German Chancellor Freidrich Merz told the World Economic Forum (WEF) that Germany and the European Union (EU) have wasted incredible potential during his speech Thursday. Merz, a member of the center-right

Roger Wesson et al./MNRASA composite image of the Ring Nebula obtained by the WEAVE instrument, with the iron cloud represented by the red stripe at the center.Ever since it was first discovered by the French astronomer Charles Messier in 1779, the Ring Nebula has been a continuous subject of study one that continues to reveal new secrets, nearly 250 years later.Recently, researchers observed a large, bar-shaped cloud of iron atoms stretching roughly 3.7 trillion miles across the face of the nebula. This discovery was made thanks to the new WEAVE spectrograph that came online in conjunction with Spains William Herschel Telescope (WHT) in 2023. Although WEAVE (WHT Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer) is still very new, it has already delivered remarkable results.The Mysterious Cloud Of Iron Discovered At The Center Of The Ring NebulaNASAA telescopic image of the Ring Nebula.Looking at the face of the Ring Nebula a glowing shell of gas and dust expelled by a dying star that sits 2,500 light-years from Earth the instruments Large Integral Field Unit (LIFU) allowed astronomers to get detailed spectra across its entirety for the first time. And this is when they spotted the massive iron bar at its center. Their observations have since been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.When we processed the data and scrolled through the images, one thing popped out as clear as anything this previously unknown bar of ionized atoms, in the middle of the familiar and iconic ring, lead study author Roger Wesson of Cardiff University and the University of London said in a statement.These iron atoms are collectively comparable to the mass of Mars. According to the study, one possible explanation for such a massive agglomeration of iron is that it could be the remnants of a rocky planet that had been vaporized when the star that created the nebula burst a fate that could one day befall Earth and its surrounding rocky planets.Roger Wesson et al./MNRASAn outline of the iron bar observed inside the Ring Nebula.It is exciting to see that even a very familiar object much studied over many decades can throw up a new surprise when observed in a new way, Wesson told Reuters. Its a classic object for professional and amateur astronomers alike to observe. Although its too faint to see with the naked eye, its quite easy to spot with binoculars.Wesson noted that iron was the only chemical element that took on this shape. No other elements form a bar shape like this.This is weird, frankly, said study co-author Janet Drew. Its importance lies in the simple fact that we have no ready explanation for it, yet. The origin of the iron might trace back to the vaporization of a planet. But there could be another way to make the feature that doesnt involve a planet.Further study could provide some insight here, particularly about how the nebula formed after the dying star at its center shed its outer layers.What Additional Research Could Reveal About How This Cloud Of Iron FormedWe definitely need to know more particularly whether any other chemical elements co-exist with the newly-detected iron, as this would probably tell us the right class of model to pursue, Drew added. Right now, we are missing this important information.A follow-up study is in the works to explore future avenues of research. Scientists plan to obtain more data using WAVEs LIFU at a higher spectral resolution to try and gain a better understanding of how the bar of iron formed. Eight other surveys are set to be carried out by WEAVE over the next five years as well, with Drew leading the research into other ionized nebulae across the Milky Way.Roger Wesson et al./MNRASOverlaid images of the nebula and the iron bar at its center.It would be very surprising if the iron bar in the Ring is unique, Wesson said. So hopefully, as we observe and analyze more nebulae created in the same way, we will discover more examples of this phenomenon, which will help us to understand where the iron comes from.Around 3,000 similar nebulae are known throughout our galaxy, so there is plenty of opportunity for further research. By studying these extraordinary celestial bodies, astronomers can gain a stronger understanding of how stars and planets die and how their matter is then recycled by the universe. Even though the Ring Nebula has been studied using many different telescopes and instruments, WEAVE has allowed us to observe it in a new way, providing so much more detail than before, Wesson added.After reading about the iron bar found inside the Ring Nebula, check out 44 vintage NASA photos that define the Space Age. Then, check out 21 amazing photos of Earth from space.The post Astronomers Just Discovered A Mysterious Cloud Of Iron Inside The Ring Nebula That Measures 3.7 Trillion Miles Across appeared first on All That's Interesting.

