courthousenews--2020-12-12--Trump Loses Wisconsin Case While Arguing Another One

MADISON , Wis. ( AP ) — President Donald Trump lost a federal lawsuit Saturday while his attorney was arguing his case before a skeptical Wisconsin Supreme Court in another lawsuit that liberal justices said “ smacks of racism ” and would disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters only in the state ’ s most diverse counties .
U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig , a Trump appointee , dismissed Trump ’ s federal lawsuit asking the court to order the Republican-controlled Legislature to name Trump the winner over Democrat Joe Biden .
The judge said Trump ’ s arguments “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact.
” The ruling came as Trump ’ s attorney in a state case faced a barrage of questions about his claims from both liberal and conservative justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court .
Trump is trying to overturn his loss to Biden in the state by disqualifying more than 221,000 votes in Wisconsin ’ s two most heavily Democratic counties .
Trump is not challenging any votes in counties he won .
“ This lawsuit , Mr. Troupis , smacks of racism , ” Justice Jill Karofsky said to Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I do not know how you can come before this court and possibly ask for a remedy that is unheard of in U.S. history .
… It is not normal.
” Justice Rebecca Dallet , like Karofsky another liberal justice , questioned why Trump didn ’ t raise his same concerns about the absentee ballot process in the 2016 election that he won in Wisconsin .
Troupis said Trump was not an aggrieved party that year .
Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley questioned how the court could reject more than 28,000 ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confined given that it would include people who properly claimed that status .
Wisconsin ’ s highest court agreed to take the case at Trump ’ s urgent request Friday , soon after a state judge ruled against him and with Monday ’ s Electoral College vote bearing down and the state ’ s 10 electoral votes about to go to Biden .
The court is controlled 4-3 by conservatives , but its willingness to take the case isn ’ t necessarily an indicator of how it will rule .
The court previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went through lower courts , and a majority of justices have openly questioned whether the remedy Trump seeks is appropriate .
Trump sought to have more than 221,000 ballots disqualified in Dane and Milwaukee counties .
He wanted to disqualify absentee ballots cast early and in-person , saying there wasn ’ t a proper written request made for the ballots ; absentee ballots cast by people who claimed “ indefinitely confined ” status ; absentee ballots collected by poll workers at Madison parks ; and absentee ballots where clerks filled in missing information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday ruled that none of Trump ’ s arguments had merit and that state law was followed during the election and subsequent recount .
Biden won Wisconsin by about 20,600 votes , a margin of 0.6 % that withstood a Trump-requested recount in Milwaukee and Dane counties .
Trump and his allies have suffered dozens of defeats in Wisconsin and across the country in lawsuits that rely on unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud and election abuse .
On Friday evening , the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Texas lawsuit that sought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out millions of votes in four battleground states , including Wisconsin .
Also Saturday , former Trump campaign attorney Sidney Powell asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a federal case she lost in Wisconsin seeking to order the GOP-controlled Legislature to declare Trump the winner .
Powell has also lost similar cases in Georgia and Arizona .

President Donald Trump lost a federal lawsuit Saturday while his attorney was arguing his case before a skeptical Wisconsin Supreme Court in another lawsuit that liberal justices said "smacks of racism" and would disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters only in the state's most diverse counties.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — President Donald Trump lost a federal lawsuit Saturday while his attorney was arguing his case before a skeptical Wisconsin Supreme Court in another lawsuit that liberal justices said "smacks of racism" and would disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters only in the state's most diverse counties.
U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig, a Trump appointee, dismissed Trump's federal lawsuit asking the court to order the Republican-controlled Legislature to name Trump the winner over Democrat Joe Biden. The judge said Trump's arguments "fail as a matter of law and fact."
The ruling came as Trump's attorney in a state case faced a barrage of questions about his claims from both liberal and conservative justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Trump is trying to overturn his loss to Biden in the state by disqualifying more than 221,000 votes in Wisconsin's two most heavily Democratic counties. Trump is not challenging any votes in counties he won.
"This lawsuit, Mr. Troupis, smacks of racism," Justice Jill Karofsky said to Trump's attorney Jim Troupis early in his arguments. "I do not know how you can come before this court and possibly ask for a remedy that is unheard of in U.S. history. ... It is not normal."
Justice Rebecca Dallet, like Karofsky another liberal justice, questioned why Trump didn't raise his same concerns about the absentee ballot process in the 2016 election that he won in Wisconsin. Troupis said Trump was not an aggrieved party that year.
Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley questioned how the court could reject more than 28,000 ballots of people who said they were indefinitely confined given that it would include people who properly claimed that status.
Wisconsin's highest court agreed to take the case at Trump's urgent request Friday, soon after a state judge ruled against him and with Monday's Electoral College vote bearing down and the state's 10 electoral votes about to go to Biden.
The court is controlled 4-3 by conservatives, but its willingness to take the case isn't necessarily an indicator of how it will rule. The court previously refused to hear the case before it went through lower courts, and a majority of justices have openly questioned whether the remedy Trump seeks is appropriate.
Trump sought to have more than 221,000 ballots disqualified in Dane and Milwaukee counties. He wanted to disqualify absentee ballots cast early and in-person, saying there wasn't a proper written request made for the ballots; absentee ballots cast by people who claimed "indefinitely confined" status; absentee ballots collected by poll workers at Madison parks; and absentee ballots where clerks filled in missing information on ballot envelopes.
The circuit judge on Friday ruled that none of Trump's arguments had merit and that state law was followed during the election and subsequent recount.
Biden won Wisconsin by about 20,600 votes, a margin of 0.6% that withstood a Trump-requested recount in Milwaukee and Dane counties.
Trump and his allies have suffered dozens of defeats in Wisconsin and across the country in lawsuits that rely on unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud and election abuse. On Friday evening, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Texas lawsuit that sought to invalidate Biden's win by throwing out millions of votes in four battleground states, including Wisconsin.
Also Saturday, former Trump campaign attorney Sidney Powell asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a federal case she lost in Wisconsin seeking to order the GOP-controlled Legislature to declare Trump the winner. Powell has also lost similar cases in Georgia and Arizona.
By SCOTT BAUER Associated Press


