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NASA Scientists Take to Air and Space to Study Arctic Sea Ice
PASADENA, California, July 10 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA Scientists Take to Air and Space to Study Arctic Sea Ice
Collecting data by plane, satellite, and on the ground, researchers are improving measurements of Arctic sea ice to better understand how the system is evolving over time.
This month, engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California are testing a spacecraft sensor that will help measure how quickly Arctic sea ice is disappearing. And while that instrument won't launch for another year, scientists started preparing
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PASADENA, California, July 10 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA Scientists Take to Air and Space to Study Arctic Sea Ice
Collecting data by plane, satellite, and on the ground, researchers are improving measurements of Arctic sea ice to better understand how the system is evolving over time.
This month, engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California are testing a spacecraft sensor that will help measure how quickly Arctic sea ice is disappearing. And while that instrument won't launch for another year, scientists started preparingfor its use during a recent field campaign in the Canadian wilderness.
Researchers spent two weeks in April flying above the Arctic Ocean, often watching sunrise from an altitude of 1,500 feet (457 meters) in a World War II-era plane. A variety of cutting-edge sensors used to measure the thickness of sea ice and snow were aboard the plane, including a stand-in for the microwave radiometer now undergoing testing at JPL. Measuring sea ice thickness is tricky, requiring a number of precise figures, including how high the sea ice rises above water, the depth of snow on top of that ice, and microwave emissions from the surface.
Flights were timed to the passage of satellites overhead so coordinated observations could be taken of the same features. Combining the airborne and satellite data will improve scientists' ability to measure sea ice and understand how climate conditions are evolving across the Arctic.
In recent decades, the extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice have changed. Improving measurements of those changes helps scientists better understand the Arctic system while supporting navigation, weather and ocean research, and future satellite observations. As Arctic shipping activity increases, the region is also becoming strategically and economically more significant.
According to Sahra Kacimi of JPL, who served as the field campaign's science lead, ongoing warming in the Arctic could potentially impact public safety and economic interests.
Frequent flyers
Kacimi has spent years studying sea ice using satellite data, but the top-down view she gets from space is different than peering out a plane's window.
The bewildering diversity of sea ice creates otherworldly landscapes. The ice can be attached to land or adrift in the ocean; it can be rough or smooth. Driven by winds and ocean currents, the ice is constantly shifting, breaking apart, and deforming. Cracks can open into long stretches of exposed ocean, and collisions between floes can push ice rubble into massive ridges that extend for miles.
Some sea ice lasts only one season, while thicker ice can survive for several years (though multiyear sea ice is becoming less common in many parts of the Arctic). Entire ecosystems are affected by these changes, down to the arctic foxes and hares the scientists spotted throughout the trip.
Improving estimates of sea ice thickness helps scientists better understand how the region is changing and supports long-term observations of the Arctic environment. The NASA team logged about 50 hours in the air over the two-week campaign, conducting flights over drifting ice near the town of Inuvik before studying ice fixed to the shore of another location, a hamlet called Cambridge Bay.
For the Inuvik portion of the campaign, the team coordinated with the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission, a satellite jointly developed by NASA and the French space agency, CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales), with JPL leading the United States component of the mission. Though it was designed to map the height of the globe's sea and fresh water, SWOT can also measure the amount of sea ice above the waterline.
In Cambridge Bay, the NASA team joined researchers from ESA (European Space Agency), Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute, and Canada's University of Calgary. During this part of the campaign, coordinated flights soared over a field camp and under the tracks of satellite missions such as NASA's Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) and ESA's CryoSat-2.
To improve sea ice thickness estimates, ESA is developing, with cooperation from NASA, a new polar mission called Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter (CRISTAL). During the April airborne campaign, scientists flew instruments similar to what CRISTAL will carry, including the microwave radiometer now being tested at JPL.
"Combining observations from space, air, and ground surface instruments is essential for developing and validating algorithms for current and future missions," Kacimi said.
For the scientists, it was also a chance to meet locals who see the Arctic's changes up close. Kacimi spoke to community leaders and students at a STEM camp about how disappearing ice is affecting their communities.
