website. via @kqednews.kqed.org — NPR (@npr.org) 2025-04-17T22:32:14.690Z
Google has illegal advertising monopoly, judge rules
A US judge has ruled tech giant Google has a monopoly in online advertising technology. The US Department of Justice, along with 17 US states, sued Google, arguing the tech giant was illegally dominating the technology which determines which adverts should be placed online and where. This is the second antitrust case Google has lost in a year, after it was ruled the company also had a monopoly on online search. Google said it would appeal against the decision. "Publishers have many options and they choose Google because our ad tech tools are simple, affordable and effective," the firm's head of regulatory affairs Lee-Ann Mulholland said. US district judge Leonie Brinkema said in the ruling Google had "wilfully engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts" which enabled it to "acquire and maintain monopoly power" in the market.
NASA's Perseverance rover hits the Mars rock gold mine: 'It has been all we had hoped for and more'
NASA's Perseverance rover is reveling in a scientific bonanza on Mars after finding a diverse array of rocks that are providing eager scientists a glimpse into the planet's ancient history. The Perseverance rover is currently exploring Mars hills, boulders and rocky outcrops along the rim of Jezero Crater, a dry, bowl-shaped depression north of the Martian equator that likely held a lake billions of years ago. Since reaching the crater's western rim in December of last year, the rover has focused its attention on the layered terrain of a tall slope called Witch Hazel Hill, which could hold clues to a period when Mars had a vastly different climate. In the past few months alone, the car-sized Perseverance has collected samples of five rocks, performed detailed analysis on seven others, and zapped an additional 83 with its laser for remote study — the robotic explorer's fastest pace of scientific data collection since it landed on the Red Planet four years ago, NASA says.
x "You will never know, how much it cost the present Generation, to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good Use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it." - John Adams He is repenting so hard right now. — God (@godpod.bsky.social) 2025-04-17T00:45:40.838Z
Long-dormant black hole 'woke up' before our eyes — now, it's doing something that astronomers can't explain
In December 2019, an ordinary galaxy 300 million light-years from us in the constellation Virgo suddenly woke up . After decades of inactivity, the black hole at the galaxy's heart burst with light. Now, the cosmic monster appears to be doing something that is forcing astronomers to re-evaluate their understanding of these massive celestial bodies. The black hole now gives off powerful X-rays at nearly regular intervals. These outbursts are known as quasi-periodic eruptions (QPEs), and have been observed emitting from other black holes. But the bursts observed here are up to 100 times more powerful than normal, according to new research. First observed in February 2024 by astronomers at Valparaiso University in Chile, this behavior grants scientists an unprecedented view of a black hole that seems to be awakening from dormancy with no sign of going back to sleep. Led by the Valparaiso team, a group of researchers published their observations of the black hole's QPE in a study on April 11 in the journal Nature Astronomy . In addition to giving astronomers a novel view of black holes, these events are also spurring researchers to reconsider how black holes behave.
Archaeologists Found 317 Skeletons Buried Under a Department Store
Most of us have skeletons in our closets, but they can also lurk in much less familiar places. Literally. Hundreds of skeletons were recently unearthed at the site of an abandoned Debenhams department store in the UK. The remains of 317 individuals from medieval and post-medieval burial grounds were discovered by archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology in Kings Square, Gloucester, as the site was being redeveloped into the University of Gloucester’s City Campus. The university actually commissioned Cotswold Archaeology to excavate at the site because artifacts have continued to crop up in the area. “Every time we work in Gloucester, we make new discoveries,” Cliff Bateman, Cotswold Archaeology Senior Project Officer, said in a press release. “It’s a massively important place.”
Explosion destroys Northrop Grumman building on remote ‘Rocket Ranch’
An explosion rocked the Northrop Grumman rocket testing facility in remote Promontory, around 32 miles west of Brigham City, according to Cade Palmer, from the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office. Palmer said the building is a total loss and was on fire Wednesday morning, but no injuries were reported. Crews were dispatched to the location, he said, where more information will be gathered. The location, part of the "Rocket Ranch," has been a testing ground for solid rocket motors in recent years, according to the company. Northrop Grumman has been expanding motor production, constructing new buildings and modifying old ones to scale up by 2030, a past press release says.
Trump opposed a planned Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites, New York Times reports
U.S. President Donald Trump blocked a planned Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites in favor of negotiating a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear program, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing administration officials and others. Israel had developed plans to attack the sites in May, according to the newspaper, which added that the goal was to set back Iran's ability to develop a nuclear weapon by a year or more. The New York Times said U.S. assistance was required not just to defend Israel from Iranian retaliation but also ensure the attack was successful. After months of internal debate, Trump made the decision to seek negotiations with Iran rather than support military action.
New data reveals shocking turnaround in water supply for millions of people: 'In pretty good shape'
After years of frightening drought, California's reservoirs have been restored to roughly 115% of their normal levels for this time of year, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. California's dry spell wasn't to be taken lightly. It lasted several years and saw reservoirs reach dangerously low levels. However, unusual storms, heavy rains, and snow have restored the state's water supply over the last couple of years. Not only is California healthier at the moment, but it's preparing to weather the next drought as well. "Most of the reservoirs in California are in pretty good shape," said climatologist Dan McEvoy from the Western Regional Climate Center at the Desert Research Institute, per the Chronicle.
Axis Solar installs solar on 6 Texas charter school buildings
IDEA Public Schools, a charter school system, is taking a major step toward sustainability and cost savings with the installation of 1,771 solar panels across six campuses in Austin. Thanks to a partnership with local installer Axis Solar and support from Austin Energy and the city of Austin, this project is helping the nonprofit school network lower its operating expenses while reinforcing its commitment to environmental responsibility. Spanning 625,000 sq ft, the new rooftop solar systems generate 1.03 MW of clean energy, reducing IDEA’s electricity costs by 25%. The project was made possible in part with a $924,858 solar incentive from Austin Energy’s nonprofit program, which helps reduce financial barriers for organizations looking to invest in renewable energy. “Partnering with IDEA Public Schools to bring solar to their campuses is exactly the kind of work that drives our mission,” said Graeme Walker, CEO of Axis Solar. “Not only does this project reduce costs and carbon footprints, but it also exposes thousands of students to the benefits of renewable energy in a real, tangible way.”
Offshore Wind Power Poses Only Limited Risk to Whales, Government Watchdog Report Finds
Two years ago, Republican lawmakers asked Congress’ watchdog to scrutinize offshore wind's impact on commercial fishing, marine navigation and wildlife. What they got was a report recommending the government improve coordination with Native American tribes and open a new office overseeing offshore wind development in the Northeast. The report released Monday by the Government Accountability Office was requested by a quartet of anti-wind lawmakers in 2023, who had accused the Biden administration of overlooking the impact of wind development on national security, commercial fishing and wildlife. They have sought to paint offshore wind as a whale killer that snarls shipping lanes and hamstrings national security.
x We are nearing the end. — Seth Abramson (@sethabramson.bsky.social) 2025-04-17T21:03:16.798Z
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/17/2317030/-Overnight-News-Digest-April-17th-2025?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