courthousenews--2020-12-12--Uncertainty Over Pandemic Protocols, Redistricting Await Texas’ Next Legislative Session

SAN ANTONIO ( CN ) — When the Texas Legislature gavels into session next month for its biennial five-month stretch , operations at the state Capitol will look vastly different thanks to the coronavirus pandemic , but the politics in a state dominated by Republicans will remain the same .
With just a month to go until the 87th regular session begins , lawmakers are still juggling how to safely legislate in the era of Covid-19 , while preparing to tackle a billion-dollar state budget shortfall , education issues exacerbated by the pandemic and the once-in-a-decade process of redrawing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The reality is this , we don ’ t know exactly how it ’ s going to unfold , the way the House is going to function until the rules are passed , ” said state Representative Terry Canales , a Democrat from Edinburg .
“ But I think common sense should be our guidance.
” Canales said at a virtual event this week that masks , hand sanitizer and social distancing will all be implemented in his Capitol office but acknowledged that a common area in the fourth-floor office suite that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffs “ is kind of a challenge.
” While the Texas Senate and House of Representatives have set up working groups to develop suggestions and guidelines for how the session will operate , among the biggest concerns still looming is how much access the public and media will have to the process with new cases of the virus and fatalities continuing to rise .
In a typical session , the state Capitol building in Austin is a hotbed of activity , with state legislators , staff members , lobbyists and community members jamming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Senate chambers .
But the building has been closed to the public for months and Republican leaders have only hinted at what may be in store come opening day .
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick , a Republican , suggested during a conference call with state senators last week that anybody providing public testimony in-person may need to register three days prior and test negative for coronavirus 24 hours before being allowed into the Capitol , the Texas Tribune reported .
Patrick , who oversees the Senate , and presumptive House Speaker Dade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they would be releasing more details about session protocols in the coming weeks .
Plexiglass shields on desks , frequent testing of legislators and staff members and more virtual hearings are all measures being considered to keep the Legislature running in what is being described as one of the toughest upcoming sessions in years .
But while the environment at the Capitol is expected to be much different from previous sessions , the Republicans ’ continued dominance of state government means it will almost certainly be politics as usual .
And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of both parties .
Texas Democrats had hoped to wield some power in the process of redrawing the state ’ s political lines , a fractious and sometimes passionate undertaking that shapes the State Board of Education seats , state House and Senate districts and congressional lines for the next 10 years .
But those hopes vanished after the November elections when Democrats failed to make any real gains in their efforts to reclaim control of the state House for the first time in 20 years .
Mark Jones , a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James A. Baker III Institute of Public Policy , said a partisan and polarizing redistricting process could make it more difficult for the Legislature to carry out all the other business it has to conduct during the session .
But Jones said a lot will depend on when the state receives data from the U.S. Census Bureau , delayed after the agency suspended field operations because of the pandemic .
“ We still don ’ t know for sure when the state will receive the data from the U.S. Census Bureau needed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , Texas Senate and State Board of Education districts , ” he said .
“ There may be a preference as long as it arrives a little late in not trying to rush it through the regular session but rather call a special session in June devoted exclusively to redistricting so as not to poison the well in the regular session.
” Legislators have also suggested that a special session on redistricting would be inevitable if Census data is not received by mid-April .
Among the bills already filed are a Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first 12 weeks of pregnancy .
Currently , state law prohibits abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions , including if the mother is facing a life-threatening medical condition .
Other notable bills filed by lawmakers include a Medicaid expansion bill , a push to further the state ’ s medical marijuana program and a bill introduced as the George Floyd Act that addresses racial inequities in law enforcement and criminal justice reforms .