"I'm used to looking at sea ice from space and thinking about its role in the global climate, but for people living in the Arctic, it carries a much deeper meaning," Kacimi said.
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Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-scientists-take-to-air-and-space-to-study-arctic-sea-ice/
IDB Group Annual Meetings to Bring More Than 4,000 Global Participants to Guatemala in 2027
WASHINGTON, July 10 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release on July 9, 2026:
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IDB Group Annual Meetings to Bring More Than 4,000 Global Participants to Guatemala in 2027
GUATEMALA CITY -- Guatemala will host the 2027 Annual Meetings of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group on March 10-14. The Meetings are the IDB Group's annual flagship event and one of the premier economic and development-focused gatherings in Latin America and the Caribbean. This year's Meetings in Paraguay brought together approximately 4,000 participants from 53 countries,
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WASHINGTON, July 10 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release on July 9, 2026:
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IDB Group Annual Meetings to Bring More Than 4,000 Global Participants to Guatemala in 2027
GUATEMALA CITY -- Guatemala will host the 2027 Annual Meetings of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group on March 10-14. The Meetings are the IDB Group's annual flagship event and one of the premier economic and development-focused gatherings in Latin America and the Caribbean. This year's Meetings in Paraguay brought together approximately 4,000 participants from 53 countries,about half from the private sector, including nearly 400 CEOs and 700 senior executives.
"Guatemala is a longstanding partner of the IDB Group, and we are pleased to bring our Annual Meetings to the country in 2027. The Meetings will bring together leaders from the public and private sectors from around the world to strengthen partnerships, mobilize investment, showcase Guatemala, and create a lasting legacy for the country," said IDB Group President Ilan Goldfajn.
"We are proud that Guatemala will welcome participants from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as other regions, for this important gathering," said President Bernardo Arevalo. "The Annual Meeting will provide an opportunity to strengthen regional dialogue, promote the exchange of experiences, and consolidate avenues for cooperation that help address the common challenges facing our economies."
"This event also provides an opportunity to recognize a partnership that, for more than six decades, has supported the country's development efforts and helped strengthen the State's capacity to respond to the needs of its people," said Minister of Public Finance and IDB Governor Jonathan Menkos.
The event will mark the 67th Annual Meeting of the IDB Board of Governors and the 41st Annual Meeting of the IDB Invest Board of Governors. It will address key challenges and opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean, including efficient and responsible artificial intelligence, resilience and disaster-risk management, and growth and productivity.
Government leaders, central bank governors, CEOs and business leaders, investors, civil society organizations, and other international partners will convene at the Meetings, providing a unique opportunity to showcase Guatemala's talent, potential, and opportunities to the world.
A memorandum of understanding between the IDB Group and the government of Guatemala was signed today for the preparation of the Meetings.
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About the IDB Group
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of financing and knowledge for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises the IDB, which works with the region's public sector and enables the private sector; IDB Invest, which directly supports private companies and projects; and IDB Lab, which spurs entrepreneurial innovation.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-group-annual-meetings-bring-more-4000-global-participants-guatemala-2027
Trump EPA Unveils Proposal to Save Truckers $12 Billion by Revising Unworkable Biden-Era Rule
WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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Trump EPA Unveils Proposal to Save Truckers $12 Billion by Revising Unworkable Biden-Era Rule
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Agency Proposes to Eliminate DEF Deratements Entirely
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a proposal estimated to save American truckers $12 billion through commonsense revisions to unnecessary and unworkable Biden-era compliance requirements. The reimagined approach also heeds calls from American truckers and diesel operators to eliminate deratements entirely,
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WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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Trump EPA Unveils Proposal to Save Truckers $12 Billion by Revising Unworkable Biden-Era Rule
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Agency Proposes to Eliminate DEF Deratements Entirely
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a proposal estimated to save American truckers $12 billion through commonsense revisions to unnecessary and unworkable Biden-era compliance requirements. The reimagined approach also heeds calls from American truckers and diesel operators to eliminate deratements entirely,a burdensome problem often caused by Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system failures. If finalized, the savings could reach up to $6,000 per vehicle on new truck purchases, on top of the increased productivity operators are currently losing when deratements cause sudden speed loss on the road. Collectively, these savings will be passed on to American families through lower costs for food, household goods, and other products trucks deliver, while still maintaining strong environmental protections and ensuring clean air.
