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The Guardian
14 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
‘Science is a human endeavor': astrophysicist uses art to connect Black and brown kids to the Stem fields
When practicing funeral ceremonies during the antebellum period, enslaved west Africans mimicked the sun's rotation as they danced counterclockwise in hidden clearings. They would sing and shuffle their feet to the beat of the drums in a ring shout, a ritual to honor the deceased that originated in Africa and which is still practiced by the descendants of enslaved people in the south-east US today. For the bereaved who grieved the recent death of a loved one, their practice orbited around the setting sun. So begins a chapter about our closest star in Painting the Cosmos, a recent book by UC Santa Cruz astrophysicist Dr Nia Imara. The book blends science and art in an ode to the diversity of the cosmos. While touching on astronomical tidbits, such as the fact that scientists measure the rate of the sun's spin by tracking the sunspots on its surface, Imara demonstrates the influence of astronomy on life and culture throughout history. She compares the sun's rhythmic cycle to the repetition found in the Black artist Alma Thomas's abstract paintings of space, and the patterns in the west African Bwa people's multicolored wooden masks depicting the sun and nature. As a painter and one of the only Black female astronomy professors in the US, Imara focuses on the contributions of Black and brown artists and scientists throughout her book. For Imara, it's important that young Black and brown people also see people in the sciences who look like them. That's why she created the non-profit Onaketa in 2020 to offer free science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) online tutoring for Black and brown youth throughout the nation, who are mentored by scientists of color. 'Oftentimes when we're taught science and math in school, the focus in our textbooks and in the classrooms is on the contributions of white folks, and it's really important to show people that science is a human endeavor,' Imara said. 'Astronomy is often considered the oldest science, and certainly people from all over the world have made really valuable contributions.' Diversity is necessary for harmony in the universe, Imara argues in her book. Our solar system consists of eight planets of varying sizes, temperatures and features. 'If you change any one of these eight planets, or you didn't have one of them for some reason, that would have serious implications for the development of life on Earth,' Imara said. Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, has a large gravitational influence that deflects meteors that would otherwise hit the Earth's surface; and if Saturn were any smaller that it currently is, the Earth's orbit around the sun would change and might no longer hold liquid water. 'One of the things that science has taught me is that there are so many metaphors like this in nature,' Imara said. 'And if we take them to heart and apply them to ourselves here, I think that would really go a long way in how we treat each other, and how our society works.' Imara became interested in astronomy at a young age as she pondered existential questions about human life: 'What is the meaning of all this, and where do we fit into the universe?' As a sophomore in high school, she took a physics class that answered some of her fundamental questions. 'My relationship to science now has evolved so that I don't think any more that science can answer all of these big, deep questions, which are often very religious, very philosophical and even moral in nature,' Imara said. 'But I appreciate science and nature even more for the metaphors that it has to offer and also because of its ability to connect to people.' More than two decades ago, Imara began practicing visual art as a way to exercise another side of her brain and heart. Art, she said, has helped address some of her queries about human connectedness that science failed to answer. In her book, she writes that art and science haven't always been viewed as diametrically opposed. The Great Pyramid of Giza, in Egypt, which was built as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu 4,500 years ago, merged science and art as the tallest building in the world until the 1800s. The monument displays precise geometry, and its shape nods to Benben, which was the first mound of land to be created according to ancient Egyptian religion. For Imara, the Great Pyramid is 'emblematic of how this incredible society brought together so many fields that we often treat as disparate. And it still blows my mind to think about the precision with which this monument was designed, conceived and constructed with all of the alignments with the cardinal directions, and the really precise alignment of air shafts within the pyramid to certain constellations and stars that were important to the Egyptians.' In pursuit of highlighting the achievements of Black and brown scientists outside her work as an astronomer and visual artist, Imara turned to education to create opportunities for marginalized youth. So she launched her organization Onaketa to offer personalized Stem tutoring to Black and brown youth. Middle and high schoolers are partnered up with Black and brown scientists who tutor them online on a weekly basis for up to a year. Over the past five years, six tutors have mentored more than 100 students throughout the country. 