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Can rainbows form in a circle? Fun facts on the physics of rainbows

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:30 GMT

(The Conversation) - The legend goes that there is a pot of gold hidden at the end of every rainbow. But is there really an “end” to a rainbow, and can we ever get to it?Most us go through life seeing rainbows only as arches of color in the sky, but that’s only half of what is really a circle of color.Normally, when you look at a rainbow, the Earth’s horizon in front of you hides the bottom half of the circle. But if you are standing on a mountain where you can see both above and below you, and the sun is behind you and it is misty or has just rained, chances are good that you will see more of the rainbow’s circle.To see the full circle, however, you will have to be in an airplane, literally above the clouds. Or you could create your own rainbow. I am a physicist, and I’ll explain how to do that in a minute.How a rainbow formsRainbows form when sunlight from behind you hits millions of tiny round water droplets in front of you and bounces back to your eyes.As a sunbeam hit...

Top highlights from White House correspondents' dinner

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:30 GMT

(The Hill) – The White House Correspondents Association’s Dinner on Saturday evening, headlined by President Biden and hosted by comedian Roy Wood, Jr., provided comedic relief from some of Washington’s most pressing and intense issues.At times serious, and at other times lighthearted and self-deprecating, the remarks from Biden and Wood and the gathered room of national political press made for some noteworthy quips and interactions. Here are the highlights of the dinner.Biden pokes fun at himself, Fox News and gets serious on RussiaPresident Joe Biden laughs as comedian Roy Wood Jr., a correspondent for "The Daily Show," speaks during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)Biden, speaking at the dinner for the second time during his time in the White House, made fun of his age, which has been highlighted as the 80-year-old president prepares a run for his second term.“I believe in the First Amendment, not just because my good friend Jimmy...

Utah high schoolers take children's monster drawings, bring them to life as plush toys

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:30 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX) – Students from Bella Vista Elementary and Jordan High School in Utah came together this spring to complete a special project – bringing monsters to 3D reality. It all started with a challenge given to Keven Proud's sculpture class at Jordan High. For this challenge, the high school students were told to create plush toys based on drawings made by third graders in Rebecca Allen's class at Bella Vista Elementary earlier this year. Grandmother delivers her own grandson in Cleveland family’s living room The project has since become a powerful venture, giving both classes an opportunity to unleash their creativity and learn how imaginations can be brought to life through art. Both classes met on the morning of April 26 to unveil their monsters and work together once again to create backstories for each of the characters. Finished plush sculptures by Jordan High School and Bella Vista Elementary students. Courtesy: Canyons School DistrictJordan High School and Be...

AFD: 7 people escape apartment fire with 'no working smoke alarms to alert them'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — First responders arrived at an apartment complex in southeast Austin in response to a fire Sunday morning.Austin Fire said the fire was on the first floor at a complex in the 1900 block of Willow Creek Drive, and seven occupants escaped through rear windows.“There were no working smoke alarms to alert them and they were all injured bailing out of the windows,” AFD said.AFD arrives at apartment fire in southeast Austin (KXAN photo/ Lauren Ryan)AFD arrives at apartment fire in southeast Austin (KXAN photo/ Lauren Ryan)AFD arrives at apartment fire in southeast Austin (KXAN photo/ Lauren Ryan)Austin-Travis County EMS responded to assist AFD. ATCEMS said six ambulances and two commanders responded. EMS physician assistants also responded and were treating about 6 patients, according to ATCEMS.AFD said EMS took one person to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.Austin Fire said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

April ends bright, dry, and warm

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- This final day of April dawned with sunshine and chilly air. Some lows in the Hill Country fell to the lower to middle 40s. Minimums include 48° at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to 52° at Camp Mabry.Winds this afternoon will not be as gusty as they were Saturday. But there will some gusty winds out of the south-southeast late tonight.Gusty winds tonight RAIN TOTALS: See how much rain your neighborhood recorded The rest of the day will be sunny with highs well above the normal of 83°. Most maximum temperatures will peak in the upper half of the 80s to some low 90s in the Hill Country. Tomorrow will be warm, as well, although highs will be a few degrees lower due to clouds arriving late in the afternoon. Sunday will again be another dry day with the humidity dropping to the 20s this afternoon. It's short-lived, however, as southerly winds will return moisture from the Gulf. Humid air returning thanks to south windsClouds are back overnight Monday to Tuesda...

