First | Common News Update

Mar72021 by adminNo Comments

Coming 2 America: ‘The first black fairytale’ revisited

Amazon StudiosThe 2020s should be the decade of success for African women, according to a South African actress starring in the sequel to one of the most successful films ever with a black cast.Nomzamo Mbatha appears alongside Eddie Murphy in Coming 2 America, the follow-up to 1988's Coming to America, which made $ 288m (£207m) at the box office.Murphy played the African prince Akeem from the mythical land of Zamunda, who finds an ordinary American bride in New York City. The actor called it "the first black fairytale", adding: "It was also the very first time you had a movie with black people where you had kings and queens."Quantrell D ColbertThe sequel reunites Murphy with many of the original actors, including James Earl Jones and Arsenio Hall, as well a new cast that includes Blade's W

Mar62021 by adminNo Comments

Mars rover Perseverance makes first drive on Red Planet

Science

ORLANDO, Fla., March 5 (UPI) -- NASA's new Mars rover Perseverance made its first short drive on the Red Planet and took images of its own wheel marks in the Martian dust, agency engineers said Friday. The rover drove about 21 feet Thursday and used its steering function, performing better than it did on Earth said Anais Zarifian, a Perseverance mobility engineer for NASA, said in a news briefing. Advertisement "Our first drive went incredibly well," Zarifian said. "You can see the wheel tracks that we left on Mars. I don't think I've ever been happier to see wheel tracks that I've seen a lot." A quick test of my steering, and things are looking good as I get ready to roll. My team and I are keen to get moving. One step at a time. pic.twitter.com/XSYfT158AQ— NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover

Mar62021 by adminNo Comments

‘I’m on the move!’: NASA’s Perseverance rover takes its first test drive on Mars

Technology

NASA's Perseverance rover has taken its first drive on Mars, just weeks after landing on the Red Planet.The one-tonne robot travelled 21.3ft (6.5m) in a mobility test that the space agency said will allow the checking and calibrating of the rover's systems and instruments.Once Perseverance really gets going, it is expected to undertake regular commutes of 656ft (200m) or more. Anais Zarifian, Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mobility test bed engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said: "When it comes to wheeled vehicles on other planets, there are few first-time events that measure up in significance to that of the first drive."This was our first chance to 'kick the tyres' and take Perseverance out for a spin." ...

Feb252021 by adminNo Comments

Covid: Half with cancer signs didn’t contact GP in first wave

Health

Getty ImagesAlmost half of people with potential cancer symptoms did not contact their GP during the first wave of the pandemic, a survey suggests.Symptoms left unchecked included coughing up blood, lumps and changes to the appearance of moles.NHS figures showed a fall in referrals to cancer services last spring.But this study, of almost 8,000 people, captures the fall in people contacting their GP in the first place.The team that carried out the study, from Cardiff University and Cancer Research UK, said this raised concerns that people could be diagnosed later - and so be less likely to be treated successfully and recover.Cancer scan backlog raises late detection fearsCancer therapy with no visitors is 'hardest thing' They surveyed a representative sample of people across the UK recruite...

Feb242021 by adminNo Comments

Cancer survivor to join first all-private spaceflight on SpaceX’s Dragon

Business

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 24 (UPI) -- A physician assistant at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will join the first all-private space mission in a fundraising effort for the Memphis-based charitable facility. The mission, called Inspiration4, is scheduled for launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida as early as October for four private citizens. They plan to orbit the Earth for several days aboard a Crew Dragon capsule built by Elon Musk's SpaceX. Advertisement Hayley Arceneaux, 29, survived bone cancer through treatment at the hospital as a 10-year-old. She's thrilled to fulfill a lifelong dream to see space and to share the experience with others, she said Monday. "Cancer made me who I am today," Arceneaux said. "I have such a joy and zest for life, wanting to experience all that I c...