Latest news with #Minor
Metro
3 days ago
- Science
- Metro
Twist in search for mysterious 'Planet Nine' in the dark depths of our solar system
Scientists hunting for Planet Nine, an elusive planetary body that could change our understanding of the solar system, have found something. Planet X is a hypothetical planet seven times the mass of Earth tucked just behind Pluto. Despite possibly being the fifth most massive planet, scientists have never tracked the white whale of astronomy down – that is, if it even exists. But a trio of American scientists trying to find the elusive gas giant have discovered a new planet… of sorts, a dwarf planet called 2017 OF201. According to a study, which has not been peer-reviewed, 2017 OF201 is roughly 430 miles across, three times smaller than Pluto. The object is an extreme trans-Neptunian object (eTNO), a minor planet that orbits the Sun far beyond Neptune. So far away, in fact, OF201 would take 25,000 Earth years to complete a solar lap. Its orbit even swings out into the Oort Cloud – a sphere of icy comets a trillion miles from the Sun. OF201 can only be observed from Earth 0.5% of the time, making its closest approach to us in 1930 and won't do so again until 26,186. The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center added 2017 OF201 to its database last week. Five other dwarf planets are officially recognised: Pluto, Eris, Ceres and two others beyond Neptune, Haumea and Makemake. The search for a ninth planet in our solar system has been going on for a century. The evidence for it that hunters have long clung to is how six objects – dwarf planets and chunks of ice – have been discovered in the vastly empty outskirts of the solar system. Bizarrely, they huddle together as they orbit, as if something a gassy behemoth of a planet were shepherding them, said Imo Bell, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. They told Metro: 'Some astronomers believe that proving the existence of this planet would explain the behaviour of many other eTNOs with highly elliptical orbits clustered on one side of the Sun. 'It's thought that Planet Nine, with a mass of about five Earths, would explain the confined orbits of these eTNOs.' Sihao Cheng of New Jersey's Institute for Advanced Study and Princeton University graduate students, Jiaxuan Li and Eritas Yang, discovered 2017 OF201. They did so by combing through an archive of images of the outskirts of the solar system, taken by the Blanco telescope in Chile, as well as by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope in Hawaii. Over time, they realised that tiny dots in the images were a single dwarf planet-sized rock with a wide and eccentric orbit. Yang said: 'It must have experienced close encounters with a giant planet, causing it to be ejected to a wide orbit.' Yet the discovery isn't exactly what the team had hoped for, explained Bell, as it's not part of the pack of eTNOs that imply Planet Nine exists. They said: 'The discovery of 2017 OF201 is significant because it's found in a region of the Solar System thought to be empty, and it's presence points to the existence of other similar eTNOs with orbits that challenge ideas about Planet Nine as they are not clustered in the way that has been seen with other eTNOs.' Yang's simulations only considered one proposed orbit of Planet Nine, meaning that the findings don't disprove the planet's existence altogether. Cheng hasn't lost hope, saying that the existence of 2017 OF201 suggests there 'could be another hundred or so other objects with similar orbit and size'. 'They are just too far away to be detectable now,' he added. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Saturn in Aries for the first time since 1999 will impact these five star signs most MORE: Nasa warns of huge solar flares that could cause blackouts on Earth MORE: Here's the best spots to see the Northern Lights tonight
NDTV
23-05-2025
- Science
- NDTV
New Dwarf Planet Discovered Beyond Pluto, Hinting At Hidden 'Planet X'
Astronomers have indeed discovered a potential new dwarf planet in the outer reaches of our solar system, far beyond Pluto. This object, named 2017 OF201, is estimated to be approximately 700 kilometres (435 miles) in diameter, which could qualify it as a dwarf planet. Its extreme orbit takes around 25,000 years to complete, with its closest point being 44.5 times the Earth's distance from the Sun and its farthest point being over 1,600 times the Earth's distance. As per a news release, Cheng made the discovery alongside colleagues Jiaxuan Li and Eritas Yang from Princeton University, using advanced computational methods to identify the object's distinctive trajectory pattern in the sky. The new object was officially announced by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Centre on May 21, 2025, and in an arXiv preprint shared on May 21. According to astrophysicist Sihao Cheng of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, "The object's aphelion-the farthest point on the orbit from the Sun-is more than 1600 times that of the Earth's orbit," explains Cheng. "Meanwhile, its perihelion-the closest point on its orbit to the Sun-is 44.5 times that of the Earth's orbit, similar to Pluto's orbit." This extreme orbit, which takes the object approximately 25,000 years to complete, suggests a complex history of gravitational interactions. "It must have experienced close encounters with a giant planet, causing it to be ejected to a wide orbit," says Yang. "There may have been more than one step in its migration. It's possible that this object was first ejected to the Oort Cloud, the most distant region in our solar system, which is home to many comets, and then sent back," Cheng adds. "Many extreme TNOs have orbits that appear to cluster in specific orientations, but 2017 OF201 deviates from this," says Li.
