Netflix Documentary Explores Joplin Tornado, Deadliest in Recent US History
Netflix's latest documentary The Twister: Caught in the Storm, turns a powerful lens on the 2011 tornado that devastated Joplin, Missouri-revisiting the deadliest tornado in modern American history. The EF-5 twister, which tore through the heart of the city on May 22, 2011, killed at least 158 people, injured more than 1,000, and displaced over 9,000 in a community that had little time to prepare for the destruction.
The new film arrives as Joplin reflects on recovery efforts over the past 14 years, underscoring the resilience of a town that saw a third of its buildings destroyed. With extensive footage and firsthand accounts, the documentary explores not just the force of nature, but the human stories behind the headlines.
The 2011 Joplin tornado reshaped how emergency managers across the country issue tornado warnings because it revealed critical gaps in both public communication and behavioral response.
According to a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) study cited by Weather.com, despite a 17-minute lead time from the National Weather Service's warning, many residents delayed taking shelter because the tornado was rain-wrapped and did not resemble the classic funnel shape. This visual ambiguity, combined with public confusion over warning messages, led to what experts later identified as "confirmation delay"-a dangerous tendency to wait for additional cues before taking action.
"Warnings aren't enough when it comes to violent tornadoes," Greg Forbes, former severe weather expert at The Weather Channel, told Weather.com. "Homes are no match for a violent tornado."
In response to these failures, emergency managers nationwide began reassessing how warnings are disseminated, placing more focus on behavioral science to ensure that alerts not only reach people but also spur immediate, life-saving action.
Netflix's The Twister: Caught in the Storm uses both archival footage and new interviews to document the tornado's path and its impact.
The storm carved a path nearly a mile wide and six miles long through Joplin. According to TheGuardian, it destroyed 4,000 homes and more than 500 businesses. The documentary revisits these numbers with visual evidence and survivor accounts, giving fresh gravity to statistics that once stunned the nation.
In the aftermath, federal and state agencies coordinated the delivery of more than $2 billion in aid and recovery funds. The response became a benchmark for subsequent disaster planning across the Midwest.
Joplin remains one of the largest cities in southwest Missouri, although its size is modest compared to other urban centers.
It is located in the southwestern corner of Missouri and serves as a regional hub for commerce and healthcare. At the time of the tornado, Joplin's population was around 50,000. As of 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that the town has grown by 6 percent or to 53,095 at last estimates. Despite the population rebound, scars from the storm remain visible both physically and emotionally across the city.
What Time Did the 2011 Joplin Tornado Hit?
The tornado touched down around 5:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, May 22, 2011. It formed just outside of Joplin and quickly intensified as it entered the city limits. According to reports cited by USA Today, the tornado reached its peak intensity within minutes and continued for about 48 minutes before dissipating.
According to the NOAA, the tornado directly killed 158 people, but USA Today reports that it also caused "indirect deaths" that bring the total number of fatalities to around 162.
It was the deadliest single tornado in U.S. history since modern record-keeping began, according to the National Weather Service. The death toll was exacerbated by the tornado's path through densely populated neighborhoods and a busy commercial corridor. According to the Associated Press (AP), emergency workers and local volunteers pulled victims from the wreckage for days, with some of the dead found far from where they had last been seen.
Just before the tornado touched down, 445 graduates of Joplin High School had just completed their graduation ceremony and had to scurry to find cover. The celebratory day was cut short as many students were impacted by the tornado.
Will Norton, 18, had just left his high school graduation when it struck. As he rode in his family's SUV, he was pulled out through the sunroof despite his father's attempts to hold on. His body was found five days later in a pond nearby, reported the AP.
More than 1,000 people were injured, and entire families were affected.
The 2011 tornado was also one of just a few rated E-5 ever recorded, with winds estimated at over 200 miles per hour, reported the AP.
The event reshaped how emergency managers across the country issue tornado warnings, as the Joplin tornado highlighted failures in public communication systems and the public's response to warnings.
Then-principal of Joplin High School Kerry Sachetta told AP on the evening of May 22, 2011: "You see pictures of World War II, the devastation and all that with the bombing-that's really what it looked like."
