Free Republic

Ancient microbial life on Mars could have destroyed the planet’s atmosphere through climate change, which ultimately led to its extinction, new research has suggested. The new theory comes from a climate modeling study that simulated hydrogen-consuming, methane-producing microbes living on Mars roughly 3.7 billion years ago. At the time, atmospheric conditions were similar to those that existed on ancient Earth during the same period. But instead of creating an environment that would help them thrive and evolve, as happened on Earth, Martian microbes may have doomed themselves just as they were getting started, according to the study published Oct. 10...

Last week, a shocking moment of truth broke through the huge effort elites normally put into hiding their disdain for the rest of us. At an event sponsored by the libertarian Cato Institute, President of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Adam Posen—a man who appears to be paid $450,000 a year—made clear his absolute contempt for the working class.

Jurors recommended Nikolas Cruz be sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing 17 people and wounding 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018. The panel of seven men and five women deliberated for little more than a day before handing up the recommendation. Victims' family members in the courtroom gallery scowled, shook their heads or wept as circuit judge Elizabeth Scherer read the recommendation Thursday.

Nato’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that the alliance would provide Ukraine with “hundreds of drone jammers” after Russia was accused of targeting its cities with Iranian kamikaze devices. “Nato will deliver counter-drone equipment to Ukraine with hundreds of drone jammers which can help render ineffective Russian and Iranian-made drones,” said Mr Stoltenberg, during a press conference at the end of a two-day meeting of Nato defence ministers devoted to strengthening support for Ukraine.

Olga Lopatkina paced around her basement in circles like a trapped animal. For more than a week, the Ukrainian mother had heard nothing from her six adopted children stranded in Mariupol, and she was going out of her mind with worry. (snip) The questions looped endlessly in her head: Should she try to rescue the children herself — and risk being killed, making them orphans yet again? Or should she campaign to get them out from afar — and risk them being killed or falling into the hands of the Russians? She had no idea her dilemma would lead her...

Two “crazy” dads have been charged with attempted murder after allegedly opening fire and hitting each other’s daughters in a terrifying road-rage gun battle in Florida, authorities said. During the gun battle, Hale’s 5-year-old daughter was hit in the leg and Allison’s 14-year-old daughter was shot in the back, leaving her with a collapsed lung, Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said Monday. “What’s scarier than one crazy driver with a gun? Two crazy drivers with a gun,” the shocked sheriff said. “Thankfully, no one was killed in this incident, but it could have very easily turned out that way because...

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Thursday that the COVID-19 public health emergency will continue through Jan. 11 as officials brace for a spike in cases this winter. The decision comes as the pandemic has faded from the forefront of many people’s minds. Daily deaths and infections are dropping and people — many of them maskless — are returning to schools, work and grocery stores as normal. The public health emergency, first declared in January 2020 and renewed every 90 days since, has dramatically changed how health services are delivered. The declaration enabled the emergency authorization of COVID vaccines,...

A “rare” mosaic depicting scenes of the Trojan War has been uncovered in Syria, archeologists said Wednesday. The mosaic, believed to be 1,300-square-feet, is considered the most important archaeological discovery in Syria since the country’s conflict began 11 years ago, partially due to how intact and detailed it is. The stunning Roman-era artwork is said to have been constructed 1,600 years ago in what may have been the floor of an ancient bathhouse, but further excavation and research needs to be conducted. Archeologists have only unearthed 65 feet of the mosaic but believe there is much more to find.

"Our doctrine rests on the fundamental interests of the nation," Macron told France 2 on Wednesday. "They are defined clearly and wouldn't be directly affected at all if, for example, there was a ballistic nuclear attack in Ukraine, in the region."

- A shock turnaround in equities sent Wall Street searching for something -- anything -- to explain how yet another red-hot inflation number translated into the best day for bulls in a week. Among the answers: increasingly sturdy positioning including well-provisioned hedges, a watershed moment for chart watchers, and several less-than-terrible earnings reports. Throw in some short covering, and the result was a trough-to-peak run-up in S&P 500 futures that approached 5% at its widest. Expect the unexpected has become the only mantra in a market when cross-currents are flowing from every direction, including a Federal Reserve bent on subduing...

