Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton’s office filed a complaint against the Metro Nashville officer, alleging the officer acted in an “out of control and unprofessional” manner
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Cpl. Matthew “Ty” Snook is credited with protecting civilians during the deadly attack; he leaves behind his wife and 1-year-old daughter
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are among the most powerful explosions in the universe, second only to the Big Bang. The majority of these bursts are observed to flash and fade within a few seconds to minutes. But on 2 July 2025, astronomers were alerted to a GRB source that was exhibiting repeating bursts and would end up lasting over seven hours. This event, dubbed GRB 250702B, is the longest gamma-ray burst humans have ever witnessed.
Leading X-ray space telescopes XMM-Newton and XRISM have spotted a never-seen-before blast from a supermassive black hole. In a matter of hours, the gravitational monster whipped up powerful winds, flinging material out into space at eye-watering speeds of
60,000 km per second. Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), an international team of astronomers has observed an elliptical galaxy known as NGC 4486B. Results of the observational campaign, published Dec. 16 on the arXiv preprint server, deliver important insights into the properties of the double nucleus of this galaxy.
A state judge ruled the department must return the officers to active duty despite disqualifying factors such as past drug use, license suspensions and felony convictions
YouTube Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/I9QuO09z-SI?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1 It’s the 1990s. A group of archeologists in Mexico City had been excavating parts of an Aztec temple over 500 years old when they uncovered something exciting — a body. But this isn’t just a random burial. This is the body of someone who was sacrificed. The body has been very meticulously buried. Its head has been removed, and its arms placed carefully across its chest. In its hands are small objects with the images of skulls carved into them. Most of the scientists believe these to be trinkets with some sort of unknown value, and they plan to store them at a museum along with similar objects that have been previously uncovered. One archeologist, however, brings up the object to his lips and blows. The sound is shocking and sent a chill up the spines of everyone who was around to hear it. It is the sound of a human scream. The Aztec Death Whistle’s Discovery and Disturbing SoundSince the moment the terrifying sound of the Aztec death whistle was first heard, archeologists and common people alike have been obsessed with it. How was this disturbing sound produced? And why would anyone want to make it in the first place? Despite the intricate skull carvings on the outside of these whistles, it’s easy to assume that the inside is relatively simple due to its small size. In reality, the interior of this whistle is anything but. Rather, the inside of the Aztec death whistle is a complex assortment of varying passages. These passages funnel several paths of air around so that they collide against each other, building up a pressure that leads to the creation of the terrifying sound of a human scream. Since this discovery, archeologists have been obsessed with theorizing why these whistles were produced. Meanwhile, the Aztec death whistle has slowly gained a following among the common masses who likewise speculate as to its purpose and also seek to own replicas of their own. Mass attention was first brought about when a video was posted on YouTube of the sound back in 2013. What was the Purpose of the Aztec Death Whistle?So, what exactly could be the purpose of the Aztec death whistle? We may never know for sure, but there are a few leading theories among the experts. The three most popular ideas about these strange whistles’ exact purposes are: Marching to BattleIt is well-known that the Aztecs would often create ominous and imposing sounds when marching into battle in order to intimidate their opponents. They carried drums that they would beat at a steady rate, all together. The resulting sound of hundreds if not thousands of drums created a powerful and frightening sound. There are accounts of the Aztecs employing the use of such drums when marching against the Spaniards. The Spanish records detail the terror that these drums could very easily create. So what if, instead of using drums, the Aztec army blew the Aztec death whistles in unison? The sound of just one whistle is terrifying and loud all on its own. Now imagine thousands of them blown all at once. The resulting cacophony would be sure to cause panic in even the bravest and sternest of opponents. The skull design on the whistles certainly seems to indicate a violent association. Plus, the small size of the whistles would make them more ideal for carrying into a battle over the bulkier drums. Still, this is not the only possible explanation of the Aztec death whistle’s purpose. Therapeutic Purposes?One suggested alternative purpose is perhaps the complete opposite of the previous explanation. Rather than to strike fear and signal oncoming violence, it is possible that the Aztec death whistle was actually used for therapeutic and healing purposes. The essential idea is that, rather than to