"Americans depend on reliable trucks to move essential goods across the country. If finalized, these changes will help manufacturers keep improving their vehicles without being forced to rush products to market before they're ready. Combined with the Trump EPA's first proposed deregulatory action to address ongoing DEF problems, this will ease real burdens for operators," said EPA Administrator Zeldin. "The Trump EPA is committed to making trucking safe and reliable again while protecting human health and the environment."
"Administrator Zeldin is continuing to deliver for our nation's farmers, ranchers, and truckers on an issue that has shown the true cost of government overreach. This proposal to eliminate engine deratements and reform the Biden era DEF requirements will lower costs, increase safety, and keep our nation's food supply moving," said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. "Our rural communities rely on diesel powered engines to deliver their food, families, electricity, and so much more to where it needs to go. The billions in savings will directly benefit those who feed, fuel, and clothe our nation."
"The Trump Administration is taking a commonsense approach to alleviating burdensome diesel regulations on behalf of farmers, truckers, and small business owners who were crushed by unworkable environmental activist demands that became costly mandates," said U.S. Small Business Administrator Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "The EPA, SBA, and USDA have made steady progress toward ending DEF deratements, removing unreliable sensor requirements, and offering operators more practical compliance options. Today's proposed rule is about locking in long-term reform and delivering a diesel framework that lowers costs, restores equipment reliability, and puts the hardest working Americans first. I am grateful to Administrator Zeldin for his tireless work and partnership on this issue, and for delivering the reform America's job creators deserve."
EPA is also specifically proposing to scale back the emissions warranty requirements that added the largest single cost to the trucking industry. Under the proposal, the Trump EPA would maintain the underlying emission standards, including nearly 90% of the nitrogen oxide (NOx) reductions, while sparing Americans from unnecessary warranty costs. Once again, the Trump EPA is demonstrating that environmental protection and economic prosperity do not need to be a binary choice.
EPA is also proposing additional lead time before the longer regulatory useful life requirements from the 2023 rule take effect. This will allow manufacturers to ensure new technologies perform reliably under real-world conditions, rather than rushing unproven products to market.
Truck and engine manufacturers, suppliers, trucking fleets, and dealerships have repeatedly warned that the NOx emission reduction provisions of the Biden-era 2023 rule were unattainable within the given timeframe and would create compliance challenges. In response, EPA is proposing nonconformance penalties for certain heavy-duty diesel engines that temporarily cannot meet the new NOx standards. This will provide flexibility to comply and allow sales to continue, helping prevent supply disruptions and supporting a stable transition to new technologies. Consumer choice will be preserved and companies already meeting the standards will not be put at a disadvantage. EPA still expects companies to work expeditiously to meet requirements within a reasonable timeframe.
Continuing the Trump EPA's Efforts to Fix DEF
EPA understands that sudden speed losses and shutdowns caused by DEF system failures compromise safety and productivity and are unacceptable. In August 2025, EPA issued new, clear guidance calling on engine and equipment manufacturers to revise DEF system software in existing vehicles and equipment to massively reverse deratements that were harming farmers and truckers. Today, the agency is taking a historic step to provide a commonsense solution to deratements for American operators. EPA is proposing to completely remove deratements and vehicle speed restrictions for newly manufactured highway engines and vehicles and new nonroad engines and equipment, including those used in agriculture. Instead of trucks and tractors lurching to a halt when DEF systems fail, under EPA's proposal, operators would receive visible and/or audible alerts that allow them to continue operating until they can safely address the problem. EPA is also taking public comment on whether guidance should be developed to allow manufacturers to implement this change for in-use on road and nonroad engines and equipment. If finalized, American operators will be able to drive America forward without worry.
EPA will hold a 45-day public comment period as well as a public hearing. For more information on the proposed rule, visit EPA's website.
