Free Republic

The Corrugated Galaxy The disk of the Milky Way Galaxy disk may actually be rippled. Two ringlike structures of stars wrapping around the Milky Way's outer disk now appear to belong to the disk itself. The results, outlined in a new study, show that the disk is about 60 percent larger than previously thought. Not only do the results extend the size of the Milky Way, they also reveal a rippling pattern, which raises intriguing questions about what sent wavelike fluctuations rippling through the disk. The researchers said the likely culprit was a dwarf galaxy. It might have plunged...

WASHINGTON - Sen. Tim Johnson (news, bio, voting record)'s condition has been upgraded from critical to fair, four weeks after he was hospitalized for a brain hemorrhage, his office said Tuesday. The South Dakota Democrat, who was rushed to the hospital on Dec. 13 and underwent emergency surgery, remains in intensive care, said his spokeswoman, Julianne Fisher. "The senator continues to make progress," Fisher said. "The next step would be rehabilitation and we hope that would happen within the week." Johnson's office has said that his recovery is expected to take several months. He underwent surgery to correct a condition...

FALLUJAH, Iraq (Army News Service, Dec. 5, 2005)– Fallujah's electric network is undergoing a huge upgrade. Michael Doty, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Central Project Engineer, says he decided to return to Fallujah for a second year to finish the work here. “I believe in 12 months, people will be saying the city really turned things around here. That’s why I came back. I knew my mission wasn’t complete until we finished. The city’s totally renovated electrical distribution system is going to have a very positive impact.” $620,000 Assessment completed In November, experts completed a $620,000 assessment identifying...