When the Texas Legislature gavels into session next month for its biennial five-month stretch, operations at the state Capitol will look vastly different thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but the politics in a state dominated by Republicans will remain the same.
SAN ANTONIO (CN) — When the Texas Legislature gavels into session next month for its biennial five-month stretch, operations at the state Capitol will look vastly different thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but the politics in a state dominated by Republicans will remain the same.
With just a month to go until the 87th regular session begins, lawmakers are still juggling how to safely legislate in the era of Covid-19, while preparing to tackle a billion-dollar state budget shortfall, education issues exacerbated by the pandemic and the once-in-a-decade process of redrawing the state’s political maps.
“The reality is this, we don’t know exactly how it’s going to unfold, the way the House is going to function until the rules are passed," said state Representative Terry Canales, a Democrat from Edinburg. “But I think common sense should be our guidance.”
Canales said at a virtual event this week that masks, hand sanitizer and social distancing will all be implemented in his Capitol office but acknowledged that a common area in the fourth-floor office suite that he shares with two other members and their staffs “is kind of a challenge.”
While the Texas Senate and House of Representatives have set up working groups to develop suggestions and guidelines for how the session will operate, among the biggest concerns still looming is how much access the public and media will have to the process with new cases of the virus and fatalities continuing to rise.
In a typical session, the state Capitol building in Austin is a hotbed of activity, with state legislators, staff members, lobbyists and community members jamming hallways, office spaces and the House and Senate chambers. But the building has been closed to the public for months and Republican leaders have only hinted at what may be in store come opening day.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, a Republican, suggested during a conference call with state senators last week that anybody providing public testimony in-person may need to register three days prior and test negative for coronavirus 24 hours before being allowed into the Capitol, the Texas Tribune reported.
Patrick, who oversees the Senate, and presumptive House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Republican state representative, said they would be releasing more details about session protocols in the coming weeks.
Plexiglass shields on desks, frequent testing of legislators and staff members and more virtual hearings are all measures being considered to keep the Legislature running in what is being described as one of the toughest upcoming sessions in years.
But while the environment at the Capitol is expected to be much different from previous sessions, the Republicans’ continued dominance of state government means it will almost certainly be politics as usual.
And that could spell a messy redistricting battle for members of both parties.
Texas Democrats had hoped to wield some power in the process of redrawing the state’s political lines, a fractious and sometimes passionate undertaking that shapes the State Board of Education seats, state House and Senate districts and congressional lines for the next 10 years.
But those hopes vanished after the November elections when Democrats failed to make any real gains in their efforts to reclaim control of the state House for the first time in 20 years.
Mark Jones, a political science fellow at Rice University’s James A. Baker III Institute of Public Policy, said a partisan and polarizing redistricting process could make it more difficult for the Legislature to carry out all the other business it has to conduct during the session.
But Jones said a lot will depend on when the state receives data from the U.S. Census Bureau, delayed after the agency suspended field operations because of the pandemic.
“We still don’t know for sure when the state will receive the data from the U.S. Census Bureau needed to draft the new U.S. House, Texas House, Texas Senate and State Board of Education districts,” he said. “There may be a preference as long as it arrives a little late in not trying to rush it through the regular session but rather call a special session in June devoted exclusively to redistricting so as not to poison the well in the regular session.”
Legislators have also suggested that a special session on redistricting would be inevitable if Census data is not received by mid-April.
Among the bills already filed are a Republican effort to ban abortions at or after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Currently, state law prohibits abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions, including if the mother is facing a life-threatening medical condition.
Other notable bills filed by lawmakers include a Medicaid expansion bill, a push to further the state’s medical marijuana program and a bill introduced as the George Floyd Act that addresses racial inequities in law enforcement and criminal justice reforms.


courthousenews--2020-12-12--Archaeologists Discover Secrets of Indus Civilization Diets

( CN ) — Archaeologists are closer to understanding the diets of the people of the ancient Indus Civilization after new research found fatty residues in ceramic vessels , indicating an abundant use of animal products .
In a study published this week in the Journal of Archaeological Science , a team of researchers led by Akshyeta Suryanarayan , a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis in France , discovered the presence of lipids in the ancient pottery pieces .
“ The study of lipid residues involves the extraction and identification of fats and oils that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their use in the past , ” Suryanarayan said in a statement .
“ Lipids are relatively less prone to degradation and have been discovered in pottery from archaeological contexts around the world .
However , they have seen very limited investigation in ancient ceramics from South Asia.
” She said the study is significant as it is “ the first to investigate absorbed lipid residues in pottery from multiple Indus sites , including the Indus city of Rakhigarhi , as well as other Indus settlements of Farmana and Masudpur I and VII @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settlements and across time.
” The Indus Valley Civilization , spread out from western and northwestern India to northeast Afghanistan , was a Bronze Age civilization that lasted about 2,000 years , from 3300 B.C .
to 1300 B.C .
The archaeologists said they were able to identify specific compounds in the extracts of lipids used in the ceramic vessels , allowing them to understand what kinds of milk and meat were held in them .
“ Our study of lipid residues in Indus pottery shows a dominance of animal products in vessels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals like pigs , ruminant animals like cattle or buffalo and sheep or goat , as well as dairy products , ” Suryanarayan said .
“ However , as one of the first studies in the region there are interpretative challenges .
“ Some of the results were quite unexpected , for example , we found a predominance of non-ruminant animal fats , even though the remains of animals like pigs are not found in large quantities in the Indus settlements .
It is possible that plant products or mixtures of plant and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , creating ambiguous results.
” She noted that despite finding the remains of domestic animals at the examined sites , “ there is very limited direct evidence of the use of dairy products ” in the vessels .
She suggests that evidence of the consumption of dairy , recently reported in another study , may have varied by region .
Senior author Cameron Petrie from the University of Cambridge in the U.K. said the animal products used in the vessels does seem to show that the different settlements “ may have shared cooking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Our understanding of the culinary history of South Asia is still very limited but these results demonstrate that the use of lipid residues , combined with other techniques in bioarchaeology , have the potential to open exciting new avenues for understanding the relationship between the environment , foodstuffs , material culture , and ancient society in protohistoric South Asia , ” Suryanarayan said .