inspire fear, the strange sound of the whistle was actually meant to put the listener into a trance. These trances and sounds would be part of healing rituals that would serve purposes both physical and spiritual. So, rather than cause terror, the sound of the Aztec death whistle could actually have been meant to bring comfort. If you listened to the sound created by the Aztec death whistle, you may have a hard time believing that this sound could ever be considered “comforting.” Still, there’s something to be said about the potential for the strange and unsettling to eventually lull a person into a different kind of presence of mind when repeated often enough. While this theory has a decent amount of support, however, it is still not championed as the most likely purpose by scholars and archeologists alike. We’ll get into the most convincing argument directly below. A Guide to the AfterlifeA third theory about the purpose of the Aztec death whistle is perhaps the most convincing, and it is supported by the most evidence. This theory centers around the circumstances of the Aztec death whistles discovery — mainly, that it was found in possession of someone who had been sacrificed. The placement of the death whistles with the body of the sacrificed individual was completely intentional. The crossing of the arms of the body would have had to been arranged, as well as the whistles placed in the hands. Also, the skull iconography of the whistles naturally link them to death, so the connection to human sacrifice is only a small leap from there. Even more interesting is the placement of the body’s burial. Not only was the body buried in front of a temple, but it was placed directly facing an image of the god Quetzalcoatl — the wind god. Wind gods and whistles? The connection is easy to see. It is therefore believed that the Aztec death whistles were therefore meant to serve as an aid to the human sacrifices. Through blowing this whistle, the sacrifice victim would not only create a frightening noise associated with death but also summon Quetzalcoatl through the power of these sounds created by what is essentially a small amount of contained wind. Quetzalcoatl would then theoretically guide the sacrificed individual safely through the afterlife. In our modern mindset, human sacrifice is seen as particularly grisly. Yet there is some evidence to suggest that sacrifice was seen as an honor in some ancient cultures. The granting of such a piece of equipment that could potentially help the sacrificed person on their way through the afterlife supports the notion of goodwill through the otherwise unsettling process. From Trinkets to Cultural IconsThe first blow of the Aztec death whistle would forever change the way these small objects were seen, not only in popular culture but in the archeological community. These whistles were once viewed simply as trinkets, decorative in function. Now, they have garnered much speculation and attention as scholars try to piece together their purpose. What were once undervalued trinkets have become cultural icons inspiring greater thought and understanding of the Aztec traditions and ways of life. Sensationalism and CapitalismOf course, once something enters into popular culture, it is sure to be capitalized on. The actual Aztec death whistles are naturally safely stowed away in museums and in the care of archeologists and otherwise qualified professionals. That hasn’t stopped the common masses from wanting to get their hands on these strange creations, though. From its terrifying and unique sound to its unsettling and intriguing design, the Aztec death whistle has been in high demand over the past several years. So, naturally, people have taken to reproducing and selling them. Nowadays, you can easily find and purchase an Aztec death whistle on sites like Etsy and Amazon. Though not the real thing, these replicas can be a fun addition to a display of knickknacks and novelties, becoming the exact trinkets that scholars once thought they were. Some take on the classic design and colors of authentic death whistles, adding a tarnished look to the products in order to capture the ancient and foreboding impression. Other replicas ditch this and take to different stylings, opting for bright and comprehensive colors. Regardless of their exact stylings, they all have one thing in common: the design of a skull. While some of these replicas are undoubtedly capable of producing strange and cryptic noises themselves, they’ll never be quite able to match up against the original whistles of the Aztecs. The long history and questions surrounding the Aztec death whistle make the originals all the more ominous and intriguing, their sounds all the more haunting. We may never know the true purpose of the Aztec death whistle, but that won’t stop scholars from theorizing and continuing the search for greater understanding. You can listen to the unforgettable sound of the Aztec death whistle here. YouTube Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9QuO09z-SI Featured Image via YouTube Video An international team of astronomers has achieved a first in probing the early universe, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), detecting a supernova—the explosive death of a massive star—at an unprecedented cosmic distance.
For the first time, scientists have observed the iconic Shapiro steps, a staircase-like quantum effect, in ultracold atoms.