Director of 'The Twister: Caught in the Storm' Alexandra Lacey posted to Instagram: "Thank you again to the community of Joplin and the young contributors who have shared their stories with such authenticity and bravery."
As the anniversary of the tornado approaches, the film is expected to serve both as historical documentation and a call to continued vigilance in communities vulnerable to extreme weather.
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Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
American Botanical Council Acquires Full Rights to Steven Foster Photo Library
The nonprofit now owns more than 150,000 images of 1,700+ species of medicinal and aromatic plants taken by famed photographer and herbal expert Echinacea Purpurea Passiflora Incarnata Austin, Texas, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The nonprofit American Botanical Council (ABC) announces that it has obtained ownership rights to the entire collection of medicinal and aromatic plant photographs taken by the late botanist, author, and preeminent photographer Steven Foster (1957–2022).Foster was well-known and widely respected as the author or co-author of 21 books on herbs and medicinal plants. He also wrote more than 800 articles and reviews on herbal medicine, ethnobotany, sustainable sourcing, conservation, and related subjects, including more than 100 articles and reviews in ABC's peer-reviewed journal HerbalGram. His extensive photographic library includes more than 150,000 images of more than 1,700 accurately identified medicinal and aromatic plant species. This includes Foster's photos of many native American medicinal plants, as well as other plants he encountered during his travels in countries around the world, including Argentina, Armenia, Belize, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, England, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Japan, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Peru, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam, and elsewhere. Foster was a member of ABC's Board of Trustees for more than 20 years and president for 10 years. He provided frequent and instrumental support for HerbalGram and served as a contributing editor, peer reviewer, and author of dozens of feature-length articles. He also contributed hundreds of medicinal plant photos from his extensive library, including at least 60 photos that appeared on the magazine's cover. His photography filled nearly every issue of HerbalGram since issue 24 in 1991. After Foster's untimely death in January 2022, ABC continued to have access to and permission to use his photos in a variety of ABC publications and communications through a special arrangement with his estate. ABC continued to feature his photos on ABC's website, in publications of the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP), and in HerbalGram, ABC's monthly newsletter HerbalEGram, ABC's weekly newsletter Herbal News & Events, and other ABC publications. Now, ABC has finalized the purchase of Foster's entire digital photo library, including full rights to all of the images. Credits to Foster's photographs will now read: 'Photo by Steven Foster ©2025 ABC.' 'For more than 40 years, Steven was a close personal friend and colleague and a primary contributor to ABC's nonprofit research and educational mission, publications, and programs,' said ABC Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal. 'Steven's intelligence, botanical knowledge, insightful and deeply informed writing, and his compelling photography were an integral part of the development and evolution of HerbalGram and ABC. 'It has been ABC's goal not only to provide authoritative, reliable, science-based information on herbs and medicinal plants, but also to show the beauty of these plants, which we have done for decades thanks in large part to Steven's incredibly beautiful photos,' Blumenthal added. 'Now, ABC has the opportunity to continue its nonprofit educational mission with Steven's photos and to help expand the herb community and general public's awareness of and appreciation for Steven's remarkable photographic legacy. ABC Art Director Matt Magruder said: 'Securing the ownership of Steven Foster's photography library is an exciting new chapter for HerbalGram and all of ABC's various programs and publications. Steven's photography has been a foundational — and visually stunning — part of the organization from early on. As a fellow photographer, I am grateful to be able to honor Steven and to continue to share his quintessential photographic legacy through ABC's stewardship moving forward.' Michael J. Balick, PhD, member of ABC's Board of Trustees and vice president for botanical science, director and senior philecology curator of the Institute of Economic Botany at the New York Botanical Garden, said: 'I was delighted to learn that ABC has acquired the Steven Foster Photo Library. Steven's 'plant's eye view' was nothing short of extraordinary, and this is reflected in all of the artistic and scientific work that he did over so many decades. He was enthusiastic and generous about sharing his talents as a photographer and providing his guidance to anyone who asked for his advice, regardless of their level of botanical sophistication. When I invited him to illustrate the third