Archaeologists are closer to understanding the diets of the people of the ancient Indus Civilization after new research found fatty residues in ceramic vessels, indicating an abundant use of animal products.
(CN) — Archaeologists are closer to understanding the diets of the people of the ancient Indus Civilization after new research found fatty residues in ceramic vessels, indicating an abundant use of animal products.
In a study published this week in the Journal of Archaeological Science, a team of researchers led by Akshyeta Suryanarayan, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis in France, discovered the presence of lipids in the ancient pottery pieces.
"The study of lipid residues involves the extraction and identification of fats and oils that have been absorbed into ancient ceramic vessels during their use in the past,” Suryanarayan said in a statement. “Lipids are relatively less prone to degradation and have been discovered in pottery from archaeological contexts around the world. However, they have seen very limited investigation in ancient ceramics from South Asia."
She said the study is significant as it is “the first to investigate absorbed lipid residues in pottery from multiple Indus sites, including the Indus city of Rakhigarhi, as well as other Indus settlements of Farmana and Masudpur I and VII, allowing comparisons to be made across settlements and across time.”
The Indus Valley Civilization, spread out from western and northwestern India to northeast Afghanistan, was a Bronze Age civilization that lasted about 2,000 years, from 3300 B.C. to 1300 B.C.
The archaeologists said they were able to identify specific compounds in the extracts of lipids used in the ceramic vessels, allowing them to understand what kinds of milk and meat were held in them.
"Our study of lipid residues in Indus pottery shows a dominance of animal products in vessels, such as the meat of non-ruminant animals like pigs, ruminant animals like cattle or buffalo and sheep or goat, as well as dairy products,” Suryanarayan said. “However, as one of the first studies in the region there are interpretative challenges.
“Some of the results were quite unexpected, for example, we found a predominance of non-ruminant animal fats, even though the remains of animals like pigs are not found in large quantities in the Indus settlements. It is possible that plant products or mixtures of plant and animal products were also used in vessels, creating ambiguous results."
She noted that despite finding the remains of domestic animals at the examined sites, “there is very limited direct evidence of the use of dairy products” in the vessels. She suggests that evidence of the consumption of dairy, recently reported in another study, may have varied by region.
Senior author Cameron Petrie from the University of Cambridge in the U.K. said the animal products used in the vessels does seem to show that the different settlements “may have shared cooking practices and ways of preparing foodstuffs.”
"Our understanding of the culinary history of South Asia is still very limited but these results demonstrate that the use of lipid residues, combined with other techniques in bioarchaeology, have the potential to open exciting new avenues for understanding the relationship between the environment, foodstuffs, material culture, and ancient society in protohistoric South Asia," Suryanarayan said.


courthousenews--2020-12-12--Scientists Create Robot Powered by Lights and Magnets

( CN ) — Scientists have developed a type of soft-bodied spongy robot that doesn ’ t require any complex hardware or electricity to move about , as it ’ s powered entirely by lights and magnets .
Their unique creation is comprised of 90 % water and made by molding hydrogels over a ferromagnetic nano-wire skeleton without any of the heavy machinery typically found in robots .
Activated by light , a nearby rotating magnetic field determines the bot ’ s movements , allowing it to climb hills and transport cargo at human speeds — a marked improvement over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northwestern University in Illinois say their invention is ideally suited for work in aquatic environments and could even be shrunk down later to deliver bio-therapeutics to individual cells and tissues .
The team published their findings Wednesday in the journal Science Robotics .
“ Having simply ‘ materials ’ rather than complicated devices that can behave like robots and emulate the behaviors of living creatures — walking , crawling , picking up and transporting things , swimming , recognizing objects and taking some action , changing shape — could create groundbreaking imaginative technologies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be matter with surprising life-like properties which we have labeled ‘ robotic soft matter , ’ ” said the study ’ s co-author Samuel Strupp , professor of engineering at Northwestern University , in an email .
To drive the robot , a nearby magnetic field is programmed with specific sequences which pull its nanowire frame along the desired path , allowing it to snake cargo through narrow passages and over complex terrain .
Once at its destination , the robot inverts its shape to allow its payload to gently slide off , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dislodge stickier cargo .
“ We were excited to find that we could create soft materials that could respond to low energy inputs of light and magnetic forces and made them walk on the timescale of human steps ( about one step per second ) , ” Strupp explained .
“ We were also excited to mathematically predict the behavior of the new materials using physical theories and thus were able to program the materials to follow specific trajectories.
” The robot ’ s unique properties are a result of the chemical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hydrogel “ skin ” is programmed to repel water when exposed to light , causing the robot to bend and contort itself into a desired shape .
The team also found that it responds rapidly to rotating magnetic fields , which allow it to be driven around somewhat like a toy car by programming specific magnetic sequences .
After the lights go out , the robot returns to an inert flat shape , but can be reactivated anytime by turning the light back on .
The researchers also experimented with different molecular photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to light .
Some of the materials they tried can maintain their bending shape under variable light conditions , while others revert to a flattened shape when exposed to excessive light levels .
These alternating levels of stiffness and shapelessness are what allow the device to walk at the desired speed and gait .
“ The design of the new materials that imitate living creatures allows not only a faster response but also the performance of more sophisticated functions , ” Stupp noted in a related statement .
“ We can change the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creatures , and give these lifeless materials new walking gaits and smarter behaviors .
This makes them highly versatile and amenable to different tasks.
” This research draws on previous work by Stupp to design soft robotic matter that mimics living sea creatures .
Previously , the best material developed required minutes to bend and could only take one step every 12 hours .
This version takes one step per second , so the improvements are substantial .
The team has high hopes for their creation and believe these spongy aquatic robots could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as chemical engineering , environmental studies or as an intelligent biomaterial for advanced medical procedures such as drug delivery .
They also believe these devices hold greater promise when used in tandem to achieve complex movements .
“ We are very excited about the potential of miniaturizing these materials for the functions described above , ” Strupp said .
“ However , we also believe there is the potential to design new soft robotic materials of larger size to carry heavier cargo or move greater distances .
When scaled down to smaller sizes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be designed to perform collective tasks similar to the cells in a tissue or bacteria in a macroscopic colony .
”