Background
EPA has taken many steps to address DEF issues as quickly as possible. In addition to the August 2025 guidance, EPA also demanded critical data, in February 2026, on DEF system failures from the 14 manufacturers that account for over 80 percent of all products used in DEF systems in. EPA has received all the data and is reviewing it to help inform future steps. Additionally, this last February, EPA reaffirmed American farmers and operators have the Right to Repair their own equipment, including faulty DEF systems. The agency also announced new guidance in March 2026 that clarified manufacturers can stop inaccurate DEF system failures by removing traditional emission sensors and switching to NO X sensors. In July 2026, the agency issued guidance advancing the freedom to fix for all Americans regardless of vehicle or equipment type in response to President Trump's " Lowering the Cost of Living by Promoting the Freedom to Fix Exit EPA's website " Presidential Memorandum.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/trump-epa-unveils-proposal-save-truckers-12-billion-revising-unworkable-biden-era-rule
Save Up to 30% on Northeast Travel with Amtrak's 'Big City Savings Sale'
WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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Save Up to 30% on Northeast Travel with Amtrak's 'Big City Savings Sale'
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For just one week, customers can spend less and experience adventure and relaxation in big cities and charming towns
WASHINGTON - Make the most of summer with Amtrak's Big City Savings Sale. For a limited time, customers can save up to 30% on rail travel throughout the Northeast, making a compelling case to get away with friends and family as summer winds down. Amtrak's sale is especially notable as we celebrate America's
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WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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Save Up to 30% on Northeast Travel with Amtrak's 'Big City Savings Sale'
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For just one week, customers can spend less and experience adventure and relaxation in big cities and charming towns
WASHINGTON - Make the most of summer with Amtrak's Big City Savings Sale. For a limited time, customers can save up to 30% on rail travel throughout the Northeast, making a compelling case to get away with friends and family as summer winds down. Amtrak's sale is especially notable as we celebrate America's250 th anniversary, highlighting so many places to see and enjoy in our great country. Whether heading to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore or Washington, D.C., customers can skip the traffic and enjoy a comfortable ride with spacious seating, scenic views and convenient downtown-to-downtown service.
Offer : Enjoy up to 30% off regular-priced fares on Acela Business Class and Coach fares on Northeast Regional and other eligible trains operating between Boston and Washington, D.C.
When: Available for tickets booked from Thursday, July 9 through Wednesday, July 15, 2026
For Travel: Between Saturday, August 1 and Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Type : Acela Business Class, Northeast Regional Coach, as well as Coach Class on other eligible trains operating between Boston and Washington, D.C.
Why Choose Rail? Amtrak offers a comfortable and convenient way to travel, with spacious accommodations featuring wide reclining seats, ample legroom, no middle seats, and picturesque windows to see some of the best views this country has to offer. Travelers booking during the sale can explore the vibrant cities and charming towns of the Northeast without being stuck in traffic.
Earn More and Make Your Trip More Valuable: Joining Amtrak Guest Rewards is free, and upon enrollment, members can immediately start earning points toward Amtrak reward travel and other exciting redemption options. Members earn points on every dollar spent on Amtrak travel, plus bonuses for Business Class travel and Acela First Class travel. Members can book reward travel to experience Amtrak Across America with popular city pairs available for as few as 400 points. Join today.
Sample one-way fares:
As Heard Here : "Summer travel should be fun, affordable, and relaxing -and that's exactly what the 'Big City Savings Sale' delivers," said Amtrak Vice President, Digital & Brand Management Jessica Davidson. "Nothing beats a Northeast summer, so whether you're catching a show, a game, or just want to explore a new place, it's the perfect time to take it all in, and enjoy great savings."
Details : This sale is valid only for fares on Acela Business, Northeast Regional Coach, and Coach Class on most trains stopping at popular Northeast cities. Availability is limited and blackout dates apply. For full terms and conditions on Amtrak's Big City Savings Sale and to make a reservation, visit amtrak.com/big-city-savings. Customers can also book using the Amtrak app.
