Thomas Downes

Evolution is a natural process that has been occurring over millions upon millions of years, gradually leading to greater and greater complexity and culminating in hundreds of advanced mammalian species ( including us). Calling it luck or coincidence ignores the role of emergent organization in the absence of specific intent or plan. You may be familiar with the idea of emergent organization. Emergent organization without specific human intent is the reason why free markets prosper--and socialist economies fail.

JESUS ISN’T COMING BACK move on and live your life

Never forget who will land the astronauts on the Moon.

On the helicopter leaving the ship right now. This planet is impossibly beautiful from every altitude I’ve seen it…surface to 250,000 miles

After this administration's bullshit DEI erasure and not "trusting" a Black pilot to fly, it's a Black man who piloted Artemis II and executed a perfect re-entry and splashdown.

There is no one true religion,no one true god, nothing like the word of god. All man made.

Religion & science Religion: claims certainty Science: operates with intellectual humility & honesty Religion demands belief Science thrives on doubt When religious Faith makes claims abt reality, it must face the same test as everything else: evidence! Question everything!

@jackvlloyd Since private contractors can build the road, and yes they do exist, then the "Muh roads!" argument against anarchy falls flat.

Roads are not only able to be made and maintained by the government. The government only has a stronger, more visible control over roads because they take your money and have private contractors build them. If you could freely choose, the possible roads are endless.

@SmartScience Provide a link, or don't post. (Is this a thread?)

Russia has announced a major medical breakthrough after confirming that a cancer vaccine will soon be offered free to patients around the world, a move that could reshape global cancer care. The vaccine targets the molecular markers found on tumor cells and trains the immune system to recognize and destroy them before they spread. Early trials show strong results, with patients experiencing reduced tumor growth, fewer relapses, and stronger long-term immunity against multiple cancer types. Scientists say the vaccine works by activating specialized immune cells that normally struggle to detect cancer. Once injected, the vaccine “flags” malignant cells and helps the body mount an aggressive, targeted attack — similar to how traditional vaccines fight viruses. Unlike chemotherapy or radiation, the approach is designed to work with the body rather than against it, offering treatment with fewer side effects and better long-term outcomes. The announcement has sparked global optimism, especially in countries where cancer treatment remains costly and difficult to access. Russian officials say the goal is to make the vaccine widely available, ensuring that income or geography doesn’t determine who survives the disease. Health experts believe the move could reduce global cancer mortality if adopted on a large scale, especially in regions with limited medical infrastructure. If the rollout succeeds, it could mark the beginning of a new chapter in oncology — one where cancer prevention and early immune-based treatment become standard worldwide. A future where cancer vaccines are routine, affordable, and accessible to all may be closer than anyone expected.

Evangelicals have been warning of the Antichrist for decades. Then when he shows up, they started wearing his merchandise 😂😂

and the universe said you are not alone.

The Earth stuns in photo taken by Artemis II.

Behind the four astronauts of Artemis II are hundreds of people tracking their every move: monitoring spacecraft systems, evaluating crew safety, and staying in constant communication. Let’s hear it for the team in Mission Control responsible for getting the astronauts around the Moon and safely home.

Fun fact. The observable universe extends for about 92 billion light-years. No human has ventured farther from Earth than 1.29 light-seconds.

The Great Migration: How the Foundations of the English-Speaking World Were Laid ​Ever wonder why we speak English and not a Roman or Celtic tongue? The answer lies in a chaotic, transformative period between the 5th and 7th centuries. When the Roman Empire’s grip on Britain slipped, a vacuum was left behind—one that was filled by the bold seafaring tribes of Northern Europe: the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. ​This wasn't just a military invasion; it was a total cultural reset. From the shores of modern-day Denmark and Northern Germany, these tribes crossed the treacherous North Sea to seek new land, eventually pushing the native Britons to the fringes and creating the "Heptarchy"—the seven kingdoms that would one day become England. ​Whether you're a history buff or just curious about where our modern traditions and language began, this map tracks the very first steps of the journey that would eventually reach the shores of America centuries later. ​The Foundations of a New World: The Anglo-Saxon Migration (449–600 CE) ​To understand the United States today—its laws, its literature, and its primary language—one must look back nearly 1,600 years to the foggy coastlines of the North Sea. The migration of the Germanic tribes to the British Isles is perhaps one of the most consequential movements of people in Western history. It was a period marked by the collapse of an old superpower, the arrival of opportunistic warriors, and the slow, grinding birth of a new identity. This is the story of how Britain became "England" and how the seeds of the English-speaking world were first planted. ​In 410 CE, the Roman Empire was crumbling. Under pressure from "barbarian" tribes closer to home, the Emperor Honorius sent a letter to the cities of Britain, famously telling them to "look to their own defenses." For nearly four centuries, Rome had provided a professional military, legal infrastructure, and a sense of global connectivity. When the legions left, they took the stability with them. ​Britain was left vulnerable. To the north, the Picts and Scots began raiding deeper into the lowlands. According to the monk-historian Bede, a British leader named Vortigern made a fateful decision: The invited Germanic mercenaries from the mainland to help defend his lands. He offered them territory in exchange for protection. It was an invitation that changed the course of history forever. Once the first wave of warriors realized how fertile and poorly defended the island was, the trickle of mercenaries turned into a flood of settlers. ​As shown in map, the migration was primarily driven by three distinct groups, each bringing their own dialects and customs. Hailing from the region of Angeln (modern-day Schleswig-Holstein in Germany), they were perhaps the most numerous. They settled in the north and east, founding the kingdoms of Northumbria, Mercia, and East Anglia. It is from this tribe that names "England" (Engla-lond) and "English" (Englisc) are derived. ​Coming from the sprawling plains of Northern Germany, the Saxons were fierce warriors and prolific settlers. They moved into the south and west of Britain, establishing Wessex (West Saxons), Sussex (South Saxons), and Essex (East Saxons). Their legacy survived in the title of the "Anglo-Saxon" people and heavily influenced the legal and social structures of the early English state. ​The smallest of the three main groups, the Jutes traveled from the Jutland peninsula (modern Denmark). They settled in Kent and the Isle of Wight. Though fewer in number, they maintained a distinct cultural identity for generations, and the Kingdom of Kent became a vital gateway for the reintroduction of Christianity to the island later on. ​#archaeohistories

As NASA’s first Black female engineer, Mary Jackson studied how air flows around aircraft, work that helped advance the science of aerodynamics and improve flight. Her career also helped pave the way for greater inclusion in STEM. #WomeninSTEM #Engineering #NASA #Space #Science

19th century America had virtually no welfare state, minimal regulations, and a federal government so small you could fit it in a few buildings. And what happened? The greatest economic boom in human history, with immigrants literally flooding in from around the world to participate. People weren't fleeing TO America for government handouts—they were fleeing FROM the suffocating bureaucracies of Europe to a place where you could actually build something without asking permission from seventeen different agencies. But today's intellectuals have convinced themselves that this was all some historical accident. That prosperity happens DESPITE economic freedom, not because of it. The same people who can't figure out why housing costs so much in cities with 47 different zoning boards somehow think they've improved on the formula that built the modern world.

Las Vegas Sphere pays tribute to Artemis II

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