Scientists have developed a type of soft-bodied spongy robot that doesn’t require any complex hardware or electricity to move about, as it’s powered entirely by lights and magnets.
(CN) — Scientists have developed a type of soft-bodied spongy robot that doesn’t require any complex hardware or electricity to move about, as it’s powered entirely by lights and magnets.
Their unique creation is comprised of 90% water and made by molding hydrogels over a ferromagnetic nano-wire skeleton without any of the heavy machinery typically found in robots.
Activated by light, a nearby rotating magnetic field determines the bot’s movements, allowing it to climb hills and transport cargo at human speeds — a marked improvement over an earlier version.
The team from Northwestern University in Illinois say their invention is ideally suited for work in aquatic environments and could even be shrunk down later to deliver bio-therapeutics to individual cells and tissues. The team published their findings Wednesday in the journal Science Robotics.
“Having simply ‘materials’ rather than complicated devices that can behave like robots and emulate the behaviors of living creatures — walking, crawling, picking up and transporting things, swimming, recognizing objects and taking some action, changing shape — could create groundbreaking imaginative technologies in our future. This would indeed be matter with surprising life-like properties which we have labeled ‘robotic soft matter,’” said the study’s co-author Samuel Stupp, professor of engineering at Northwestern University, in an email.
To drive the robot, a nearby magnetic field is programmed with specific sequences which pull its nanowire frame along the desired path, allowing it to snake cargo through narrow passages and over complex terrain. Once at its destination, the robot inverts its shape to allow its payload to gently slide off, or it can perform a spinning maneuver to dislodge stickier cargo.
“We were excited to find that we could create soft materials that could respond to low energy inputs of light and magnetic forces and made them walk on the timescale of human steps (about one step per second),” Stupp explained. “We were also excited to mathematically predict the behavior of the new materials using physical theories and thus were able to program the materials to follow specific trajectories.”
The robot’s unique properties are a result of the chemical synthesis used in its design. A hydrogel “skin” is programmed to repel water when exposed to light, causing the robot to bend and contort itself into a desired shape.
The team also found that it responds rapidly to rotating magnetic fields, which allow it to be driven around somewhat like a toy car by programming specific magnetic sequences. After the lights go out, the robot returns to an inert flat shape, but can be reactivated anytime by turning the light back on.
The researchers also experimented with different molecular photo switches to tune how the robot responds to light. Some of the materials they tried can maintain their bending shape under variable light conditions, while others revert to a flattened shape when exposed to excessive light levels. These alternating levels of stiffness and shapelessness are what allow the device to walk at the desired speed and gait.
"The design of the new materials that imitate living creatures allows not only a faster response but also the performance of more sophisticated functions," Stupp noted in a related statement. "We can change the shape and add legs to the synthetic creatures, and give these lifeless materials new walking gaits and smarter behaviors. This makes them highly versatile and amenable to different tasks."
This research draws on previous work by Stupp to design soft robotic matter that mimics living sea creatures. Previously, the best material developed required minutes to bend and could only take one step every 12 hours. This version takes one step per second, so the improvements are substantial.
The team has high hopes for their creation and believe these spongy aquatic robots could one day be used in fields such as chemical engineering, environmental studies or as an intelligent biomaterial for advanced medical procedures such as drug delivery. They also believe these devices hold greater promise when used in tandem to achieve complex movements.
“We are very excited about the potential of miniaturizing these materials for the functions described above,” Stupp said. “However, we also believe there is the potential to design new soft robotic materials of larger size to carry heavier cargo or move greater distances. When scaled down to smaller sizes, billions of ‘microrobots’ could be designed to perform collective tasks similar to the cells in a tissue or bacteria in a macroscopic colony.”


courthousenews--2020-12-14--Scientists Use 3D Modelling to Rebuild Dinosaur’s Brain