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Original text here: https://media.amtrak.com/2026/07/save-up-to-30-on-northeast-travel-with-amtraks-big-city-savings-sale/
SBA Suspends 7,800 Wisconsin Borrowers Connected to $375 Million in Suspected Fraudulent Pandemic-Era Loans
WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on July 8, 2026:
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SBA Suspends 7,800 Wisconsin Borrowers Connected to $375 Million in Suspected Fraudulent Pandemic-Era Loans
Action Represents Latest Action in Agency's State-by-State Fraud Crackdown
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Today, in collaboration with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the suspension of 7,800 Wisconsin borrowers tied to $375 million in suspected fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
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WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Small Business Administration issued the following news release on July 8, 2026:
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SBA Suspends 7,800 Wisconsin Borrowers Connected to $375 Million in Suspected Fraudulent Pandemic-Era Loans
Action Represents Latest Action in Agency's State-by-State Fraud Crackdown
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Today, in collaboration with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the suspension of 7,800 Wisconsin borrowers tied to $375 million in suspected fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)activity. The announcement comes as part of SBA's ongoing state-by-state investigation into the abuse of taxpayer-funded programs intended to support small businesses and their workers during the pandemic.
"In coordination with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud under the leadership of Vice President JD Vance, the SBA is conducting a state-by-state review to expose every fraudster who cheated small businesses and taxpayers during the pandemic," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "With over 150,000 borrowers suspended from SBA programs across five states to date -- representing over $10 billion in suspected fraud -- we are actively working with law enforcement and Treasury to deliver accountability and recoup stolen funds. We will continue to use every available tool to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure SBA programs serve the legitimate American small businesses they were created to support."
To date, SBA has identified and suspended over 150,000 borrowers connected to over $10 billion in suspected PPP and COVID EIDL fraud. Suspended borrowers are prohibited from receiving future small business and disaster loans and are not eligible for other SBA programs, such as federal contracting in the 8(a) Business Development Program. Suspensions announced to date now include:
* 112,000 California borrowers tied to $8.6 billion in suspected fraud
* 27,000 Ohio borrowers tied to $1.1 billion in suspected fraud
* 6,900 Minnesota borrowers tied to $400 million in suspected fraud
* 1,500 Maine borrowers tied to $93 million in suspected fraud
* 7,800 Wisconsin borrowers tied to $375 million in suspected fraud
This announcement represents the latest victory for the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in its effort to root out pandemic relief fraud, recover taxpayer dollars, hold bad actors accountable, and protect taxpayer dollars for the long term. In April, SBA launched its largest fraud enforcement action to date, and the largest referral package in agency history, by referring more than 560,000 suspected fraudulent borrowers tied to $22 billion in pandemic-era loans to the U.S. Department of the Treasury for collection.
Since Day One, the Trump SBA has worked to crack down on an estimated $200 billion in pandemic-era fraud left unaddressed during the Biden Administration. The agency continues to coordinate with federal law enforcement partners to pursue recoveries, civil penalties, and criminal penalties where appropriate. SBA will also continue working with its Office of Inspector General to investigate additional fraud in states across the country.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/07/08/sba-suspends-7800-wisconsin-borrowers-connected-375-million-suspected-fraudulent-pandemic-era-loans
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics: Astronomers Build a One-Stop Universe Data Hub
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, July 9 -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release:
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Astronomers Build a One-Stop Universe Data Hub
The project will connect data from different sky surveys to each other in formats available to analyze without supercomputing, even on a laptop
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Astronomers spend much of their time mapping the universe, but until now their results have been collected and archived in so many different ways that the data can't talk to each other.
Each large telescope mission, project or program has its own formats, naming conventions,
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CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, July 9 -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release:
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Astronomers Build a One-Stop Universe Data Hub
The project will connect data from different sky surveys to each other in formats available to analyze without supercomputing, even on a laptop
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Astronomers spend much of their time mapping the universe, but until now their results have been collected and archived in so many different ways that the data can't talk to each other.
Each large telescope mission, project or program has its own formats, naming conventions,and software tricks. And since discoveries in space science and other big-data fields increasingly come from combining data across projects, these differences may block the way forward to new science.
The Multimodal Universe (MMU) is a new effort to fix that. Astronomers from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian have led an initiative across multiple institutes to reshape more than 80 terabytes of observations, like galaxy images from radio to X-rays, spectra of stars and galaxies, and time-series of flickering variable stars, into one consistent, user-friendly system.