Greek and Roman mythology and culture have long been at the forefront of pop culture and study in western society. There’s just something so intriguing about it all—the gods, the legends, the art. Not only are there many myths and stories, there are many versions of these stories. With such a wealth of material, it’s no wonder that the myths of Ancient Greece are a common source of adaptation for theater, literature, and film. One of the most iconic figures in all of Greek mythology is, of course, Achilles—they fierce warrior whose body was completely invulnerable except for his heel. While the full story of Achilles is quite complex and entertaining, however, his representation in Hollywood has unfortunately been oversimplified and watered down. Below, we’ll get into just how Hollywood got it wrong and take a closer look at the real story behind the legendary warrior. How Hollywood Watered Down The Story Of Achilles
Image by: pixabay Perhaps the most iconic portrayal of Achilles by Hollywood to date is the move Troy, which tries to take a historical approach to the events of the Trojan War by removing all the gods, nymphs, and magic. Considering Achilles is well-known as a demigod and his tale is rife with godly interference, this is already an interesting choice. But let’s give that a pass for a moment and determine if the film accomplished what it set out to do: portray an accurate historical account. Unfortunately, it falls short there as well. For starters, after she has run off with Paris, Troy’s version of Helen claims that she never wanted to move to Sparta in the first place and that she was forced to marry Menelaus. That’s interesting, considering Helen is actually from Sparta and the daughter of the preceding king and queen. The movie also kills off key players such as Agamemnon and Ajax before the war’s end, while there is actual historical evidence that suggests the two made it out of the war alive, at least for a time. These are just a few of the historical inaccuracies that plague the film. For a more detailed discussion of historical inaccuracies in the film, check out this review posted on The Guardian. In terms of the portrayal of Achilles himself, there’s a lot to be desired. Sure, no one can complain about too much Brad Pitt, but the way his character is written is just poor. Pitt’s Achilles is constantly reluctant to take action and constantly in bed with women—which may not be entirely inaccurate, but the Achilles of legend was at least more proactive and complex. You’ll find out in our recounting of the story of Achilles below why there’s a particular problem with the portrayal of Achilles’ sexuality. The True Story Of Achilles
image via: flickr.com Birth And Early ChildhoodAchilles was the son of Peleus, the king of Phthia, and Thetis, a minor sea goddess. Interestingly enough, Achilles could have been the son of either Zeus or Poseidon, both of whom were pursuing Thetis. However, it had been prophesized that Thetis would bare a son who would surpass his father—and so both these gods quickly changed their minds about that. It was decided that Thetis should marry a mortal man to therefore limit her son’s potential. It was also prophesized that Achilles would die in battle. Thetis, being an immortal herself, was already distraught at the thought that her son would eventually die in the first place, and so she took measures to ensure that his death would be as delayed as possible. This is the part of the myth that most people are most familiar with: Thetis, dipping all but the heel of her son’s body into the River Styx in order to make him nearly invincible. Because the heel was not dipped, however, he was left with one vulnerable spot on his body—thus giving arise to the term “Achilles’ heel.” There is another version of how Achilles invulnerability came about, however. In this version, Thetis would nightly anoint him with Ambrosia and place him in the fire as part of a purifying ritual. When Peleus discovered this, he didn’t understand and refused to listen to Thetis, and so she returned to the sea. Getting Pulled Into The War
As a child and young man, Achilles spent much of his time under the tutelage of the centaur Chiron, the famous trainer of heroes. It was under his instruction that Achilles became the legendary fighter he was known as. In his youth Achilles also became friends with Peleus and, more importantly, Patroclus. When it became clear that the Trojan War would break out, Thetis acted once again to keep Achilles out of harm’s way. As for her methods, well… ”unconventional” is a good way of putting it. She sent Achilles to live in the court of King Lycomedes—disguised as a girl. That’s another thing the movie got wrong—who here doesn’t want to see Brad Pitt in a full-on dress? Of course, nothing can stand in the way of fate—when yet another prophesy was delivered that the Greeks wouldn’t be able to defeat the Trojans without the aid of Achilles, Odysseus, the famous trickster himself, went to find him. And, of course, Achilles joined. The First Nine YearsThe first nine years of the war were relatively successful for Achilles. Under him, his troops overtook a dozen Trojan cities and Achilles developed a fierce reputation on the battlefield. It was also during this time, however, that Achilles started the chain of events that would eventually lead to his demise. Against his mother’s advice, Achilles killed Tenedos, the king of Tenes. Tenedos also happened to be the son of Apollo. Nothing ever good comes of killing a god’s child. Events Of The IliadIt is only the final year of the Trojan War that is told in Homer’s famous Iliad. This chapter of Achilles’ life begins with Achilles convincing