( CN ) — Using digital 3-D modelling , British researchers announced Sunday that they reconstructed the brain of the one of the earliest known dinosaurs , revealing new information about its diet and how quickly it could move .
In a study published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , scientists from the University of Bristol in the U.K. turned to imaging software to recreate the brain of Thecodontosaurus , a dinosaur referred to as the Bristol dinosaur due to where it was originally discovered .
The digitally rebuilt brain offered insights into the dinosaur , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have included meat .
This is in contrast with its later cousins like the Brontosaurus , which was an herbivore .
“ Our analysis of Thecodontosaurus ’ brain uncovered many fascinating features , some of which were quite surprising , ” said Antonio Ballell , lead author and PhD student at the university , said in a statement .
“ Whereas its later relatives moved around ponderously on all fours , our findings suggest this species may have walked on two legs and been occasionally carnivorous.
” The Bristol dinosaur roamed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Triassic age .
The 3-D modelling software allowed researchers for the first time to gain new insights into the dinosaur ’ s brain without having to destroy any fossils .
“ Even though the actual brain is long gone , the software allows us to recreate brain and inner ear shape via the dimensions of the cavities left behind .
The braincase of Thecodontosaurus is beautifully preserved so we compared it to other dinosaurs , identifying common features and some that are specific to Thecodontosaurus , ” Ballell said .
“ Its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the floccular lobes , located at the back of the brain , which are important for balance .
Their large size indicates it was bipedal .
This structure is also associated with the control of balance and eye and neck movements , suggesting Thecodontosaurus was relatively agile and could keep a stable gaze while moving fast , ” he added .
The dinosaur ’ s diet has been a subject of debate among scholars , although the rebuilt digital brain suggests it could have been an omnivore .
“ Our analysis showed parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head stable and eyes and gaze steady during movement were well-developed .
This could also mean Thecodontosaurus could occasionally catch prey , although its tooth morphology suggests plants were the main component of its diet .
It ’ s possible it adopted omnivorous habits , ” Ballell said .
In addition to its brain , scientists were able to reconstruct the dinosaur ’ s inner ears , finding that it could hear in a higher frequency , allowing it to pick up high-pitched sounds of other animals .
“ It ’ s great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to find out even more about how this little dinosaur lived more than 200 million years ago , ” said Mike Benton , study co-author and professor at the university .
“ This has helped us understand many aspects of the biology of Thecodontosaurus , but there are still many questions about this species yet to be explored , ” he said .

Using digital 3-D modelling, British researchers announced Sunday that they reconstructed the brain of the one of the earliest known dinosaurs, revealing new information about its diet and how quickly it could move.
(CN) — Using digital 3-D modelling, British researchers announced Sunday that they reconstructed the brain of the one of the earliest known dinosaurs, revealing new information about its diet and how quickly it could move.
In a study published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, scientists from the University of Bristol in the U.K. turned to imaging software to recreate the brain of Thecodontosaurus, a dinosaur referred to as the Bristol dinosaur due to where it was originally discovered.
The digitally rebuilt brain offered insights into the dinosaur, including its locomotion and eating habits, which may have included meat. This is in contrast with its later cousins like the Brontosaurus, which was an herbivore.
"Our analysis of Thecodontosaurus' brain uncovered many fascinating features, some of which were quite surprising,” said Antonio Ballell, lead author and PhD student at the university, said in a statement. “Whereas its later relatives moved around ponderously on all fours, our findings suggest this species may have walked on two legs and been occasionally carnivorous."
The Bristol dinosaur roamed the Earth about 205 million years ago during the Triassic age. The 3-D modelling software allowed researchers for the first time to gain new insights into the dinosaur’s brain without having to destroy any fossils.
"Even though the actual brain is long gone, the software allows us to recreate brain and inner ear shape via the dimensions of the cavities left behind. The braincase of Thecodontosaurus is beautifully preserved so we compared it to other dinosaurs, identifying common features and some that are specific to Thecodontosaurus," Ballell said.
"Its brain cast even showed the detail of the floccular lobes, located at the back of the brain, which are important for balance. Their large size indicates it was bipedal. This structure is also associated with the control of balance and eye and neck movements, suggesting Thecodontosaurus was relatively agile and could keep a stable gaze while moving fast," he added.
The dinosaur’s diet has been a subject of debate among scholars, although the rebuilt digital brain suggests it could have been an omnivore.
"Our analysis showed parts of the brain associated with keeping the head stable and eyes and gaze steady during movement were well-developed. This could also mean Thecodontosaurus could occasionally catch prey, although its tooth morphology suggests plants were the main component of its diet. It's possible it adopted omnivorous habits," Ballell said.
In addition to its brain, scientists were able to reconstruct the dinosaur’s inner ears, finding that it could hear in a higher frequency, allowing it to pick up high-pitched sounds of other animals.
"It's great to see how new technologies are allowing us to find out even more about how this little dinosaur lived more than 200 million years ago,” said Mike Benton, study co-author and professor at the university.
“This has helped us understand many aspects of the biology of Thecodontosaurus, but there are still many questions about this species yet to be explored,” he said.


courthousenews--2020-12-13--Russian Hackers Suspected of Breaching US Government Agencies

( CN ) — Hackers suspected of working for Russia broke into the computer systems of the Commerce and Treasury departments , according to multiple media reports released Sunday .
“ We can confirm there has been a breach in one of our bureaus , ” the Commerce Department said in a statement .
“ We have asked the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI to investigate , and we can not comment further at this time.
” The hacking group known as APT29 or Cozy Bear , is suspected of working for Russian foreign intelligence as part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks have occurred for months , targeting multiple government agencies .
FireEye , a significant cybersecurity firm , announced last week that hackers backed by a foreign government stole the company ’ s hacking tools .
The company provides security for several federal and local governments .
“ The United States government is aware of these reports and we are taking all necessary steps to identify and remedy any possible issues related to this situation , ” National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said in a statement Sunday .
First reported by Reuters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter said the hacking represents a larger effort to target the U.S. “ This is a much bigger story than one single agency , ” the person told Reuters .
“ This is a huge cyber espionage campaign targeting the U.S. government and its interests.
” Hackers were able to break into the agencies ’ email programs and monitor emails for a period of months , according to reports .
The hacking group has made similar attacks before , including the White House and State Department during President Barack Obama ’ s administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from pharmaceutical companies .
It ’ s unknown how much information the hackers were able to obtain nor the size of the data breach .

