Why bitcoin price is trending  cnn.com

Still a nice weekend, but Saturday now is trending cooler  KOKH

ICYMI: Check out 6 trending Allen stories from 2025  Community Impact | News

TRENDING? Sampson & Kingston CLASH with BYU & AJ Dybantsa | TOUGHNESS Will DOMINATE Big 12 Matchup  thv11.com

TORNADO RISK TRENDING UP IN QC  KWQC

1. Valve pushes back Steam Machine launch due to storage and memory shortage  Engadget
2. Everything we know about Valve's new Steam Machine  Engadget
3. Valve updates hardware launch timing due to component pricing  GamesIndustry.biz
4. AMD Confirms Steam Machine Ships Early 2026 as Next Xbox SoC Readies for 2027 Launch  extremetech.com
5. Valve’s Steam Machine has been delayed, and the RAM crisis will impact pricing  theverge.com

1. Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary  MacRumors
2. Tim Cook talks succession, executive departures during all-hands meeting  9to5Mac
3. Tim Cook reflects on Apple's 50 years and retirement coming for us all  AppleInsider
4. Apple CEO Tim Cook Considers Long-Term Succession  조선일보
5. Tim Cook Reveals Apple Succession Plans in Meeting  Gadget Hacks

1. Nvidia to Delay New Gaming Chip Due to Memory Chip Shortage  The Information
2. Nvidia’s RTX 50-series Super refresh is delayed, and the RTX 60-series might miss 2027  theverge.com
3. NVIDIA reportedly won't release new graphics cards this year  Engadget
4. Report claims Nvidia will not be releasing any new RTX gaming GPUs in 2026, RTX 60 series likely debuting in 2028  Tom's Hardware
5. Nvidia reportedly won’t release a new gaming graphics chip this year, a first  Sherwood News

1. Failure to Alert Judge to Press Law for Reporter Search Draws Ethical Scrutiny  The New York Times
2. FBI Couldn’t Get into WaPo Reporter’s iPhone Because It Had Lockdown Mode Enabled  404 Media
3. iPhone Lockdown Mode will protect your data, even from the FBI  AppleInsider
4. U.S. Failed to Alert Judge to Press Law in Application to Search Reporter’s Home  The New York Times
5. iPhone Lockdown Mode is so good even the FBI can’t crack it  Macworld

1. Latest Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase Features New and Classic Titles Coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch  Business Wire
2. Latest Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase features new and classic titles coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch - News  nintendo.com
3. Everything Announced At The February Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase  Game Informer
4. Nintendo reveals an impressive Switch 2 lineup with Indiana Jones, Fallout 4, FF7 Rebirth, and more  theverge.com
5. Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase February 2026: All The Biggest Announcements  GameSpot

A potent winter storm in late January 2026 left much of North Carolina dealing with significant snow accumulations. Though the state is no stranger to snow, such widespread coverage is unusual.

This image, acquired on February 2 with the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite, reveals a nearly continuous blanket of white stretching from mountain cities in the west to beachfront towns in the east. According to the North Carolina State Climate Office, measurable snow fell in all 100 counties for the first time in more than a decade.

Snowfall in North Carolina typically requires cold air funneled in from the north to combine with moisture supplied by a low-pressure system. During the January 31 weekend event, Arctic air from earlier in the week lingered across the state as a storm approached along a near-shore track, setting the stage for widespread snow.

Snow totals exceeded a foot in some of the state’s western, mountainous regions, following several years without significant snowfall events, though some locations such as Asheville saw smaller amounts. The storm even pushed south into Greenville, South Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the downtown area saw about 5 inches (13 centimeters) by the evening of January 31, according to the National Weather Service.

In the Piedmont region, the hilly central part of the state, Charlotte received nearly a foot of snow—the most since 2004—while Raleigh saw a lighter accumulation of 2.8 inches, according to the state climate center.

Even coastal parts of the state traded brown sandy beaches for a blanket of white, with more than a foot reported in parts of Carteret County. Beaufort, a mainland town in the southern Outer Banks area, experienced heavy blowing snow. Slightly inland, Greenville received 14 inches, an amount not seen since a large storm in March 1980.

Though appearing serene from space, the storm posed real hazards on the ground. Dangerous road conditions snarled traffic and caused collisions, according to local news reports, while coastal areas saw high winds and waves. Overwash on Highway 12 in the Outer Banks coated parts of the road in standing water and sand, while several homes along the shore of Hatteras Island collapsed into the sea.  

NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Kathryn Hansen.