Agamemnon to return Chryseis, whom he had recently claimed as a spoil of war, to her father, a priest of Apollo. (Background on Agamemnon: the brother of Menelaus, who was married to Helen before Paris stole her away.) Agamemnon was none to happy about this, and so he demanded Achilles’ own concubine, Briseis. This naturally does not go over well, either, and Achilles refuses to further participate in the war. Despite the pleas of his friends, in the light of the prophecy of his death that his mother has now revealed to him, Achilles opts to live a quiet life in obscurity. Things divulge into a sorry state for the Greeks, leading Achilles’ closest friend Patroclus to dress in Achilles’ armor and impersonate him in battle. Unfortunately, Patroclus is slain by Hector, the brother of Paris—and Achilles’ anger is ignited. When Achilles returns, he swiftly kills Hector and the tide of the war turns in favor of the Greeks. Though with his dying breath Hector foretells of Achilles’ impending death, it does not actually take place before the end of the Iliad. Death Of AchillesIt is none other than Paris, the brother of Hector and lover of Helen who caused the whole war in the first place, who eventually kills Achilles. He does so by firing an arrow that finds its target in Achilles’ singular vulnerable spot: his heel. Paris was known for being somewhat of a coward and certainly didn’t have a reputation as an archer. It is therefore believed that Apollo, the god of archery himself, guided the arrow—finally taking his revenge on Achilles. The Biggest Change To Achilles’ Character In Modern MediaLet’s back up for a moment and re-discuss Patroclus, the friend who impersonated Achilles and died from it. It is the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus that is perhaps the most misrepresented in Troy and other retellings. While many choose to read the close relationship between Achilles and Patroclus as strictly platonic, you have to ignore a great deal of language and content that suggest the more likely alternative: that the two were lovers. The movie Troy annihilates this possibility altogether by stating that Patroclus is in fact Achilles’ cousin. This does not do justice to the relationship between the two men. It is only after Patroclus’ death that Achilles returns to battle. While it’s possible that he has gone to avenge a friend, the stakes are raised in the knowledge that he has gone to avenge a lover. It’s not surprising that Hollywood would choose to erase this aspect of Achilles’ character, especially back in 2004. It fundamentally changes the dynamic of the entire story, even though it is often overlooked. In a way, Troy not only removes the gods from its telling of the story of Achilles, it also removes its humanity. With such a rich mythology and complex dynamics, we can only hope that the next crack Hollywood takes at portraying Achilles will be a better one. When black holes collide, the impact radiates into space like the sound of a bell in the form of gravitational waves. But after the waves, there comes a second reverberation—a murmur that physicists have theorized but never observed.
“Detective Wallen placed himself in harm’s way for the safety of others in the moments following the death of Deputy Andrew Nunez,” San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus stated
YouTube Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Mue-nKcSH0?feature=oembed For many years, explorers made it their mission to discover new places and people and tell the stories of what they saw. Through their stories and anecdotes, we can only hope to see a clearer picture of what they saw through their eyes and the paths they walked start to come to life. One of those explorers was Percy Fawcett, who told the story about a mysterious lost city he called “Z” and how it completely encapsulated his life and his pursuits. What happened to Percy Fawcett? We took a deep dive into his life, his work, and his mission to find the Lost City of Z. The Life of Percy Fawcett
Percy Fawcett was a geographer, officer, cartographer, archaeologist, and explorer, who was born in Torquay, England in 1867. He attended school at Newton Abbot Proprietary College and later joined the Royal Military Academy as a cadet and was later promoted to lieutenant of the Royal Artillery and, eventually, captain. He met his wife, Agnes, while on duty and they went on to have two sons – a son named Jack and a daughter named Joan. Fawcett joined the Royal Geographical Society in 1901 to study surveying and mapmaking and made his first journey to South America, where he documented many of the sights he saw. During his various expeditions, he claimed to have seen a 62-foot long anaconda, dogs with two noses, a cat-like dog, and a spider that poisoned many local inhabitants. Through his various tours of duty, one of the main constants in Percy’s mind was that the city he could not get out of his mind was yet to be discovered and it haunted his every thought. The Lost City of Z