Hackers suspected of working for Russia broke into the computer systems of the Commerce and Treasury departments, according to multiple media reports released Sunday.
(CN) — Hackers suspected of working for Russia broke into the computer systems of the Commerce and Treasury departments, according to multiple media reports released Sunday.
“We can confirm there has been a breach in one of our bureaus,” the Commerce Department said in a statement. “We have asked the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI to investigate, and we cannot comment further at this time.”
The hacking group known as APT29 or Cozy Bear, is suspected of working for Russian foreign intelligence as part of a global campaign. The ongoing attacks have occurred for months, targeting multiple government agencies.
FireEye, a significant cybersecurity firm, announced last week that hackers backed by a foreign government stole the company’s hacking tools. The company provides security for several federal and local governments.
“The United States government is aware of these reports and we are taking all necessary steps to identify and remedy any possible issues related to this situation,” National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said in a statement Sunday.
First reported by Reuters, an anonymous source familiar with the matter said the hacking represents a larger effort to target the U.S.
“This is a much bigger story than one single agency,” the person told Reuters. “This is a huge cyber espionage campaign targeting the U.S. government and its interests.”
Hackers were able to break into the agencies’ email programs and monitor emails for a period of months, according to reports.
The hacking group has made similar attacks before, including the White House and State Department during President Barack Obama’s administration and efforts to steal Covid-19 vaccine research from pharmaceutical companies.
It’s unknown how much information the hackers were able to obtain nor the size of the data breach.


courthousenews--2020-12-13--Virginia Parole System Scrutinized After Covid Missteps