edition of the Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants [Springer, 2017], he provided his best work, and the photos that grace the pages of this reference book are not only useful for identification in cases of suspected poisoning, but also works of beautifully composed botanical art. We all miss Steven, who left us prematurely, and I am grateful to ABC and its donors for ensuring that this part of his legacy will endure, educating and captivating us all for many more decades.' Blumenthal noted that, at a time when people are beginning to use artificial intelligence as a source for botanical images, one primary benefit of Foster's photographs is the reliable and accurate identification of the depicted plant species. As an expert botanist, Foster properly identified the botanicals in his photos. Aside from the beauty of the photos, this benefit is a key feature of ABC's Steven Foster Photo Library. ABC featured a memorial tribute to Steven Foster in HerbalGram issue 133 and a pictorial of some of his medicinal plant photography in issue 134. A new pictorial of Foster's brilliant medicinal plant photos was just published in the current issue of HerbalGram, issue 143. In addition, ABC has named its newest award for botanical excellence after Foster, the ABC Steven Foster Excellence in Botanical Conservation and Sustainability Award, which is announced each spring at the annual ABC Celebration at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim. Attachments Echinacea Purpurea Passiflora Incarnata CONTACT: Public Relations American Botanical Council 512-926-4900 ext. 129 publicrelations@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Medscape
2 hours ago
- Medscape
Sobering Figures: Alcohol's Link to GI Cancer
This transcript has been edited for clarity. In January 2025, the US Surgeon General released an important advisory that 'highlights alcohol use as a leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, contributing to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and about 20,000 cancer deaths each year.' This is in line with epidemiologic evidence for the carcinogenicity of alcohol. However, the advisory also noted that approximately 72% of American adults drink alcohol at least once a week, and fewer than half realize that alcohol use contributes to an increase in cancer risk. In this video, we will explore the research linking alcohol to gastrointestinal (GI) cancers and suggest ways that physicians and public health experts can help individuals dramatically reduce their alcohol consumption. Through careful discussions in the clinic and public health initiatives, we can hopefully prevent many cancer deaths related to alcohol use. The Toll of Alcohol-Associated GI Cancer The association between alcohol consumption and cancer risk was first appreciated during the late 1980s. Over time, a growing body of research has demonstrated 'a causal relationship between alcohol use and increased risk for at least seven different types of cancer, including breast (in women), colorectum, esophagus, liver, mouth (oral cavity), throat (pharynx), and voice box (larynx).' The advisory publication noted that in 2020, approximately 741,300 patients developed cancer in part due to alcohol. In the United States, there are approximately 20,000 cancer deaths annually related to alcohol consumption, more than the number of alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions each year, which totals 13,500. Breast cancer makes up 60% of cancer-related deaths for women, while liver cancer (approximately 33%) and colorectal cancer (approximately 21%) make up the most cancer-related deaths for men. These figures should be sobering. Although the risk of developing cancer in people who consume fewer than two drinks per day is lower compared with higher levels of alcohol ingestion, there are a greater number of people who consume one to two drinks per day. Therefore, the total number of cancer cases is similar. In 2020, 185,100 patients who drank one to two drinks daily developed cancer attributed to alcohol usage, compared with 153,400 patients who consumed four to six drinks per day and 192,900 patients who consumed more than six drinks per day. A standard drink of alcohol amounts to 5 fluid ounces of wine, 12 fluid ounces of beer, or 1.5 fluid ounces of hard liquor. Knowledge Gap The International Agency for Research on Cancer — a specialty arm of the World Health Organization — now classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen along with tobacco, asbestos, and formaldehyde. In fact, 25 years ago, the US National Toxicology Program announced that alcoholic beverage consumption is carcinogenic. Yet, there remains a knowledge gap among the American public about the fact that alcohol is a strong cancer risk factor. A 2019 survey indicated that only 45% of Americans realized alcohol is a cancer risk factor, while those surveyed had higher awareness of the cancer risks posed by other factors, such as radiation exposure (91%), tobacco (89%), and asbestos (81%). Scientists have been studying alcohol as a potential risk factor for cancer over 20 years, using the same template of observational studies that researchers previously applied to studying smoking as a cancer risk factor. A large global meta-analysis comprising 