References & Resources

• The Charlotte Observer (2026, January 31) I-85 north of Charlotte reopens after 100+ vehicles stuck from collision and snow. Accessed February 5, 2026.
• Island Free Press (2026, February 1) Ocean overwash reported Sunday morning on Hatteras, Ocracoke Islands. Accessed February 5, 2026.
• National Weather Service Charleston SC (2026, February 1) January 31 – February 1, 2026 Winter Storm. Accessed February 5, 2026.
• National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC (2026, February 1) Total Snowfall Reports Through Noon. Accessed February 5, 2026.
• The New York Times (2026, February 1) A ‘Historic’ Snowfall Hits the Carolinas. Accessed February 5, 2026.
• North Carolina State Climate Office Large-Scale Winter Patterns. Accessed February 5, 2026.
• North Carolina State Climate Office (2026, February 2) Rapid Reaction: A Statewide Snowstorm for the Ages. Accessed February 5, 2026.
• The Washington Post (2026, February 1) ‘Historic storm’ delivers biggest snowfall in decades for North Carolina. Accessed February 5, 2026.

Two next-generation satellite missions announced Thursday will help NASA better understand Earth and improve capabilities to foresee environmental events and mitigate disasters.

“NASA uses the unique vantage point of space to study our home planet to deliver life-saving data into the hands of disaster response and decision-makers every day for the benefit of all, while also informing future exploration across our solar system,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington. “By understanding Earth’s surface topography, ecosystems and atmosphere, while also enabling longer range weather forecasting, these missions will help us better study the extreme environments beyond our home planet to ensure the safety of astronauts and spacecraft as we return to the Moon with the Artemis campaign and journey onward to Mars and beyond.”

These two missions were selected for continued development as part of NASA’s Earth System Explorers Program, which conducts principal investigator-led Earth science missions based on key priorities laid out by the science community and national needs. The program is designed to enable high-quality Earth system science investigations to focus on previously identified key targeted observables.

The STRIVE (Stratosphere Troposphere Response using Infrared Vertically-resolved light Explorer) mission will provide daily, near-global, high-resolution measurements of temperature, a variety of Earth’s atmospheric elements, and aerosol properties from the upper troposphere to the mesosphere – at a much higher spatial density than any previous mission. It also will measure vertical profiles of ozone and trace gasses needed to understand the recovery of the ozone layer. The data collected from STRIVE would support longer-range weather forecasts, an important tool in protecting coastal communities, where nearly half the world’s population lives. The mission is led by Lyatt Jaeglé at the University of Washington in Seattle.

The EDGE (Earth Dynamics Geodetic Explorer) mission will observe the three-dimensional structure of terrestrial ecosystems and the surface topography of glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice. The mission will provide an advancement beyond the measurements currently recorded from space by NASA’s ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite 2) and GEDI (Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation). The data collected by EDGE will measure conditions affecting land and sea transportation corridors, terrain, and other areas of commercial interest. The mission is led by Helen Amanda Fricker at the University of California San Diego.

The selected missions will advance to the next phase of development. Each mission will be subject to confirmation review in 2027, which will assess the progress of the missions and the availability of funds. If confirmed, the total estimated cost of each mission, not including launch, will not exceed $355 million with a mission launch date of no earlier than 2030.

For more information about the Earth System Explorers Program, visit:

https://explorers.larc.nasa.gov/2023ESE

-end-

Liz Vlock
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
elizabeth.a.vlock@nasa.gov

What does a welder do?

A welder uses tools that join two or more parts through forces such as heat or pressure. Metals are the materials most commonly used in welding, but it’s also possible to weld thermoplastics or wood. Welders use their hands, skills, and problem-solving abilities to create something new.

At NASA, welders use different types of welding processes to assemble spacecraft and rocket components. Welders also put their expertise to work on equipment and facilities that make space exploration possible, such as launch pads, fuel tanks, propellant lines, and buildings where rockets are assembled.

What are the different types of welding?

Welding can be done in many different ways. Here are some of the types of welding used at NASA:

• Arc Welding: Uses electricity to melt metals and fuse them together. There are many types of arc welding, including TIG and MIG welding, described below.
• Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welding: Uses a protective gas like argon or helium to keep the metal from reacting with air. TIG welding doesn’t leave behind splatter or residue, giving a clean, precise weld.
• Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Welding: While not as clean and precise as TIG welding, is used for fast, strong welds on thicker materials, like sheet metal.
• Laser Welding: Enables welders to create tiny, perfect joints for delicate components.
• Ultrasonic Welding: Uses sound and friction to create a solid-state bond between layers of metal.

How can I become a welder?

After graduating from high school, there are a couple of pathways to choose from. You can pursue an associate’s degree in welding, typically a two-year program available through community colleges and technical schools. Another option is to obtain a certificate from a vocational school or trade school. An apprenticeship during or after this training is often the next step toward a career as a professional welder.

How can I start preparing today to become a welder?