YouTubeCheryl Bradshaw during her infamous 1978 appearance on The Dating Game in which she selected serial killer Rodney Alcala.Cheryl Bradshaw was thrilled when producers picked her as a contestant for The Dating Game in 1978. The popular television matchmaking show provided national exposure for the drama teacher, and Bradshaw had youth and beauty on her side. Playing her role as the games bachelorette to pick one of three eligible men, she flirtatiously chose bachelor number one, Rodney Alcala. What she didnt know was that Alcala was a convicted child predator let alone a serial killer.Without standardized background checks, nobody behind the scenes was aware that Alcala had served time for sexually assaulting and beating an eight-year-old girl, a crime that landed on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List. And, by the time he appeared on television, he had already embarked on a macabre killing spree that left five people dead, although those crimes had yet to be connected to him.Charmed by his provocative retorts on the show, Cheryl Bradshaw unknowingly chose her potential killer as a romantic prospect. Instinctively turned off by his weird vibes following the taping, Bradshaw declined his date to go on a tennis lesson learning only later how close she had come to a gruesome death.Cheryl Bradshaws Appearance On The Dating GameIntroduced to the audience as a photographer and recreational skydiver, Rodney Alcala waltzed on The Dating Game stage on Sept. 13, 1978. He had joined the shows pantheon of contestants who would become famous later on, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Farrah Fawcett. Alcalas renown, however, was bleak.Rodney Alcala and Cheryl Bradshaw on The Dating Game.His crimes had eluded ABC executives and the shows host John Lange. Handsome and charming at audition, he had won over talent coordinator Ellen Metzger who was adamant to cast him. Her husband, executive producer Mike Metzger, meanwhile, was the only person who sensed any danger.No darn way was this guy going to be on my show, because I thought he had a strange personality, Metzger told ABCs 20/20. He had a mystique about him that I found uncomfortable.Rodney Alcala had spent three years in prison for assaulting two girls before getting a job at The Los Angeles Times. By September 1978, he had lured five women to his home under the pretense of a photoshoot only to beat, rape, and strangle them, becoming one of Californias most prolific serial killers.And now he was now answering Cheryl Bradshaws questions on stage.YouTubeCheryl Bradshaw, standing next to Rodney Alcala.Confident enough to plaster his face across TV, Alcalas retorts were just as bold. When Cheryl Bradshaw asked him, Whats your best time? he said, The best time is at night a chilling likely reference to his crimes, Bradshaw learned in retrospect. Bradshaw continued, telling him to imagine himself as a dish served for dinner, asking What are you called and what do you look like?Im called the banana and I look good, said Alcala. Peel me.While Cheryl Bradshaw was increasingly drawn to his enigmatic aura, bachelor number two, Jed Mills, had a far clearer picture. Mills found Alcala creepy from the moment they met in the green room, where Alcala told him, I always get my girl.Cheryl Bradshaw Turns Rodney Alcala DownIn the end, Alcala did win Cheryl Bradshaws affection until they actually met face to face.YouTubeRodney Alcala and Jed Mills on The Dating Game.I started to feel ill. He was acting really creepy, she said.While Cheryl Bradshaw initially agreed to meet her bachelor for a date the following day, her instincts took over, and she called one of the shows producers, Ellen Metzger.She said, Ellen, I cant go out with this guy,' recalled Metzger. Theres weird vibes that are coming off of him. Hes very strange. I am not comfortable. Is that going to be a problem? And of course, I said, No.'Ted Soqui/Corbis/Getty ImagesRodney Alcala in court in 2010.After his rejection, Rodney Alcala went on to murder 12-year-old Robin Samsoe in Los Angeles in 1979. A police sketch of the suspect led investigators to Alcalas storage locker, which held countless keepsakes of victims, including Samsoes earrings. He was arrested and sentenced to death but died of natural causes on July 24, 2021.Before he died, Alcala claimed to have killed up to 100 people, and investigators continue to analyze his DNA samples to solve long-standing murder cases. To date, he has been linked to a total of ten homicides between Los Angeles and New York.As for Cheryl Bradshaw, even though her Dating Game appearance nearly cost her her life, it appears it was her natural intuition that saved it.After learning about Cheryl Bradshaw and The Dating Game, read about Pedro Rodrigues Filho, the real-life Dexter. Then, learn the true story of Charles Van Doren and the quiz show scandals.The post Meet Cheryl Bradshaw, The Dating Show Contestant Who Chose A Serial Killer appeared first on All That's Interesting.

VPNs are now banned in the Indian region of Kashmir. The Indian government has taken this stance due to "threats to national security," but, ultimately, as with all instances of VPN restrictions, this just feels extremely heavy-handed to me. To take the principle to absurd levels, it'd be like banning clothes just because some criminals might use them to disguise themselves.Read the full story on PCGamesN: The unintended consequences of the heavy-handed India VPN ban

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The Daily Signals Virginia Correspondent Joe Thomas is out with a new podcast breaking down Virginia Democrats effort to redistrict the commonwealth. Now that Democrats are fully in control

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Steve Robinson, Editor-in-Chief of Maine Wire, via Facebook A widening welfare fraud scandal, stretching from the Upper Midwest to New England, is shedding light on how taxpayer-funded programs are being

Michael B. Jordan portrays identical twin brothers (L, C) alongside Omar Benson Miller (R) in a scene from "Sinners." Warner Bros. Pictures via APRyan Cooglers supernatural vampire thriller Sinners

A World Economic Forum insider has blown the whistle, revealing gruesome details behind an occult blood sacrifice performed by senior members of the WEF, performed with the intention of ushering in Bill