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Boston Celtics jersey history No. 20 - Mark Minor (1972)
Boston Celtics jersey history No. 20 - Mark Minor (1972) The Boston Celtics have had players suiting up in a total of 68 different jersey numbers (and have three others not part of any numerical series) since their founding at the dawn of the Basketball Association of America (BAA -- the league that would become today's NBA), worn by well over 500 players in the course of Celtics history. To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Celtics Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. With 25 of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Celtics to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover. And for today's article, we will continue with the 10th of 31 people to wear the No. 20 jersey, Boston forward alum Mark Minor. After ending his college career at Ohio State, Minor was picked up with the 165th overall selection (there were many more rounds in that era of the draft) of the 1972 NBA draft by the Celtics. The Solon, Ohio native played just four games for Boston before he was cut by the team, his last in the league. During his time suiting up for the Celtics, Minor wore only jersey No. 20 and put up 1.3 points and 1.0 rebounds per game. All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
Hospitality Net
21-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
FHS Africa 2025 Honours David Green William E. Heinecke and Hala Matar Choufany for Visionary Leadership and Lasting Impact on the Hospitality Industry
The 2025 Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Africa Awards will honour three exceptional individuals whose leadership, vision, and integrity have profoundly shaped the hospitality industry in Africa and beyond. David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, will be recognised with the FHS Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality Award; William E. Heinecke, Founder and Chairman of Minor Hotels, will receive the FHS Leadership Award and Hala Matar Choufany, President of HVS Middle East, Africa & South Asia, will be presented with the FHS Excellence Award. The awards were nominated by the FHS Africa Advisory Board, a group of senior industry leaders who collectively represent decades of insight and influence across the global hospitality ecosystem. Their selections reflect not only individual excellence, but also the values that FHS Africa seeks to champion: ethical leadership, inclusive development, and long-term impact. William E. Heinecke, one of Asia's most influential entrepreneurs, was honoured with the FHS Leadership Award in recognition of a nearly six-decade-long career that began with a bold idea and just US$1,200. At the age of 17, Heinecke registered his first company under the name 'Minor' - a nod to being underage at the time - and went on to create Minor Hotels, a diversified hospitality group that today operates more than 530 hotels across 56 countries under brands including Anantara, Avani, Oaks, Elewana, and Tivoli. His acquisition of NH Hotel Group in 2018 marked a turning point for global expansion and established Minor as a powerhouse in the international hospitality scene. A vocal advocate for sustainability and social impact, Heinecke also founded the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, the Heinecke Foundation for education, and the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation. His accolades include HOTELS Magazine's Corporate Hotelier of the World and Entrepreneur of the Year at the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards. Now Chairman of the Board of Minor International, Heinecke continues to guide the group's long-term strategy and philanthropic mission. David Green's recognition reflects more than a decade of transformative leadership at the helm of Cape Town's iconic V&A Waterfront. Since his appointment in 2009, Green has guided the historic precinct through a R8 billion reinvention, turning it into one of Africa's most successful mixed-use destinations. Under his stewardship, the Waterfront has become a blueprint for sustainable urban development—supporting nearly 80,000 jobs, empowering local entrepreneurs, and embedding environmental and social responsibility at the core of every initiative. From the launch of the Zeitz MOCAA Museum and Makers Landing to the expansion of the hotel and hospitality portfolio now comprising 14 hotels and over 1,800 rooms, Green's legacy lies in his deep commitment to inclusivity, innovation, and purpose-driven development. Everything we do is viewed through the lenses of job creation, inclusivity, and sustainability, Green reflected. It's about ensuring that our work aligns with the values of our people, our community, and our environment. Hala Matar Choufany, recipient of the FHS Excellence Award, has set new benchmarks in hospitality advisory through her role as President of HVS Middle East, Africa & South Asia. The first woman to hold this position, she has led over 5,000 advisory engagements that have shaped hotel investments, asset strategies, and valuations across key markets. Her leadership is grounded in transparency, ethical decision-making, and long-term value creation principles she champions not just in boardrooms, but also in classrooms and industry forums worldwide A respected voice in global hospitality discourse, Choufany is committed to nurturing talent, supporting sustainable development in emerging markets, and driving responsible investment practices across Africa and beyond. True leadership is not about titles or accolades , she said. It's defined by trust, integrity, and the impact created through knowledge-sharing and collaboration. We are absolutely delighted to be recognising William, Hala, and David at FHS Africa this year. Each of them represents the very best of our industry—visionary leadership, resilience, and a deep commitment to positive change. Their stories are a testament to what is possible when passion meets purpose. FHS Africa continues to be the premier hospitality investment platform on the continent, and honouring these individuals reflects the exceptional calibre of conversation and connection that defines this event. Matthew Weihs, Managing Director of The Bench FHS Africa 2025 continues its mission