CNN has a poll out today with some interesting results. On one had the poll found that nationwide Democratic candidate have a slight advantage. However, the situation changes when you look at competitive congressional districts. In those districts, the GOP has an advantage. Among likely voters nationwide, the race is a tight split, with 50% backing the Democratic candidate and 47% behind the Republican. But in competitive congressional districts, Democratic support among likely voters dips and preferences tilt toward the Republicans: 48% of likely voters in that group prefer the Republican candidate, 43% the Democrat. Voters are narrowly more likely...

Republican Kathy Salvi’s name was mistakenly left off the list of candidates for U.S. Senate on hundreds of ballots in one Illinois county, prompting local officials to sequester all ballots that had been returned by early voters thus far in the 2022 midterm elections. Some early voters have already cast their ballots in Schuyler County, Illinois, despite Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kathy Salvi’s name not being listed as a choice. Instead of Salvi’s name, the name of her defeated primary opponent Peggy Hubbard is listed on the ballot as an option. Salvi won the seven-way Republican primary on June 28...

Update: The January 6 Committee on Thursday unanimously voted to subpoena Trump.

Philadelphia Councilmember Mike Driscoll on Tuesday said a “senior” Wawa representative told him the company was considering excluding Philadelphia from its expansion plans because of crime concerns, the Philadelphia Business Journal reported. During a forum hosted by the Philadelphia Real Estate Alliance, Driscoll said he met with Wawa representatives the day after a store in Mayfair, which is in his district, was ransacked by an estimated 100 juveniles. “The scariest part to me is one of the senior officials said, ‘We’re seriously considering moving out of the city of Philadelphia in our strategic planning, at least not to expand,’” Driscoll...

To ensure effectiveness, it’s important to buy authentic N95 and KN95 masks. Buy directly from the manufacturer’s website or a reputable site. Markings are printed on respirators to show that they are genuine. N95, N99, N100, P95, P100 masks are the only types that have National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) approvalTrusted Source. They will have a certification mark and the term “NIOSH-approved”. Make sure the masks are of high quality. Look out for loose straps or misalignment in terms of fit. Masks should not have decorative add-ons, such as sequins or tassels

Two police officers who were shot dead in Bristol were apparently lured to a home by an emergency call about possible domestic violence between two brothers, authorities said Thursday. Bristol Police Chief Brian Gould said Sgt. Dustin DeMonte, 35, and Officer Alex Hamzy, 34, were killed. Officer Alec Iurato, 26, was wounded and underwent surgery at St. Francis Hospital. He has since been released from the hospital. State police Sgt. Christine Jeltema said the officers were responding to a report of domestic violence at about 10:30 p.m. when they encountered someone outside the house and shots were fired. State police...

Wawa, a beloved Philadelphia-area convenience store, might nix plans to expand in the city after one location was ransacked by dozens of looters last month, according to a Philadelphia councilman. “They’ve had to invest in security, and those of you that have these office buildings [know that] security doesn’t add anything to your bottom line, it takes away from your bottom line. But without it, then you’re in deep trouble. So they are spending money, they’re losing money,” Philadelphia Democratic Councilmember Mike Driscoll said Tuesday at a town hall-style forum hosted by the Philadelphia Real Estate Alliance. “The scariest part...

President Donald Trump was furious when the Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election results, according to details revealed during a Thursday hearing by the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The committee shared a message from the Secret Service that described Trump's reaction to the news on December 11, 2020, as "livid." "Just fyi. POTUS is pissed — breaking news — Supreme Court denied his lawsuit. He is livid now," the message read. Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to ex-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, also testified to the committee that...

On October 13th, the United States Navy observes its birthday every year. #NavyBirthday The United States Navy (USN) is the United States Armed Forces’ naval warfare service branch and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is currently the largest, most powerful navy in the world, with the highest combined battle fleet tonnage. The service has over 340,000 personnel on active duty and more than 71,000 in the Navy Reserve. With only two ships and a crew of eighty men, the Continental Navy was born on October 13, 1775. The decision of the Continental...