'Most of our students have never encountered a Black or brown scientist as a teacher or as a professor,' Imara said. 'To have somebody who is also a mentor who can guide them and show them new possibilities for themselves is really important.' Imara sees the program as a way to 'encourage Black and brown youth who have been actively discouraged and undermined from pursuing these fields. It's a matter of putting that attention, resources and love towards people who have been actively underserved.' Chima McGruder, an Onaketa mentor since 2021 who has a background in astrophysics, said that along with tutoring students in math through the program, he also serves as a role model for students who can see themselves in him. He's built up strong connections with some of the students whom he's mentored for several semesters. 'A lot of them don't get support that they would otherwise in math, or just someone who they can look up to who is not their parents,' McGruder said. 'I find those interactions very rewarding and it actually makes me feel like I'm making a difference.' McGruder said that it's important to expose Black and brown students to Stem fields at an early age since they are largely underrepresented in that sector. While Latinos compose 17% of the workforce across all jobs, they only represent 8% of people in Stem occupations, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center analysis of employment data. And Black workers make up 11% of the workforce and 9% of Stem workers. A diversity of perspective ensures that products and medicines are applicable to different populations, since some diseases have a correlation to race, McGruder said: 'Who you are and what your background is plays into the things that you create and the standards that you make.' Toward the end of the chapter about the sun's rhythm in her book, Imara reminds readers that everything they see is a reflection of the sun's light. And just as the star's own cycle waxes and wanes, so do the moments of our lives, Imara writes in the book: 'A government bent on war and defense will see a potential enemy in everything, including phenomena caused by the innocent sun. An enslaved people see in the same sun a powerful symbol that connects them with home, with their ancestors. It offers a perpetual reminder that life occurs in cycles – rhythms – and thus, their peculiar situation is not permanent.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Fast-moving airborne threat approaching US triggers public health warnings
A large cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert is moving across the Atlantic and is expected to reach Florida and parts of the southeastern US in the coming days. The dusty air may linger for several days, leading to poor air quality and potential health risks. Experts warn that it can make breathing difficult, especially for people with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory issues, because it carries fine particles that can irritate the lungs. Meteorologist Matt Devitt of WINK Weather in Fort Myers, Florida, shared a time-lapse video on Facebook Tuesday, showing the Saharan dust cloud drifting near Key West, spreading into the Gulf of Mexico, and looping back into South Florida by Friday. As of Wednesday, the cloud had reached the Caribbean Sea. 'The Saharan Air Layer contains about 50 percent less humidity, which can weaken tropical systems and slow down activity in affected areas,' Devitt said . As a bonus, the plume can create stunning sunrises and sunsets, adding a warm, colorful glow to the sky. Saharan dust clouds like this one can travel more than 5,000 miles and often reach the Gulf Coast and Florida each summer. The Saharan Air Layer is a dry, dusty air mass that forms over the Sahara Desert, the largest and hottest desert in the world. Each summer, seasonal weather patterns like the West African Monsoon and high-pressure systems create strong winds that sweep across the Sahara. These winds pick up tiny particles known as aeolian dust and lift them into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the Bermuda-Azores High, a high-pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean, produces steady east-to-west winds that help carry the dust across the ocean. Another pattern, the African Easterly Jet, helps push the dust higher into the air and even farther west. Together, these wind systems can transport Saharan dust over 5,000 miles, often reaching the Caribbean, Florida, and the Gulf Coast. Dust activity usually peaks between June and mid-August, though the amount of dust varies from year to year. While the dust can lower air quality and pose problems for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions, it also has a silver lining: the dry air and strong winds help suppress hurricanes by making it harder for tropical storms to form and grow. The Saharan dust plume is expected to reach Florida by the weekend, bringing hazy skies, vibrant sunsets, and a drop in air quality. Experts cite guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Weather Service (NWS), which warn that elevated dust levels can trigger asthma attacks and worsen conditions like COPD and allergies. The fine dust particles can also irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Health officials say children, older adults, and