572 research studies and 486,538 cancer deaths concluded that alcohol is indeed a cancer risk factor. A pooled analysis of 26 studies found the odds of developing oral cancer increased by 40% for those who drank one alcoholic beverage daily compared with those who did not. Furthermore, another meta-analysis showed the relative risk of cancer development compared with people who don't drink was 1.0 for light drinkers, 1.21 for moderate drinkers, and 1.52 for heavy drinkers (ie, more than four drinks per day). How Alcohol Causes Cancer Acetaldehyde is a breakdown byproduct of alcohol that can cause cancer by binding to DNA and damaging it. As a result, a cell can begin to grow uncontrollably and produce a cancerous tumor. In addition, alcohol can produce reactive oxygen species, which has the potential to create inflammation through oxidation, also damaging DNA, proteins, and lipids. Studies have shown that providing ethanol or acetaldehyde, which is the metabolic breakdown product of ethanol, led rats to develop more tumors in the body compared with controls. Alcohol can even increase estrogen levels, which can potentially predispose to breast cancer development. Smoking while drinking poses additional risks. Carcinogens from tobacco smoke can dissolve in alcohol liquid and more easily enter the body, which is especially concerning for the potential contribution to throat and oral cancers. Acetaldehyde can sometimes be used as a food additive and aroma agent, and is a significant carcinogenic component found in cigarette smoke. The acetaldehyde concentration in cigarette smoke is 1000 times greater than that in other significant carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or nitrosamines from tobacco. Drinking alcohol in combination with smoking cigarettes can have a synergistic negative effect on the risk for colorectal cancer, and the combination can have a sevenfold effect on the upper digestive tract's exposure to carcinogenic acetaldehyde. Additional research has focused on whether folate deficiency, sometimes caused by heavy alcohol use, might also place patients at risk through an alternative pathway. Esophageal and Liver Cancer According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), heavy alcohol consumption can increase esophageal cancer risk fivefold. Even light drinking can increase the risk by 1.3-fold, highlighting the importance of limiting alcohol consumption. The NCI also reports that heavy alcohol ingestion can multiply the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma by two times compared with the regular population. Although additional research needs to be conducted, it has been hypothesized that alcohol can cause liver cancer by altering the immune response, causing reactive oxygen species production, and producing changes in the immune response. Unfortunately, alcohol can act synergistically with hepatitis B and C to cause liver cancer. Also, consistently drinking two or more alcoholic beverages per day is associated with an increased risk for liver cancer. Gastric Cancer Recent studies have shown that alcohol consumption could increase gastric cancer risk. Acetaldehydes may act as a possible mechanism by creating a local toxic effect, and ethanol may also disturb gastric mucosal protection. A meta-analysis that reviewed 10 case-control studies investigating alcohol and gastric cancer risks validated it as a risk factor even at low levels of alcohol consumption. A Korean population-based retrospective cohort study found that 'the risk of GI cancer increased linearly with the frequency of drinking in a dose-dependent manner.' Pancreatic Cancer The same Korean study found that the risk for pancreatic cancer increased with weekly alcohol drinking. A meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Cancer also showed a 20% increase in pancreatic cancer risk with alcohol consumption. In a study of over 450,000 Americans living in California, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, the risk of developing pancreatic cancer in heavy alcohol users (at least three drinks per day) was 1.35 compared with light users (less than one drink per day) in never smokers. Another study, of over 33,000 patients in Sweden, found the relative risk of pancreatic cancer for intermediate and heavy alcohol use was 2.13 in former smokers. Colorectal Cancer In 2025, the NCI published a guide indicating that moderate to heavy alcohol consumption is associated with a 1.2- to 1.5-fold increased risk for colorectal cancer compared with patients who were abstinent. In an earlier review, from 2015, researchers showed that alcohol consumption of more than 30 grams per day was associated with an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Estimates from the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research indicate that there was a 9% risk of developing colorectal cancer for every 10 grams of alcohol consumed daily. In addition, folate deficiency has been shown to worsen the effects of drinking alcohol on colorectal cancer risks. A 2022 meta-analysis published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that consuming alcohol was associated with a 1.71 relative risk of developing early-onset colorectal cancer. Interestingly, cigarette smoking was not statistically significant for