to elevate the continent's hospitality potential by spotlighting the people and ideas driving sustainable growth. Through these awards, the Summit honours those who not only lead with distinction but also shape the future of hospitality across Africa and around the world. Strategic Partners: Accor, BWH Hotels, Hilton, Marriott International, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotel Group Headline Sponsors: ACT, CHIC, Hansgrohe, TUI Hotels & Resorts Sponsors: Aleph Hospitality, CityBlue Hotels, EQUATE, Knight Frank, JLL, Millat Group, St Helena Government, STR, TIME Hotels, TV5 Monde, Valor Hospitality Partners Event Ambassadors: Develop Hotels Inc, Hotel Partners Africa, Voltere by Egis, W Hospitality Group Official Carriers: Discover Airlines, Kenya Airways Supported By: South Africa Tourism About FHS Africa For over a decade, the Future Hospitality Summit Africa (FHS Africa) has been the launchpad for hospitality investment in Africa, driving growth, connecting visionaries, and transforming the continent's tourism and hospitality landscape. As a beacon of opportunity, FHS Africa brings together global investors, developers, operators, and industry leaders committed to turning potential into reality. About The Bench The Bench has built a legacy as a global curator of opportunity, designing transformative forums and summits that empower the hospitality and travel industries to connect, innovate, and thrive. With over two decades of expertise, The Bench creates platforms that go beyond transactions to inspire collaboration and drive meaningful change. Each event brings together government leaders, tourism ministries, global travel associations, leading hospitality brands, hotel owners and investors, airlines, destination developers, and more. From flagship gatherings like FHS World (formerly AHIC) and FHS Saudi Arabia, to the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) and AviaDev, The Bench creates events where ideas spark, relationships deepen, and investments take flight. The Bench thrives on fostering dynamic and forward-looking dialogues, uniting industry pioneers to address challenges, seize opportunities, and co-create the future. Each event is crafted to deliver more than just connections - it's about transforming ideas into action and building a better tomorrow. Discover more at
The Star
17-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Scientists exploring how to beat heat for better sleep
Cool showers and less coffee or alcohol: sleep quality is being harmed by hotter temperatures caused by climate change, and scientists say we need to learn how to adapt. The human brain is very sensitive to heat, with higher temperatures raising the body's central thermostat and activating stress systems. Scientists are increasingly exploring mechanisms that can help the body adapt to rising temperatures affecting our sleep and leading to health complications. "Rising temperatures induced by climate change and urbanisation pose a planetary threat to human sleep, and therefore health, performance, and wellbeing," according to a 2024 review of scientific literature published in the journal Sleep Medicine. Humans lost an average of 44 hours of sleep a year during the first two decades of the 21st century compared to earlier periods, according to a 2022 study published in the journal One Earth, which linked the data to rising temperatures. The intensification of global warming could lead to an annual loss of 50 to 58 hours of sleep per person by 2099, according to research led by Kelton Minor, from the University of Copenhagen, based on data gathered from more than 47,000 individuals in 68 countries. "Interventional studies and field experiments are now urgently needed to foster adaptation and safeguard the essential restorative role of sleep in a hotter world," Minor and other authors of the paper said. Neurons regulating temperature and sleep in the brain are highly interconnected, and lowering the body's internal thermostat is key to improving sleep quality. Adapting to heat comes at a cost to the body, according to Fabien Sauvet, a researcher at Paris Cite University. "We sweat more and faster, for example, but it requires additional hydration. And it has limits, so during heatwaves, the most important thing is to adapt our behaviour," such as activities, schedules and clothing, Sauvet said. But humans could "tolerate higher temperatures than commonly thought", he added, pointing to several studies showing that good sleep quality can be achieved with a room temperature of up to 28 degrees Celsius (82.4 degrees Fahrenheit). Challenging "the false belief that the bedroom must be at 18-20C", he said that sleeping in light clothing such as a t-shirt and shorts, and with a simple sheet as well as good ventilation, could help dealing with a few more degrees. "If we always sleep with air conditioning, we will never acclimatise," he said. Fight 'sleep enemies' Armelle Rancillac, a neuroscientist at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, said anything beyond 28C "becomes much more complicated". An excessive lack of sleep is known to disrupt the body's recovery. In the short term, this can lead to drowsiness, fatigue and a higher risk of accidents at the workplace or on the road. In the long run, it can create a harmful sleep "debt", impacting our metabolism and increasing the risk of weight gain, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and even neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Rancillac said. A sleep deficit can also reduce stress resistance and have a negative impact on mental health. To sleep better in a hotter environment, Rancillac stressed that there is a need to "eliminate or at least pay attention to sleep enemies". Before bedtime, it is recommended to take a cool shower – but not an icy one – reduce stimulants like coffee, and limit alcohol, which facilitates falling asleep but slightly raises the internal body temperature. Avoid hot tubs after a workout, opting instead for outdoor temperatures or a cold bath, said Sauvet. Napping during the hottest hours of the day have also been proven to mitigate the impacts of a sleep deficit. Short naps – "30 to 40 minutes, and before 2:00 pm" – are ideal, so as not to interfere with a good night's sleep, according to the researcher. — AFP