Taking a welding class at your high school or local college is a great way to find out whether it’s a skill you enjoy. Research welding degrees and programs at colleges and schools to determine which one(s) fit your needs and interest. It’s also a good idea to research job vacancies to learn what employers are looking for. Finally, seek out opportunities for hands-on experience to help you practice and improve your welding skills.

Advice from other NASA welders

• “Building your knowledge in math and science is always a helpful tool, as you’ll need to understand measurements, geometry, and materials.” – Spencer Wells, engineering technician, Kennedy Space Center
• “One of the best ways to set yourself up as a welder is by attending a vocational school for welding, and then working in an apprentice/internship to gain work experience and training.” – Enricque Lee, tool and die apprentice, NASA’s Glenn Research Center

Additional Resources

• Occupational Outlook for Welders: Pay, Education, Job Outlook, and More (From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• NASA Careers
• Career Spotlight: Engineer
• Career Spotlight: Scientist
• Career Spotlight: Technologist
• Career Spotlight: Mathematician

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is preparing to launch for a long-duration science mission aboard the International Space Station. During the mission, select crew members will participate in human health studies focused on understanding how astronauts’ bodies adapt to the low-gravity environment of space, including a new study examining subtle changes in blood flow.

The experiments, led by NASA’s Human Research Program, include astronauts performing ultrasounds of their blood vessels to study altered circulation and completing simulated lunar landings to assess disorientation during gravitational transitions, among other tasks. The results will help NASA plan for extended stays in space and future exploration missions.

The new study, called Venous Flow, will examine whether time aboard the space station increases the chance of crew members developing blood clots. In weightlessness, blood and other bodily fluids can move toward the head, potentially altering circulation. Any resulting blood clots could pose serious health risks, including strokes.

“Our goal is to use this information to better understand how fluid shifts affect clotting risk, so that when astronauts go on long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, we can build the best strategies to keep them safe,” said Dr. Jason Lytle, a physiologist at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston who is leading the study. 

To learn more, crew members in this study will undergo preflight and postflight MRIs, ultrasound scans, blood draws, and blood pressure checks. During the flight, crew members also will capture their own jugular vein ultrasounds, take blood pressure readings, and draw blood samples for scientists to analyze after their return to Earth.

In another study, called Manual Piloting, select crew members will perform multiple simulated Moon landings before, during, and after the mission. Designed to assess their piloting and decision-making skills, participants attempt to fly a virtual spacecraft toward the lunar South Pole region — the same area future Artemis crews plan to explore.

“Astronauts may experience disorientation during gravitational transitions, which can make tasks like landing a spacecraft challenging,” said Dr. Scott Wood, a neuroscientist at NASA Johnson who is coordinating the investigation.

While spacecraft landings on the Moon and Mars are expected to be automated, crews must be prepared to take over and pilot the vehicle if necessary.

 “This study will help us examine astronauts’ ability to operate a spacecraft after adapting from one gravity environment to another, and whether training near the end of their spaceflight can help prepare crews for landing,” said Wood. “We’ll monitor their ability to manually override, redirect, and control a vehicle, which will guide our strategy for training Artemis crews for future Moon missions.”

The risk of astronauts experiencing disorientation from gravitational transitions increases the longer they’re in space. For this study, which debuted during the agency’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission, researchers plan to recruit seven astronauts for short-term private missions lasting up to 30 days and 14 astronauts for long-duration missions lasting at least 106 days. A control group performing the same tasks as the astronauts will provide a basis of comparison.

A different study will investigate potential treatments for spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome, or SANS, which causes vision and eye changes. Researchers will examine whether taking a daily B vitamin supplement can help relieve SANS symptoms.

After returning to Earth, select crew members will participate in a study that documents any injuries, such as scrapes or bruises that may occur during landing. Transitioning from weightlessness to Earth’s gravity can increase the injury risk without proper safeguards. The data will help researchers improve spacecraft design to better protect crews from landing forces.

____

NASA’s Human Research Program

NASA’s Human Research Program pursues methods and technologies to support safe, productive human space travel. Through science conducted in laboratories, ground-based analogs, commercial missions, the International Space Station and Artemis missions, the program scrutinizes how spaceflight affects human bodies and behaviors. Such research drives the program’s quest to innovate ways that keep astronauts healthy and mission ready as human space exploration expands to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

This new Hubble image, released on Jan. 30, 2026, is the sharpest taken of NGC 7722, a lenticular galaxy located about 187 million light-years away in the constellation Pegasus. A lenticular, meaning “lens-shaped,” galaxy is a type whose classification sits between more familiar spiral galaxies and elliptical galaxies. It is also less common than spirals and ellipticals — partly because these galaxies have a somewhat ambiguous appearance, making it hard to determine if it is a spiral, an elliptical, or something in between.

Learn more about this observation.

Image credit:  ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. J. Foley (UC Santa Cruz), Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/DECam/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA; Acknowledgment: Mehmet Yüksek

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