"The idea is simple: you shouldn't need a Ph.D. in a specific survey's archival system to load the data from that survey and do cool science with it," writes CfA lead scientist Mike Smith in a blog post about the project (https://huggingface.co/blog/hugging-science/multimodal-universe-hats).
With MMU, scientists and students can pull in data from many sky surveys using the same tools and formats, even on their laptops.
Read the full story: 80TB+ of astronomy for the HDD-poor: crossmatch the Multimodal Universe from your laptop (https://huggingface.co/blog/hugging-science/multimodal-universe-hats)
Smith is a Center for Astrophysics post-doctoral researcher funded by Lium (https://www.lium.ai/).
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Original text here: https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/astronomers-build-one-stop-universe-data-hub
Brett Lambert Announced as Executive Chairman of Vault
WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
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Brett Lambert Announced as Executive Chairman of Vault
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - VaultCo LLC, the public-private partnership implementing Project Vault, today announced Brett Lambert as its Executive Chairman. One of the nation's foremost experts on industrial base and supply-chain security, Lambert has spent more than four decades working at the intersection of national security, defense, and industrial policy.
"Brett Lambert's appointment is a defining moment for Project Vault," said EXIM Chairman
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
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Brett Lambert Announced as Executive Chairman of Vault
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - VaultCo LLC, the public-private partnership implementing Project Vault, today announced Brett Lambert as its Executive Chairman. One of the nation's foremost experts on industrial base and supply-chain security, Lambert has spent more than four decades working at the intersection of national security, defense, and industrial policy.
"Brett Lambert's appointment is a defining moment for Project Vault," said EXIM Chairmanand President John Jovanovic. "Brett brings decades of experience at the intersection of national security, industrial policy, and supply-chain resilience. Under his leadership, Vault is positioned to help strengthen America's industrial base, support domestic production of critical materials, and give manufacturers greater confidence that the resources they need will be available when they need them. This is exactly the kind of long-term, market-driven solution required to enhance American economic security and competitiveness."
"It is an honor to lead this important national security effort," said Vault Executive Chairman Brett B. Lambert. "America's manufacturers can't build our future on uncertain and unreliable supply chains. Vault exists to change that by giving U.S. industry a demand-driven, market-based tool to secure the critical minerals our economy and national security depend on to correct this market failure."
Brett Lambert is Managing Director of The Densmore Group, a national security and intelligence consultancy specializing in strategy, transactions, and government compliance. A recognized leader on industrial base and supply chain security issues, he recently co-chaired the Defense Science Board's 2025 study on the 21st Century Industrial Base for National Security. Mr. Lambert previously served as Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Northrop Grumman and, from 2009 to 2013, as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy, where he oversaw matters related to critical supply chains, industrial capacity, and the Defense Production Act. During his public service, he received both the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service and the Secretary of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service-the Department's highest honor for a non-career civilian. With four decades of experience spanning the defense, intelligence, and national security sectors, Mr. Lambert currently serves on several corporate and nonprofit boards and is Chairman of the Board of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute.
This February, the EXIM Board of Directors approved a Direct Loan of up to $10 billion for Project Vault, more than double the largest financing in EXIM's history, designed to shield domestic manufacturers from supply shocks, expand U.S. production and processing of critical raw materials, and fundamentally strengthen America's critical minerals sector.
Project Vault's uniquely American structure is built to deliver a net positive return for U.S. taxpayers, even as it gives manufacturers nationwide stable access to raw materials through periods of market disruption. The initiative also advances President Trump's National Security Strategy and longstanding U.S. economic and national-security objectives: reducing dependence on foreign-controlled supply chains, strengthening the domestic industrial base, and securing the materials upon which advanced manufacturing and critical technologies rely.
ABOUT EXIM:
As the United States government's official export credit agency, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) supports American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. As an independent agency, EXIM plays a critical role in supporting economic growth, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring American businesses are given a fighting chance. To achieve this mission, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. Learn more at www.exim.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.exim.gov/news/brett-lambert-announced-executive-chairman-vault
