Up At The Ranch And Beyond

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New Geometry Discovery Could Stop Lunar Landers From Falling Over





Meet Bille

Meet Bille, the name given to the world's first monostable tetrahedron—a four-faced object that will always land on the same side, no matter its starting position. This feat of geometry and engineering solves a nearly 60-year-old mathematical mystery and could help in designing self-righting spacecraft for future lunar or planetary missions.

In 1966, the eminent British mathematician John Horton Conway and his partner, Richard Guy, wondered whether it was possible to construct a tetrahedron made of uniform material with an even weight distribution that would always flip to its stable side. They believed that an unevenly balanced monostable tetrahedron was possible, although they could never prove it.

So the mystery remained unsolved until Professor Gábor Domokos at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) and architectural student Gergő Almádi began working on the problem three years ago.

(0:14)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=0dCzox3UT9c

Mystery Solved

Using powerful computer models, they developed a theoretical framework. They realized that a monostable tetrahedron capable of always landing on its stable face on a flat surface would have to be mostly hollow. And one side would need to be thousands of times denser than the others.

Working with a Hungarian precision engineering company, they created the world's first physical model of a monostable tetrahedron—a skeleton of lightweight carbon fiber tubes with one side made from a high-density tungsten-carbide alloy.

The structure measures 50 centimeters on its longest side and weighs 120 grams. It was unveiled at BME, while details of the discovery were recently published on the arXiv preprint server. The model was nicknamed Bille, after the Hungarian word billen, meaning "to tip." No matter which face (A, B, C or D) you start with, it will always settle on face D.




Published 1st July 2025 by Paul Arnold – Phys.org
https://phys.org/news/2025-07-geomet...s-falling.html

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The Night Sky

Thursday, July 3 - Earth at Aphelion



On Thursday, July 3, at 4:00 p.m. EDT, 1:00 p.m. PDT, or 20:00 GMT, Earth will reach aphelion, its greatest distance from the sun for this year. Aphelion's 94.51 million miles (152.09 million km) distance is 1.67% farther from the sun than the mean Earth-sun separation of 92.96 million miles (149.6 million km), which is also defined to be 1 Astronomical Unit (1 A.U.). Seasonal temperature variations arise from the Earth's axis of rotation tilting towards and away from the sun, and not from our distance from the sun. Earth will reach its minimum distance from the sun, or perihelion, on January 4, 2026.


Thursday, Friday - July 3-4 - Mercury at greatest eastern elongation near the Beehive (after sunset)



After sunset on Thursday evening, July 3, Mercury (orbit shown in red) will stretch to its widest separation of 25.9 degrees east of the sun, and its maximum visibility, for its current apparition. This appearance of the planet will be reasonably good for both Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere observers. The optimal viewing time at mid-northern latitudes will commence around 9 p.m. local time. Viewed in a telescope (inset) the planet will exhibit a waning, nearly half-illuminated phase. As the sky darkens, watch for the scattered stars of the Beehive cluster, aka Messier 44, spread out to Mercury's upper right (or celestial north), and Cancer's medium bright star Delta Cancri shining to Mercury's upper left (or celestial east). Mercury will pass very close to that star on the evening of July 4.


Friday, July 4 - Venus passes Uranus (pre-dawn)



The brilliant planet Venus will dominate the eastern predawn sky for most of this year while it slowly swings back toward the sun. On the mornings surrounding Friday, July 4, Venus will pass close enough to Uranus to allow early risers to use Venus to locate the far fainter planet in binoculars (orange circle). On the previous mornings, the magnitude 5.8, blue-green speck of Uranus will shine several finger widths to Venus' left (or 3.5 degrees to its celestial northeast). At their closest approach on Friday, the distant planet will be about half that distance to Venus' upper left (or celestial north). From Saturday onward, Uranus will shift farther above Venus, but they will share the view in binoculars until about July 9. Watch for the bright Pleiades star cluster above Uranus.

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The Man from Planet X

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Father and Son

AudioBlog: J. Allen Hynek Goes Public



From the very beginning of the flying saucer/UFO mystery, Joseph Allen Hynek played a huge role as an investigator.

(9:13)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=hsfq_6inKdw

Interdimensional Beings Don't Need Crafts - Paul Hynek Discusses



Paul Hynek discusses current events.

Published 12th June 2025 (12:19)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=C5WKFDMfYV8

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July Sampler

Everything You’ll See in the Night Sky in July 2025 — An Amazing Month

Published 1st July 2025 (8:01)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=oo--uwBLQVw

Moon Calendar




Full Moon in Capricorn July 10th 2025

Published 26th June 2025 (42:42)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Taq93H9swu0

All Saints Days




St. Mary Magdalene: Do Not Worry About the Past

Movie clip.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=xCI3eV-v31Q

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Etymology

Gods, Planets, & Weekdays





(3:19)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=LXgpm-qM9co

How Did Each Month Get Its Name?