establishing such an association. Consumption of processed meat and fried foods, as well as lack of exercise, also contributed to the development of early-onset colorectal cancer. As physicians, we should encourage patients to make lifestyle modifications to avoid those other risk factors. While additional research needs to be conducted, a cohort study in California and Hawaii, led by Dr Song-Yi Park, indicated that the relationship between alcohol and colorectal cancer might vary by ethnicity. In addition, it found that colorectal cancer risk was increased by wine and beer, but not liquor. The association with alcohol was greatest for rectal and left colon cancers. Public Health Approaches Alcohol is the most consumed drug in the United States, a statistic that requires validated approaches for addressing. In the future, Congress can vote to include alcohol warning labels on bottles and cans. There's evidence that health warning labels are effective in teaching the public about alcohol-induced health consequences. Interestingly, multiple studies have illustrated a decrease in alcohol consumption following viewership of alcohol warning labels. In addition, alcohol warning labels depicting liver cancer or negative alcohol consequences have been shown to reduce drinking and drunk driver situations. A 2024 meta-analysis showed with 'moderate certainty' that alcohol warning labels might decrease selection of alcoholic drinks and drinking before driving. However, there was 'low evidence' demonstrating that warning labels might reduce alcohol drinking per occasion, or alcohol drinking speeds, which would be important considerations at parties and social gatherings. A 2020 study showed that alcohol selection was lower for all kinds of alcohol warning labels compared with no warning labels. Specifically, alcoholic drink selection was 56% with warning labels that consisted of an image and text, 49% for image only, and 61% for text only. During the 1990s and 2000s, physicians and public health experts learned a lot about how to motivate patients to quit smoking. One successful public health approach was the use of the transtheoretical model, where patients go through various stages, such as precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance, when trying to decide when to quit smoking. This behavioral modification model could be used for alcohol prevention too. Key public policy interventions also helped, including a tobacco taxation, advertising bans, and tobacco marketing restrictions in smoke-free zones. Similar interventions could work well for alcohol. Alcohol taxation can be used to deter heavy drinkers and young drinkers who don't have as much money to spend, given that tobacco taxation was successful for smoking reductions. Furthermore, policies could be set to maintain minimum unit pricing to prevent the sale of ultracheap liquor. States could also limit the hours of alcohol purchasing or even the days, such as banning alcohol sales on Sunday. These public health strategies could work in tandem to help decrease alcohol drinking rates in the United States. Alcohol and smoking are very similar social activities that for years were depicted as stylish and cool in movies and on TV. Then smoking ads were banned on TV through the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act of 1970. During the 1970s, cigarette companies shifted their advertising from TV to print. So, it would be important in the future to ban alcohol ads from all media and printed marketing. As highlighted by the World Health Organization, advertising bans and restrictions were helpful in Nordic countries with decreasing the per-capita drinking amount. Finally, physicians should screen patients for heavy alcohol consumption using the validated AUDIT- C questionnaire and biomarkers such as phosphatidyl ethanol. When needed, Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar 12-step program can be offered to patients who drink heavily to reduce alcohol consumption. Tips to Reduce Alcohol Consumption Here are some helpful tips to encourage patients and friends to reduce alcohol consumption. Set a quit date and avoid triggers such as meeting friends at bars. Drink mocktails at social gatherings and parties. Patients can also choose from a plethora of innovative and tasty alcohol-free beers when drinking with friends. Several beer companies, such as Heineken, Budweiser, Guinness, and Samuel Adams, have developed great alcohol-free beer alternatives, which are extremely helpful for patients trying to remain abstinent and also for those trying to prevent cancer. Mass media initiatives such as the Ad Council and celebrity public service announcement television spots could be used to shift social norms around alcohol consumption. Public service announcements could also be shared at sporting events and concerts where alcohol consumption is common. Public health campaigns could place posters in bars and liquor stores informing consumers about the link between alcohol and cancer. Social media could teach target populations about alcohol reduction in fun and engaging ways. By talking with patients in clinic and working on public health campaigns, gastroenterologists have a unique opportunity to inspire behavioral lifestyle changes in patients and to prevent many cancers.
