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Renowned actor Sam Neill, known for his role in the Jurassic Park movie franchise, has joined the fight against a proposed goldmine near his vineyard in Central Otago, New Zealand. The mine, backed by Australian company Santana Minerals, could potentially damage the region's pristine environment and threaten up to 650,000 native lizards.The proposed Bendigo-Ophir goldmine, located in an area legally enshrined as 'outstanding natural landscape,' has sparked fierce division between communities. While proponents claim it will create 357 jobs and boost the economy, critics argue it will dampen tourism and harm the environment.Neill, who has grown wine under his Two Paddocks label in the region for 30 years, emphasizes his connection to the land, stating, 'If this mine goes ahead... everything that you see [there] is under a claim [by the mining company]. And there will be mining all around us, and that'll be the end.'The mining industry has a history of environmental disasters, particularly with tailings dams storing toxic waste. Ian Taylor, a prominent Māori businessman, worries about the 600km-long alpine fault running down the South Island, which could lead to seismic risks.Santana Minerals claims the dam has been designed to withstand a one-in-10,000-year earthquake and denies that the mine will negatively affect tourism. A decision on the Bendigo-Ophir mine is expected by the end of the year.

The Artemis II mission came to a close on Friday night with a gentle Pacific Ocean splashdown, marking a significant achievement in space exploration. The Orion capsule, carrying four astronauts, touched down off the coast of San Diego at 5:07 pm PT, bringing an end to a 10-day lunar odyssey.This mission marked a historic moment as the three Americans and one Canadian became the first people to travel beyond lower Earth orbit since the final Apollo mission in December 1972. The successful test flight around the far side of the moon appears to have met all its objectives, paving the way for future missions.The crew, consisting of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, traveled 252,756 miles from Earth, setting a new record for the farthest human spaceflight. Koch became the only woman to have traveled to the moon and back, while Hansen became the first non-American, and Glover became the first person of color to achieve this feat.During their mission, the astronauts evaluated Orion's life support systems, radiation detectors, next-generation spacesuits, and tested other operations crucial to future deep-space missions. The mission also included a successful lunar flyby, with the crew capturing stunning video footage and high-resolution images of the lunar surface.The splashdown was a complex process, involving a succession of deployments of Orion's 11 parachutes at various altitudes to slow the spacecraft to a safe landing speed. The Coast Guard and NASA recovery crews were positioned to cover a large landing zone, ensuring a smooth recovery process.This mission marks a significant step forward for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon by 2028. The success of Artemis II brings us closer to achieving this goal and paves the way for future missions to the moon and beyond.

NASA unveiled a historic photograph showing Earth disappearing behind the Moon’s edge, taken by the Artemis II crew aboard the Orion capsule during a record‑setting lunar flyby. The image, dubbed “Earthset,” arrives more than 57 years after the famed Apollo 8 Earthrise shot that first revealed our planet from lunar orbit.The four‑person crew—American astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—captured the view on April 6, 2026, deliberately echoing Bill Anders’ December 1968 photograph. Their mission, part of NASA’s broader Artemis program, is designed to lay the groundwork for a 2028 crewed Moon landing.After sharing the image on X, the White House highlighted its significance, noting it as “the first photo from the far side of the Moon, showing humanity from the other side.” The administration also posted a separate NASA picture of a solar eclipse observed during the flyby, describing it as “a view few in human history have ever witnessed.”Beyond the Earthset, the Artemis II astronauts have provided detailed observations of lunar topography and reported witnessing a solar eclipse when the Moon passed in front of the Sun—an event rarely seen from that perspective.The original Earthrise photograph, taken during Apollo 8’s ten lunar orbits, has been celebrated as one of the most influential images ever captured, featuring in Life magazine’s 2003 compilation “100 Photographs That Changed the World.” The new Earthset image adds a contemporary counterpart, reinforcing the enduring power of space photography to shape public perception of Earth’s place in the cosmos.