(12:37)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=cw91yRRef6M

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“The Days of the Week”

Monday … Tuesday … Wednesday … Thursday … Friday … Saturday ... Sunday ...

These are the days of the week.

(7:32)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ajeNvNjeKAA

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The Hidden Engineering of Mount Rushmore

Have you ever wondered how Mount Rushmore was actually sculpted? In this video, discover how Gutzon Borglum and his team carved the iconic 60-foot faces of U.S. presidents into the granite of South Dakota’s Black Hills. Learn about the unique techniques used to transform Mount Rushmore into a national monument and the fascinating history behind its creation.

Published 27th September 2024 (8:50)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=kH0Yw0R84i0

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The Most Ridiculous Guitars of All Time



Surfboard, 8-neck, all-LEGO, more. The dude in the screenshot plays “The Star Spangled Banner”.

(8:06)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=vMNPn81ZnFY

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Deafness Reversed

Single injection brings hearing back within weeks





Gene therapy can improve hearing in children and adults with congenital deafness or severe hearing impairment, a new study involving researchers at Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) reports. Hearing improved in all ten patients, and the treatment was well-tolerated. The study was conducted in collaboration with hospitals and universities in China and is published in the journal Nature Medicine.

"This is a huge step forward in the genetic treatment of deafness, one that can be life-changing for children and adults," says Maoli Duan, consultant and docent at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, and one of the study's corresponding authors.

The study comprised ten patients between the ages of 1 and 24 at five hospitals in China, all of whom had a genetic form of deafness or severe hearing impairment caused by mutations in a gene called OTOF. These mutations cause a deficiency of the protein otoferlin, which plays a critical part in transmitting auditory signals from the ear to the brain.

The effect of the gene therapy was rapid and the majority of the patients recovered some hearing after just one month. A six-month follow-up showed considerable hearing improvement in all participants, the average volume of perceptible sound improving from 106 decibels to 52.

The younger patients, especially those between the ages of five and eight, responded best to the treatment. One of the participants, a seven-year-old girl, quickly recovered almost all her hearing and was able to hold daily conversations with her mother four months afterwards. However, the therapy also proved effective in adults.

"Smaller studies in China have previously shown positive results in children, but this is the first time that the method has been tested in teenagers and adults, too," says Dr Duan. "Hearing was greatly improved in many of the participants, which can have a profound effect on their life quality. We will now be following these patients to see how lasting the effect is."

Published 3rd July 2025 – Karolinska Institutet / Science Daily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...0702214148.htm

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Collisions In The Sky

“Astronomical interference is not as important a problem as climate change, or plastic in the sea, or the loss of biodiversity, but the root cause is the same—uncontrolled growth and displacement of the true costs. Why do we need twice as many satellites every year and a half? It's asking for trouble in so many ways.”

Opinion published 3rd July 2025 by Andy Lawrence – Science.org
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ady9838

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The Sky This Week



The waxing gibbous Moon will hang near the bright red star Antares on the evenings of July 6 and 7. It’s the brightest star in the constellation of Scorpius the Scorpion. What’s more, a few lucky observers in parts of southern Africa, Kerguelen Islands, easternmost Antarctica and southwest Australia will see the Moon occult – or pass in front of – Antares at 18 UTC on July 7. If you look outside then and don’t see Antares … that might be because it’s behind the Moon.




On the evening of July 8, the waning gibbous Moon will float near the Teapot asterism of Sagittarius and close to the spot that marks the center of the Milky Way galaxy. On the next evening, July 9, and for a few more nights (look in the same direction), the Moon will float among the stars of the Teapot.




www.earthsky.org

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From Curse to Cure: Tutankhamun’s Tomb Fungus Shows Promise Against Cancer





In November 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter peered through a small hole into the sealed tomb of King Tutankhamun. When asked if he could see anything, he replied: “Yes, wonderful things.” Within months, however, Carter’s financial backer Lord Carnarvon was dead from a mysterious illness. Over the following years, several other members of the excavation team would meet similar fates, fueling legends of the “pharaoh’s curse” that have captivated the public imagination for just over a century.

For decades, these mysterious deaths were attributed to supernatural forces. But modern science has revealed a more likely culprit: a toxic fungus known as Aspergillus flavus. Now, in an unexpected twist, this same deadly organism is being transformed into a powerful new weapon in the fight against cancer.

Aspergillus flavus is a common mold found in soil, decaying vegetation and stored grains. It is infamous for its ability to survive in harsh environments, including the sealed chambers of ancient tombs, where it can lie dormant for thousands of years.