St. Paul DFL’s Ward 1 convention ends in walk-out and no endorsement after 9 1/2 hours

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:30 GMT

Gathered Saturday at Washington Technology Magnet School on Rice Street, the St. Paul DFL quickly endorsed Hwa Jeong Kim for the St. Paul City Council seat representing Ward 5, with the party’s ward convention drawing Kim no challengers and running less than an hour.Undated courtesy photo, circa July 2018, of Hwa Jeong Kim, also known as Shannon Eckman, submitted when she became the new legislative aide to St. Paul City Council President Amy Brendmoen. Kim was at the time a program manager for the Minnesota Homeownership Center. She was also the campaign manager for Trista Matascastillo, who was running at the time for the county board seat then held by Ramsey County Commissioner Janice Rettman. (Courtesy of Hwa Jeong Kim)The DFL endorsing process unfolded far differently and far more contentiously the same day at Central High School, where the Ward 1 convention opened at noon and concluded in uproar 9 1/2 hours later. Instead of an endorsement, it ended with accusations of vo...

700 dogs rescued from puppy mill in Iowa; 53 available for adoption in Studio City 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:30 GMT

More than 700 dogs were rescued from a puppy mill in Iowa and were given to animal shelters nationwide, including one in Studio City, to help the pups find a forever home. Out of the 700 rescued dogs, 53 were transported to Wagmor Pets Dog Rescue in Studio City, which is hosting an adoption event on Sunday in honor of National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. “About 30 rescue groups went in,” said Melissa Bacelar of Wagmor Pets Dog Rescue. “We’re the only one from California.” The dogs were rescued from one of the biggest puppy mills in the Midwest, Bacelar said.  Dog sickened after ingesting discarded drugs at Studio City park They will be cleaned and given a preliminary checkup before heading off to foster homes.  The adoption process may begin in as little as a few days, but Bacelar says that these dogs will probably not be going to their forever homes for a couple of weeks. “It is such an overwhelming and emotional thing looking at these dogs,” she said. “They all ...

1 man killed in South L.A. structure fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:30 GMT

A man has died after a building caught fire in South Los Angeles early Sunday morning. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, 101 firefighters took 26 minutes to “access, confine and fully extinguish” the blaze within a 3-story building on South Broadway that contained two floors of apartments over a commercial space. While fighting the flames, firefighters discovered an unresponsive male adult who died at the scene. No other injuries or fatalities were reported, LAFD said. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. 

Tesla has the most projected lifetime recalls, Mercedes and Toyota the least

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:30 GMT

(iSeeCars) -- Nobody wants to receive a recall notice, but in 2022 there were over 400 automotive recalls issued, impacting more than 25 million vehicles. The 2021 numbers were even higher: over 1,000 recalls involving over 35 million vehicles. Cars, like any mass-produced item, are subject to variables related to component and build quality, meaning every vehicle has a chance of being recalled for a safety issue at some point.Summary:Tesla is the most-recalled brand, with the Y, 3, X, and S occupying 4 of the top 5 slotsMercedes-Benz leads the least-recalled list, followed closely by Toyota and Lexus33 Models are projected to experience 1 or fewer recalls over their lifespan25 Models are projected to experience at least 10 recalls over their lifespanThe Tesla Model Y is projected to have 62 recalls over its lifespanBut, as iSeeCars’ latest study reveals, the potential for a recall varies – quite dramatically – between models. iSeeCars analyzed vehicle recall campaign data provided ...

Person robbed at bus stop near UC Berkeley campus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:10:30 GMT

A person sitting at a bus stop near the UC Berkeley campus was robbed Saturday evening, according to the Berkeley Police Department.The person was accosted by two robbers about 6:50 p.m. while waiting for a bus in the 2400 block of College Avenue, according to Berkeley police. The robbers took the person’s cell phone and several other belongings before getting into a grey Acura, which was driven by a third person, and speeding away.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Four people stabbed during fight in downtown San Jose Crime and Public Safety | Texas mass shooting suspect could be anywhere, sheriff says Crime and Public Safety | Berkeley grocery store worker charged with following 11-year-old girl around store and taking her picture Crime and Public Safety | Five more Bay Area MS-13 members sentenced in massive RICO case Crime and Public Safety | Jury convicts Fremont man of murder in case where ...