people with heart or lung issues are especially vulnerable during these dusty events. In June 2020, a massive Saharan dust cloud, nicknamed the 'Godzilla plume,' swept from West Africa across the Atlantic, bringing hazy skies from Texas to the Carolinas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) called it the largest event in nearly 50 years, with reduced visibility and air quality alerts issued across multiple states. Then in July 2023, another thick wave of Saharan dust blanketed Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, turning skies orange and pushing air quality into 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' in cities like Miami and Houston. This year's plume is different as it's earlier, denser, and more concentrated, with higher levels of fine particles. As a result, health officials and meteorologists are keeping a close eye on its impact. The size and intensity of these dust clouds vary from year to year, but scientists believe that shifting wind patterns and climate change may be contributing to more frequent and powerful plumes.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
James Moore to Provide No-Fee Natural Disaster Resilience and Recovery Assessments for Small Businesses
Service is available to companies throughout the Southeast United States GAINESVILLE, FL / ACCESS Newswire / May 27, 2025 / James Moore, a consultancy that enables small and mid-sized businesses to satisfy critical business objectives through services including technology, announced that it is providing no-cost Resilience Assessments for small businesses that need guidance to ensure that their infrastructure remains operational in the event of a severe weather incident. The assessment is available to businesses in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. There is no fee for this service, and the offer is limited to the first 200 responding companies. The assessments are conducted remotely through a mobile phone-based consultation. The service will include evaluations of server and hardware configuration, backup systems, data storage, documentation, security, backup policies and procedures, and staff readiness. Assessments can also include compliance with HIPAA and FINRA mandates. 'Each year, American businesses face the inevitable challenge of minimizing any disruption caused by weather events, but they may not be aware of the steps they should take to ensure that they are properly prepared to manage these situations,' said Tomas Sjostrom, president of James Moore Technology Services. 'Our assessment program gives business owners a solid foundation to understand how their respective organizations will fare from a technology infrastructure perspective, and provides specific suggestions on how to fortify their systems to minimize any impact.' To register for the assessment, businesses should visit the registration page here. For more information on how James Moore can help companies meet needs and address the challenges of the modern workplace, visit or for technology services. About James Moore James Moore, founded in 1964, is a consulting firm that helps organizations across the United States meet their operational and financial goals. The firm offers tax, auditing, and accounting and controllership services to its clients, along with comprehensive support in human resources, technology, digital solutions, and wealth management. James Moore's team is comprised of seasoned professionals with decades of experience in their respective fields. The firm serves industry leaders in the construction, healthcare, higher education and collegiate athletics, manufacturing, state and local government, nonprofit, and real estate sectors. Learn more at ### PR Contact: Suzanne Mattaboni Parallel Communications Group, Inc. 610-737-2140 𝕏: @Parallel_PR LinkedIn [email protected] SOURCE: James Moore Advisory press release
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
WATCH: Astronaut shares view of city-sized thunderstorms from space
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — It's hard to visualize the size of thunderstorms from the ground, but a video from space shows a new perspective of just how big these monster storms can truly get. Astronaut Col. Anne McClain is currently aboard the International Space Station and passed over the Southeast U.S. a few nights ago when thunderstorms were battering the East Coast. Severe thunderstorms can stretch up to 15 miles wide and reach tens of thousands of feet high, covering huge swaths of land. 'I was astounded at the scale of recent thunderstorms,' McClain wrote on X. 'Some of these flashes are as large as cities!' The video shows giant cloud formations hovering over southern states, with flashes of lightning dotting the darkness. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Washington Post
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Washington Post
Extreme heat will make it feel more like August than May for Texas, parts of southeastern US
HOUSTON — Sweltering heat more commonly seen in the throes of summer than in the spring is making an unwelcome visit to Texas and other parts of the southeastern United States this week, prompting forecasters to tell residents to use caution outside. 'Definitely more like August this week than May,' Cameron Self, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's office in the Houston and Galveston area, said Tuesday.