When disturbed, the fungus releases spores that can cause severe respiratory infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. This may explain the so-called “curse” of King Tutankhamun and similar incidents, such as the deaths of several scientists who entered the tomb of Casimir IV in Poland in the 1970s. In both cases, investigations later found that  A flavus was present, and its toxins were probably responsible for the illnesses and deaths.

Despite its deadly reputation, Aspergillus flavus is now at the center of a remarkable scientific finding.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that this fungus produces a unique class of molecules with the potential to fight cancer.

Experiments revealed that asperigimycins probably disrupt the process of cell division in cancer cells. Cancer cells divide uncontrollably, and these compounds appear to block the formation of microtubules, the scaffolding inside cells that are essential for cell division.




Sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun in his underground tomb in the famed Valley of the Kings in Luxor

The story of Aspergillus flavus is a powerful example of how nature can be both a source of danger and a wellspring of healing. For centuries, this fungus was feared as a silent killer lurking in ancient tombs, responsible for mysterious deaths and the legend of the pharaoh’s curse. Today, scientists are turning that fear into hope, harnessing the same deadly spores to create life-saving medicines.

Published 1st July 2025 by Justin Stebbing – The Conversation
https://theconversation.com/toxic-fu...w-study-259706

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Dark Sand Cascades on Mars





Are these trees growing on Mars? No. Groups of dark brown streaks have been photographed by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on melting pinkish sand dunes covered with light frost.

The featured image was taken in 2008 April near the North Pole of Mars. At that time, dark sand on the interior of Martian sand dunes became more and more visible as the spring Sun melted the lighter carbon dioxide ice. When occurring near the top of a dune, dark sand may cascade down the dune leaving dark surface streaks -- streaks that might appear at first to be trees standing in front of the lighter regions but cast no shadows.

Objects about 25 centimeters across are resolved on this image spanning about one kilometer. Close ups of some parts show billowing plumes indicating that the sand slides were occurring even while the image was being taken.




(3:47)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=WHoRSV_ISqg

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Constellation Virgo





The Virgo constellation is one of the twelve constellations of the Zodiac. It is also known as the Virgin. Virgo is one of the oldest known constellations and dates back to Greek mythology where she is associated with Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, the Harvest Goddess.

Virgo is the largest of the Zodiac constellations and the 2nd largest of all the constellations in the sky. Virgo can be found easily by first locating the bright star Spica, then the surrounding stars.

The constellation itself looks like a beautiful Goddess standing in the sky. She has a full body, unlike some other constellations that are only partly formed. Her two arms are slightly outstretched. In her left hand, she holds a sheaf of wheat. She is the Goddess of Wheat and Agriculture and is closely connected to the Earth and things that grow. At her hands are two bright stars. Spica is at the left hand, and Vindemiatrix is at the right hand.





The Virgo symbol is the sixth sign of twelve in the Zodiac family and represents people born between August 23 and September 22.  It is one of three Earth signs, the others being Taurus and Capricorn. Associated with fertility and the harvest, Virgo is more connected to Earth than all the other signs, including the other two Earth signs.

Virgo is the only female figure out of the 12 Zodiac signs, and does not connect in any direct way to any other Zodiac creature or symbol. She is, however, connected to the King of the Gods, Zeus. In Greek mythology, Zeus was responsible for placing many Zodiac figures into the night sky, including Virgo.

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The Virgo Cluster

All images: Vera C. Rubin Observatory

A "grand design" spiral galaxy




A triple-galaxy collision




A bright, nearby star




A gargantuan galaxy cluster




A pair of galaxies with healthy boundaries




A cosmic pancake


https://www.livescience.com/space/as...ng-first-image

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Scientists Create “Living Bricks” To Build Homes On Mars

Scientists have developed living materials that turn Martian dust into structures using synthetic lichens and 3D printing. This innovation enables autonomous Mars construction.





Living on Mars has long captured the imagination, often portrayed as a distant goal rooted in science fiction. Yet, with multiple successful missions to the planet over the past 50 years, turning this vision into reality now seems increasingly within reach.

However, colonizing Mars involves more than just making the trip. One of the most significant challenges lies in constructing buildings so far from Earth. Launching spacecraft filled with heavy construction materials is neither cost-effective nor sustainable. This raises a key question: how can we build using only what Mars has to offer?

Dr. Congrui Grace Jin from Texas A&M University may have found a promising solution.

Working with collaborators at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Jin has spent years researching how to create engineered living materials through bio-manufacturing. Together, they have developed a synthetic lichen system capable of producing building materials independently, without human input.

Their latest research, supported by the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program and featured in the Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, explores how this system could be used to build structures on Mars using local regolith—a mixture of the planet’s dust, sand, and rock.

This breakthrough offers a transformative approach to off-Earth construction, allowing for the creation of structures in extreme environments using limited local materials.