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Axiom Space's record-setter to lead astronauts from 3 nations on private mission
Peggy Whitson has spent nearly two years of her life in space as an Axiom Space employee and former NASA astronaut. Next week she'll lead a mission with three men representing countries that haven't sent anyone to space in more than four decades. Whitson, 65, will command the Ax-4 mission targeting liftoff as early as 8:22 a.m. Tuesday from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-A. It will transport three Axiom customers: one each from India and Hungary, whose seats were paid for by their governments, and one from Poland through the European Space Agency. Whitson flew three times for NASA before joining Axiom, for which she commanded the Ax-2 mission in 2023 and tallied more than 675 days in space. She holds the record for most time in space by a woman and most for any American. All four of her missions were to the International Space Station - as is the Ax-4 flight. "For me, returning to space is always a special experience. Every mission is different," she said during a call with media Tuesday. "Every crew brings something new to the table. I've been incredibly impressed by the dedication and the work ethic and the passion of this team. "It's been a joy to train alongside them and I'm looking forward to seeing them in microgravity." That crew members are Shubhanshu Shukla of India, acting as mission pilot; mission specialist Sławosz Uznański of Poland, an ESA project astronaut; and mission specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The quartet will climb aboard a new SpaceX Crew Dragon - which will get its official name once it reaches orbit - launching atop a Falcon 9 rocket on only the second human spaceflight of the year from Space Coast following the March launch of Crew-10. The Dragon is slated to dock with the space station Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. for a planned two-week stay during which crew members will participate in a heavy schedule of science experiments, technology demonstrations and media outreach. "We'll be conducting research that spans biology, material and physical sciences as well as technology demonstrations," Whitson said. "We'll also be engaging with students around the world, sharing our experience and inspiring the next generation of explorers." One science experiment she's most interested in could pave the way for people who are diabetic to travel into space. "A person with diabetes can't fly in space because it's disqualifying and not considered to be safe, because we wouldn't know how their bodies would respond," Whitson said. "So if we have the appropriate technology to monitor the individuals, we feel that we can open up that door and that path for a lot of folks in the world and just open up space a little bit more." Delving into a customer base of countries which don't have as much access to space is part of Axiom's business plan. For this mission, the three countries represented first flew to space with the Soviet Union as cosmonauts on Soyuz spacecraft, but nothing since 1984, although a Hungarian-American millionaire flew to the space station twice as a tourist in 2007 and 2009. The governments paid Axiom an undisclosed amount for their representatives' trip to the space station. It marks the third time it has flown government-sponsored passengers after its first trip to the station in 2022 had three men who paid $55 million each for their visit. Whitson's last trip on Ax-2 had just one private passenger who paid their own way. The Saudi Arabian government paid for the other two passengers. Since then, Axiom has focused on only government-sponsored customers. Ax-3 in 2024 had passengers from Italy, Turkey and Sweden. Similar to Uznański on this mission, the ESA paid for the Swedish customer even though the agency has access to the space station as a partner with NASA, Canada, Japan and Russia. The trio of space newcomers on this mission all spoke of it as opening up possibilities for their nations. "I carry with me, not just instruments and equipment, but the hopes and dreams of a billion hearts," said India's Shukla, who will perform seven experiments for research institutions from his nation. "These experiments will pave the way for India's progress in microgravity science, and I'm proud to be the bridge between Earth and orbit for this pioneering research, balancing the scientific ambition with a rich cultural heritage." Poland's Uznański noted that he will enjoy the view. "I'm looking forward to floating in the cupola, which is our window back on Earth. I can't wait to see all the training places, and also our four countries from up there, but mostly to see Earth as a whole, as one planet, one home," he said. Kapu will do 25 experiments for Hungary while also using half of his personal luggage space to bring something that pays homage to the first Hungarian who flew to space in 1978. "There was a teddy bear which is wearing a cosmonaut space suit. This teddy bear is from a Hungarian TV show for kids," he said, noting it went along for the ride nearly 50 years ago. "I'm really proud to fly that again." It won't be the only stuffed animal on the flight. The other is a swan called Joy, named by Kapu, that will function as the crew's "zero-gravity indicator" - traditionally an object that lets astronauts know they've reached space as it begins to float around after launch. Whitson teased the swan's connection to the name reveal for the Crew Dragon capsule. The first four Crew Dragons were named Endeavour, Resilience, Endurance and Freedom. "The reason we selected this one might become more obvious once you hear the name of the vehicle," she said. "You'll have to wait for that one." -------------- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