By the year 1914, Percy Fawcett had gone on numerous expeditions during his time as a cartographer and began forming ideas surrounding a lost city that he called “Z” in Brazil. He believed it was once a complex, thriving civilization, and that its ruins remained in its specific location. He began to study old maps and stories written by conquistadors’ years prior and had a clear image in his head of the land he would uncover. He wrote detailed stories about it and described what he believed it looked like before serving in the First World War. In 1920, he attempted to find the city but had to return home after falling ill. At this point, Percy Fawcett became even more infatuated with the idea of finding this city that he was obsessed with and needed the money and resources to find it. In 1925, he managed to receive funding from a local group of financiers known as the Glove and had convinced his son Jack and Jack’s best friend Raleigh to travel with him. Because Fawcett knew of the dangers that would await them during their travels, he left explicit instructions not to send a rescue mission to find them if they were to disappear. He also knew that he was an experienced cartographer, who was well-versed inefficient travel and that he had the tools and resources necessary to survive. The Last CommunicationDuring their travels in search of the Lost City of Z, Fawcett wrote several letters to his wife, letting her know of their upcoming plans and where they had gone so far. In what would become his final letter to his wife on May 29, 1925, Fawcett wrote that they were preparing to cross the River Amazon and that they were hopeful they would soon reach their destination. He often included precise coordinates so that his wife did not worry and would know where he was; however, when he provided the coordinates to the camp where he wrote his last letter, the coordinates were incorrect. Why would an experienced cartographer with numerous survey missions under his belt include the incorrect coordinates to an area he had frequented previously? Theories Surrounding Percy Fawcett’s DisappearanceThere are theories that state that Fawcett may have intentionally included the wrong coordinates to deter any potential rescue missions from following him. This is mainly since Fawcett was a highly-experienced cartographer and it was not common for him to make a mistake in his coordinates.
Other theories state that Fawcett, his son Jack and Raleigh may have died at the hands of nearby tribes, who were known to inhabit the areas where they were traveling Some people combat these theories with the point that Fawcett often became close to the tribes he encountered because he traveled to their areas so frequently on his previous missions. Some tribes have stated that it is highly possible that they were killed by a more violent tribe who encountered them and that there was nothing they could have done to prevent it if they mistakenly ended up in their territory. Another tribe encounter that is theorized is that one of the tribes required anyone crossing the river to bear gifts in the form of food or supplies, which Fawcett and his men may have forgotten or lost during their travels. This could have resulted in them being killed for failing to comply with the tribe’s requirements. An additional theory that is also very possible is that Fawcett, Jack, and Raleigh fell ill and dehydrated and that they died while crossing the river, which then could have carried their bodies away over time. The Search BeginsDespite Fawcett’s wishes for no one to come after him to search for him if something went wrong, search parties were sent as soon as people suspected he might be in danger. They searched for days and had no luck locating the three bodies anywhere near where they were last known to be located. In the jungle temperatures and climate, decomposition is known to be a sped-up process, but it is not logical for there to be no trace of bones or other items they brought with them on their travels. People began to speak with the local tribes in the jungle they visited and each of the tribes swore they had nothing to do with their disappearance. What Really Happened to Percy Fawcett?After numerous books, movies, television specials, and articles have been written about Percy Fawcett and the Lost City of Z, there is still no clear answer regarding what happened to Percy Fawcett, Jack, and Raleigh. He was so infatuated with finding the land he knew so well in his mind and had all the proper tools and resources to do so. He was well-prepared with supplies, food, and maps to lead the way, so it is unknown what could have deterred him from doing so. The strangest piece of the puzzle is that the bodies were never discovered, and all clues disappeared without a trace. Some people theorize that perhaps Percy really did discover the Lost City of Z and that he ended up there at the end of his travels. Maybe the Lost City of Z was a parallel universe that meant that the version of him that existed in this world must disappear. Maybe it was made up in his head to clear his mind from the burdens of war. Of course, this is one of the more outlandish theories, but it is a happier one to imagine than some of the others. Everlasting WanderlustWe can only hope that after a lifetime of longing and passion towards something that felt so far-fetched and out of reach, especially given the time, that Percy found peace in his search for the unknown. Clearly, Percy had prepared for the worst-case scenario in telling people not to search for him if something went wrong and he had thought through all the bad things that could happen. He was likely haunted by the idea of searching for this land and the thought of never pursuing it would have been far worse than not finding it. If there is anything to be taken from this story, it is to never be afraid to pursue your dream, even if it seems unlikely. Do you believe that Percy Fawcett found the Lost City of Z? More from That Was History Featured image: Screenshot via YouTube After 25 years in law enforcement, Jeff Passino crossed the graduation stage — not for a promotion, but to fulfill a promise to himself
“No ice in our area should ever be considered safe, regardless of recent cold temperatures or appearances,” the Mount Holly Police Department said
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