“We can build a synthetic community by mimicking natural lichens,” says Jin. “We’ve developed a way to build synthetic lichens to create biomaterials that glue Martian regolith particles into structures. Then, through 3D printing, a wide range of structures can be fabricated, such as buildings, houses, and furniture.”

Other researchers have explored different strategies to bind Martian regolith, including methods based on magnesium, sulfur, and geopolymer compounds. However, each of these techniques relies heavily on human labor, which makes them impractical given the limited personnel that would be available on Mars.

Published 4th July 2025 by Jennifer Nichols, Texas A&M University – SciTech Daily
https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-...homes-on-mars/

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Leonardo da Vinci Designs Solution To Modern Drone Noise Problem





Drones deliver packages, inspect bridges, and shoot video, but their high‑pitched whine still irritates neighbors and wildlife. Engineers want rotor shapes that hush the noise without draining batteries.

One possible design comes from a 15th‑century notebook by Leonardo da Vinci, a continuous spiral rotor he called an “aerial screw.” New simulations suggest that it can lift a modern drone while saving power.

Rajat Mittal of Johns Hopkins University led a study that puts the Renaissance sketch to the test.

Leonardo da Vinci pursued flight long before airplanes – sketching wings, parachutes, and the spiral screw that inspired the helicopter dream. His notebooks show careful airflow doodles even though the science of lift would not be formalized for centuries.

The spiral looks like an overgrown Archimedes’ screw, a water‑lifting helix from ancient Greece, except it twists upward to push air downward. Historians note that da Vinci often borrowed proven mechanical ideas for new purposes.

Human muscle could never spin the heavy canvas screw fast enough, so the contraption stayed on paper. Lightweight electric motors and carbon‑fiber skins finally give the old idea a chance to rise.

A small prototype built at the University of Maryland in 2020 confirmed the screw can generate lift, though efficiency data were thin. The new work attacks that gap with supercomputer fidelity.

Mittal’s team rebuilt the rotor in code and ran direct numerical simulations. The model tracked every swirl of air around the spiral as it hovered.

“We were surprised,” said Mittal. "The screw needed roughly 20 percent less mechanical power than a two‑blade prop to hold the same weight."

“It doesn’t have to be the da Vinci design to achieve this, but it is nice that da Vinci’s does,” added Sheryl Grace of Boston University.





Published 6th July 2025 by Jordan Joseph – Earth.com
https://www.earth.com/news/leonardo-...oise-problems/

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Space Rock | Retro

The Mello-Tones

Gospel singers The Mello-Tones take on the “Flying Saucers”. (1950)

(2:14)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=bMdHfPj3Wg4

The Futures of The Past in Glorious Black and White

Step into a world where the elegance of vintage jazz meets the futuristic dreams of the 1950s. This video offers a unique blend of soothing jazz melodies set against a dazzling retro-futuristic backdrop—glowing neon skylines, atomic-age optimism, and the ever-present robots.

(1:05:10)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=z5TD3Sa30gY

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Senators Push Back on Cuts to NASA Science Funding by 47%

The Senate appropriations committee initially voted in favor of a bill rejecting Trump's NASA budget cuts, but discussions are still ongoing.

On Thursday (July 10), the U.S. Senate appropriations committee voted on a bill that provides NASA's science programs with $7.3 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. The bill would reject the Trump administration's budget proposal for the agency, which slashes such funding by 47%.

The bipartisan Senate bill — worked on by Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) — initially won by a vote of 15-14. However, primarily due to contention surrounding the location of the FBI headquarters, the bill was ultimately withdrawn and another vote will be conducted during a future meeting.

"The bill funds NASA at $24.9 billion, slightly above [fiscal year 2025 levels] to explore the solar system, to advance our understanding of climate change, promote innovation and sustainability in aeronautics," Sen. Van Hollen said during Thursday's committee meeting. "We rejected cuts that would have devastated NASA's science by 47% and would have terminated 55 operating and planned missions."

Some of those missions that Trump's 2026 budget proposal put on the chopping block include the Jupiter-orbiting Juno mission, the New Horizons Pluto spacecraft, the DaVinci Venus probe and the OSIRIS-APEX asteroid-sampling spacecraft, to name just a few.




Illustration of NASA's Juno spacecraft at Jupiter. The probe entered orbit around the solar system's largest planet on July 4, 2016. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

For this reason, many experts in the scientific community have strongly opposed Trump's budget proposal — which cuts NASA's overall budget by 24% and calls for about a third of its staff to be let go. The opposition includes all seven former NASA science chiefs, scientists in attendance of this year's huge American Astronomical Society meeting and bipartisan U.S. Planetary Science Caucus chairs.

Published 10th July 2025 by Monisha Ravisetti -Space.com
https://www.space.com/space-explorat...-by-47-percent