Las Vegas finally breaks its streak of 214 dry days — with 0.01 inches of rain
LAS VEGAS — After 214 straight days with no measurable rain, a drizzle finally came to the Las Vegas Valley. The National Weather Service on Thursday officially measured 0.01 inches of rain at Harry Reid International Airport, snapping one of the longest dry streaks in the city’s recorded history.
The future of trucking rolls forward in Shell's experimental big rig
The Shell Starship Initiative has been on an interesting journey since its inception in 2018, with a mission to redefine energy efficiency in the commercial trucking sector. Starting with diesel engines, the first two versions of the Starship made impressive strides in fuel efficiency, but now with the introduction of the Starship 3.0, we're witnessing a remarkable shift towards sustainability. This latest iteration features the innovative Cummins X15N natural gas engine, which not only enhances performance but also significantly reduces emissions.
A powerful potential challenger to SpaceX’s rocket dominance is poised to launch
Nearly a quarter century after Jeff Bezos founded Blue Origin, the rocket company is poised for its most defining moment to date: sending a vehicle to orbit for the first time. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is set to make its inaugural launch attempt as soon as 1 a.m. ET Monday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. A live stream of the mission is slated to kick off about an hour before liftoff on the social media platform X, Blue Origin’s YouTube channel, and its website, the company said via email.
On a long-dormant pad in Florida, a rocket that could challenge SpaceX’s dominance is poised to launch
On a Florida launchpad that has been dormant for almost two decades, a new, roughly 320-foot (98-meter) rocket — developed by Jeff Bezos’ company Blue Origin — is poised for its maiden flight. The uncrewed launch vehicle, called New Glenn, will mark Blue Origin’s first attempt to send a rocket to orbit, a feat necessary if the company hopes to chip away at SpaceX’s long-held dominance in the industry.
'Space coast' congressman sets bold goal for American moon missions
The Space Coast’s new congressman wants the U.S. to set bold goals for exploration beyond our Earth, believing the country’s potential will take Americans sky-high – literally. "We need to do everything we can to make sure it's safe, but it's done in a way that removes some of the superfluous red tape so that we can get out there, compete and beat China and beat any other nation," Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital in an interview.
Everything you need to know about the water drops in California during wildfires
Firefighters in California are battling the historic fires from the sky using a variety of effective and specialized aircraft that dump water and fire retardants over Los Angeles. The state’s fleet includes tactical planes, air tankers, and helicopters. All have specific roles and capabilities but work together as a unit to combat the fires that have been raging since Tuesday. The fires have claimed 10 lives and torched tens of thousands of acres.
'Entirely foreseeable': The L.A. fires are the worst-case scenario experts feared
For the Los Angeles area, the recent string of wildfires represents a worst-case scenario — unusually powerful and prolonged Santa Ana winds struck after months without significant rain. But the steep consequences of the blazes are not a surprise, according to an NBC News review of after-action reports following previous fires, wildfire risk maps, public meetings about wildfire risk and interviews with fire experts. “Entirely foreseeable,” said Char Miller, a professor of environmental analysis and history at Pomona College.
Astronomers have for decades tried to figure out how Pluto captured its largest moon. Now, there’s a new theory
For decades, astronomers have tried to determine how Pluto acquired its unusually large moon Charon, which is about half the size of the dwarf planet. Now, new research suggests that Pluto and Charon briefly came together billions of years ago in a newly discovered “kiss and capture” collision. Scientists have long theorized that Charon formed much like Earth’s moon, which was created after a Mars-size object slammed into our planet. The impact sent molten debris from Earth flying into space, which eventually came together in orbit around our world and cooled to form the moon.
Chinese auto giant wants to make flying cars your next commute option
GAC Group, a prominent automotive manufacturer from China, is making waves in the transportation sector with the launch of its new eVTOL brand, Govy. This development reflects GAC's commitment to sustainable air travel, as the company taps into its extensive automotive expertise and innovative technology to create fresh solutions for urban mobility. With Govy, GAC is not just entering the flying car market; it's setting the stage for a new era in how we think about commuting and connectivity in our cities.
Water tanks went dry in Pacific Palisades, hampering efforts to fight fire
Immense demand for water to fight the fast-moving Palisades Fire led all three of the community’s water tanks — and some fire hydrants — to temporarily dry up in the last 24 hours or so. That hampered efforts to fight the blaze, said the Los Angeles Fire Department said, which didn’t elaborate on the specific challenges or how it addressed them.