The recent showdown between the US and Iran has ended with Iran emerging victorious and Trump being forced to pause his war efforts. This outcome is a clear example of how to defeat Trump. According to Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, the strategy that connects all the successful countermeasures against Trump is simple: refuse to cave to his demands, despite his superior military or economic power. Instead, use a kind of jiujitsu to turn Trump's power against him. Examples of successful countermeasures include: Iran using cheap drones and missiles to close the strait of Hormuz and drive up oil prices, putting pressure on Trump. China leveraging its control of rare earth metals to gain leverage in trade negotiations. Russia using its vast deposits of oil and natural gas to gain leverage over US allies. Canada and Mexico winning tariff showdowns with Trump by leveraging their economic importance to the US. Greenland curbing Trump's ambitions through public opinion. Inside the US, similar strategies have been used by: The people of Minneapolis, who organized non-violent resistance to protect immigrants. Harvard University, which leveraged its influence with federal courts to stop Trump's interference. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who turned a crisis into a ratings victory. Writer E Jean Carroll, who secured over $88m in damages from Trump in two civil cases. Law firms like Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, Susman Godfrey, and WilmerHale, which refused to follow Trump's executive orders. On the other hand, countries and organizations that have caved to Trump have only strengthened his leverage over them. For example, Europe seems incapacitated, fearing Trump will leave Nato, while media networks like ABC continue to lose viewers. The bottom line is that there is now a clear blueprint for how to defeat Trump: reject his demands and use your own asymmetric power to turn his power against him.

Doug Allan, a pioneering wildlife cinematographer, died at the age of 74 while on a trek in Nepal, his management firm said, noting he passed away "immersed in nature and surrounded by friends."Best known for his role as principal camera operator on landmark BBC series including Planet Earth, Frozen Planet and The Blue Planet, Allan amassed a remarkable collection of honors, among them eight Emmy Awards, five BAFTAs, and an OBE awarded in 2024 for services to broadcast media and environmental awareness.Born in Dunfermline, Fife, he earned an honours degree in marine biology from Stirling University in 1973 and soon after joined the British Antarctic Survey as a research diver at Signy Island. It was during this period that his passion for filming blossomed, leading to a pivotal encounter with Sir David Attenborough in 1981, which set him on the path to a distinguished career.Allan’s early forays into polar filming began with a 16 mm camera he purchased for an Antarctic expedition, capturing emperor penguins and selling the footage to the BBC—a move that launched his lifelong partnership with the broadcaster.His dedication to extreme‑environment storytelling earned him the Polar Medal twice, underscoring his expertise in filming some of the planet’s harshest locales.In a 2017 interview, Allan revealed he had spent roughly 620 days tracking and recording polar bears. He recounted a memorable moment when a bear’s wet nose brushed a window, likening it to “a squeegee mop cleaning the glass.” Another close encounter saw a hungry walrus seize his legs underwater, which he repelled by striking the animal with his camera.Allan’s visual legacy, described by his representatives as "breathtaking and intimate moments in the natural world," continues to inspire audiences to appreciate and protect Earth’s wonders.

The crew of Artemis II is preparing to return to Earth on Friday, following their historic 10-day lunar flyby mission. Nasa leaders have outlined the critical steps needed to ensure a safe splashdown off the coast of San Diego. The Orion capsule will travel at nearly 24,000mph before making a final splashdown several miles off the coast of San Diego. The operation requires multiple teams and careful coordination to safely extract the crew from the spacecraft. Nasa's associate administrator Amit Kshatriya emphasized the importance of the mission, stating, "To every engineer, every technician that's touched this machine, tomorrow belongs to you. The crew has done their part. Now we have to do ours." Jeff Radigan, lead flight director of the mission, highlighted the precision required for re-entry, noting the team has "less than a degree of an angle" to hit the correct flight path. "Let's not beat around the bush. We have to hit that angle correctly – otherwise we're not going to have a successful re-entry," he said. The splashdown is expected to occur at 5:07pm PT, with the USS John P Murtha ready to assist with recovery operations. The crew will undergo post-mission medical evaluations before being flown to Nasa's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Pilot Victor Glover, the first Black man to travel beyond low Earth orbit, reflected on the journey, saying, "We have to get back. There's so much data that you've seen already, but all the good stuff is coming back with us. There are so many more pictures, so many more stories."

The debate over space exploration has sparked intense discussion, with critics arguing that the vast sums of money spent on it could be better used to address pressing global issues. The Artemis programme, with its $100bn budget, has been singled out as a prime example of such misallocation. This programme's cost could, for instance, fully fund the UN World Food Programme for 10 years, a global initiative that benefits over 150 million people annually in more than 120 countries.On the other hand, proponents of space exploration argue that it is crucial for humanity's long-term survival. They contend that as Earth faces environmental challenges, space could provide a necessary escape route. Moreover, the advancement of technology and knowledge gained through space exploration could have unforeseen benefits for human society.Critics also point out the short-sightedness of prioritizing space travel over solving Earth's problems, such as war and environmental destruction. They suggest that parenting-like responsibility should be applied to space exploration, implying that humanity should focus on solving its current issues before venturing further into space.However, supporters emphasize that space exploration represents a 'shining light of hope' for humanity's future, especially in a world threatened by autocrats and environmental crises. They argue that even small steps in space exploration are necessary for our long-term existence.Ultimately, the question of whether space exploration is worth the money and effort remains a complex and contentious issue. While some see it as a luxury we cannot afford, others believe it is an investment in our future survival.

The vastness of space has always been a profound source of inspiration and terror for humanity. The recent launch of the Artemis II space mission brought this into sharp focus, as the tiny Orion craft and its four-person crew drifted silently through the void, further and further from home. This sense of cosmic isolation is a feeling that video games have long sought to capture.In his autobiography, Apollo astronaut Michael Collins described the experience of being left alone in the command module while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon: 'I am alone now, truly alone, and absolutely isolated from any known life. I am it. If a count were taken, the score would be three billion plus two over on the other side of the moon, and one plus God knows what on this side.'Games like Elite, No Man's Sky, and Outer Wilds have attempted to evoke this sense of solitude and vulnerability. Outer Wilds thrusts players into a time loop on a doomed planetary system, while Xenonauts 2 challenges players to manage Earth's defenses against alien invaders. These games, and others like them, concentrate not on generational starships or laser wars, but on small crews in tiny pods, the weight of the universe stacked against them in the dark.Other notable mentions include Alien: Isolation, Freelancer, Homeworld, and Out There, which all capture the minimalist elements of space travel – often just isolated noises and details. As Tracey McGarrigan noted, even classic games like Solaris on the Atari 2600 managed to evoke a sense of loneliness and awe.For those interested in exploring these themes further, the article recommends checking out Xenonauts 2, available on PC, with an estimated playtime of over 30 hours.

Wayne Koestenbaum's latest novel, 'My Lover, the Rabbi', defies expectations with its unapologetically obsessive prose and exploration of desire. The story centers around a man who works as an antique furniture restorer and his overwhelming desire for a man who works in a synagogue. This central fact is accepted by all characters, and the writing treats realist conventions with a kind of exalted scorn.The book's 188 chapters are short and plunge the reader into a world of carnality, confusion, and bizarrely specific detail. The title of the book is reiterated throughout, becoming almost a mantra. This insistent and anxious formality is at the heart of the book's uncanny life, matching style to subject in a brilliant and unconventional way.As the plot emerges, it seems almost 19th century in its storyline, with themes of infidelity, illegitimacy, madness, shopping, coincidences, and death. The narrator's need to discover the secret of his rabbi's attractiveness drives the plot, much like Proust's Swann. The mystery of the rabbi's allure and the death of his three-year-old son become central to the narrative, revealing vistas of unknowability.The book's whirlwind invention culminates in a final, fugue-like recapitulation, where the narrator's obsessive desire morphs into a vision of the unknowability of any object of desire. This gloriously original evocation explores what it might feel like to admit to the inability of love to triumph over death. Koestenbaum's writing is like that of the best kind of angel, unafraid to come down to earth and explore the complexities of human desire.