RICHMOND , Va. ( CN ) — Virginia Republican legislators are pushing for new transparency requirements in the state ’ s parole system after the agency tasked with doling out the rare reward for good behavior made several missteps during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
But conversations about the state ’ s parole system , technically abolished in the 90s as part of a nation-wide tough on crime movement , are being welcomed by those on the left , now in control of the state ’ s legislative and executive branches , who have long desired changes to the system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state Senators Mark Obenshain , R-Rockingham , and David Suetterlein , R-Roanoke , started when local media reported on parole grants that failed to meet the state ’ s bare minimum notice requirements for victims ’ families and the law enforcement agencies who helped put the formerly incarcerated behind bars .
After legislators asked for an inquiry into the alleged failures , the state ’ s investigative agency released a heavily redacted report that only further frustrated the process .
An unredacted version was eventually released and Suetterlein said its findings were “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parole Board violated state and board policies and procedures regarding the release of DOC a specific offender were sustained , and the Senator argues some of the violations could have been avoided if the board was subject to FOIA requirements .
“ I ’ m not aware of any other board or commission in the state where the votes aren ’ t public , ” said the Roanoke legislator .
To that end he ’ s proposed legislation that specifically requires the collection and release of this information such as meeting minutes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s release .
Megan Ryhne , executive director of the independent state FOIA watchdog group Virginia Coalition for Open Government , welcomed Suetterlein ’ s effort .
“ We generally believe if you are a government or tax-payer supported organization , then your work should be subject to some level of scrutiny and accountability , ” Rhyne said in a phone interview , noting that the board makes decisions on behalf of the people while also impacting those they represent .
This is actually the second time Suetterlein pitched such legislation ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3-month special session and it passed the Senate but failed to get a vote in the House .
Rhyne pointed to previous legislation , authored in 2017 by Del .
Patrick Hope , D-Arlington , which required the board ’ s guidance documents to be subject to FOIA and succeeded .
“ There was opposition to this from people who had expressed support for Hope ’ s 2017 effort , ” Ryne said of the recent effort ’ s failure while avoiding drawing political connections to the 2020 snub .
Obenshain ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broader , but they too include transparency measures which failed to impress House members when he submitted a similar bill to his 2021 effort alongside Suetterlein ’ s .
He wants to see the charges , amount of time served , reason for parole and other information released with every grant of parole .
“ The parole board has claimed it ’ s someone else ’ s fault , but this legislation aims to make clear whose responsibility it is until appropriate notifications have been made , ” said the senator .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Corrections , not the parole board.
” Tonya Chapman took over as Chair of the Virginia Parole Board in March .
The former police chief responded to legislators ’ criticisms in a letter in October where she admitted “ a limited number of individuals granted discretionary parole or geriatric conditional release by VPB had their release date set prior to the Commonwealth ’ s Attorney notification requirements being met.
” But she also pointed to the haphazard nature of the release as part of the system ’ s way of addressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapidly in prisons in Virginia and across the country .
“ Unusual circumstances created during early responses to the Covid-19 pandemic , combined with a transition in VPB leadership in mid-April , highlighted several areas in policy , procedure , and Virginia Code that required additional clarity to improve the VPB ’ s 21-day notification process , ” she said .
Still , for family members of victims , any kind of release , let alone a flawed one , reopens old wounds .
“ The reason I have been able to live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is because a serial killer that raped and murdered my sister and four other women is behind bars , ” Sarah McClelland told the Roanoke Times in August when the GOP senators ’ effort was up for debate during a recent special session .
“ How would I be able to feel safe in my community knowing that this monster who has never expressed remorse was free to roam the streets to kill again ?
” But those who ’ ve been on the punitive side of the Virginia justice system see things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent offenses , we didn ’ t see a lot of hope but we still pressed forward to improve ourselves , ” said Willie Brown , a formerly incarcerated Virginian who entered the system at age 14 after he was accused of murder .
He attempted to escape during his trial which led to the death of a prison guard , compounding his offense .
He entered prison in 1983 and was finally released in 2018 thanks to a release program spearheaded by Governor Ralph Northam , a Democrat .
Brown said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to improve himself and worked with younger newly incarcerated folks to try and help them get on the straight and narrow .
“ Older prisoners told me you have to go out better than when you came in so you can help your family when you ’ re out some day , ” he said , noting he left two children at home when he was locked up .
Since his release Brown has stayed the course and used his experience in the parole system to advocate for those still inside .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the state ’ s parole system is not a single party issue , however the end goals are quite different .
Democrats have long taken issue with the programs near abolition , signed into law by Republican Gov .
George Allen in 1994 as part of a nationwide “ truth in sentencing ” effort which required inmates to serve large majorities of their sentences as opposed to an earned good-time release program that existed previously .
The new system led to rapidly increased incarceration rates , tax-payer funded prison projects , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their teens like Brown , who were burdened with seemingly endless sentences .
“ We ’ re a nation of second chances , and people ought to have a second chance , ” Sen. John Edwards , D-Roanoke , told the Washington Post in defense of his effort , after submitting legislation earlier this year that aimed to roll back the 25-year-old ban .
The effort failed , but another bill that addressed so-called Fishback parole .
This program , named after the plaintiff in a Virginia Supreme Court opinion which addressed those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abolition but without proper jury instruction , passed .
In an email , Chapman said Virginia ’ s Department of Corrections had identified 549 inmates eligible under the new Fishback law but only 14 have been granted parole “ thus far ” since Northam signed the effort into law in April .
Energy to address the system more broadly exists in the House as well .
Del .
Jay Jones , D-Norfolk , who ’ s gunning for the state ’ s attorney general ’ s chair next year , has a unique @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Del .
Jerome Jones , was in the Legislature in the 90s when parole was abolished , but the senior Jones voted against it .
“ My father had serious concerns about the policy , but also with the money being spent , ” he said , pointing to the millions of dollars spent on a handful of prisons the state bult in the wake of parole ’ s demise .
And despite the failure of Sen. Edward ’ s effort , the junior Jones is hopeful the 2021 session will open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time .
“ Now , more than 25 years on , I think it ’ s worth examining reinstating , ” he said .
But any such effort is sure to be met with pushback from both chambers ’ Republican members .
“ Sentences should be upheld by what the jury or judge made , ” said Suetterlein .
“ The folks being kept locked up have done some of the most serious crimes.
” Stephen Farnsworth , professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington , was unsurprised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hammer Northam and Democrats over the board ’ s missteps .
“ Politically , it ’ s worked well for them in the past , ” he said , pointing to the years with former Governor Allen in charge and the decades of GOP control that followed .
He also said parolees are not exactly sympathetic subjects to most voters .
Combine that with modern political tribalism and the parole boards errors and you get a perfect open wound for the minority party to pour salt on .
And as for any parole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to Northam ’ s desk in 2021 , a year when all 100 of the state ’ s House of Delegates seats are up for grabs , Farnsworth is less optimistic there too .
“ The difficulty of legislating in an election year is apparent to both incumbent parties , ” he said about the dangers of taking bold steps when your district seat is on the line .
“ Fuller resolution of both parties ’ agenda items in this area will probably wait till 2022 when seats aren ’ t up @ @ @ @

But she also pointed to the haphazard nature of the release as part of the system’s way of addressing coronavirus outbreak concerns as the virus spread rapidly in prisons in Virginia and across the country.
“Unusual circumstances created during early responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, combined with a transition in VPB leadership in mid-April, highlighted several areas in policy, procedure, and Virginia Code that required additional clarity to improve the VPB’s 21-day notification process,” she said.
Still, for family members of victims, any kind of release, let alone a flawed one, reopens old wounds.
“The reason I have been able to live my life as fully as I have is because a serial killer that raped and murdered my sister and four other women is behind bars,” Sarah McClelland told the Roanoke Times in August when the GOP senators’ effort was up for debate during a recent special session. “How would I be able to feel safe in my community knowing that this monster who has never expressed remorse was free to roam the streets to kill again?”
But those who’ve been on the punitive side of the Virginia justice system see things differently.
“Those of us with violent offenses, we didn’t see a lot of hope but we still pressed forward to improve ourselves,” said Willie Brown, a formerly incarcerated Virginian who entered the system at age 14 after he was accused of murder. He attempted to escape during his trial which led to the death of a prison guard, compounding his offense.
He entered prison in 1983 and was finally released in 2018 thanks to a release program spearheaded by Governor Ralph Northam, a Democrat. Brown said he spent his 35 years and 11 months trying to improve himself and worked with younger newly incarcerated folks to try and help them get on the straight and narrow.
“Older prisoners told me you have to go out better than when you came in so you can help your family when you're out some day,” he said, noting he left two children at home when he was locked up.
Since his release Brown has stayed the course and used his experience in the parole system to advocate for those still inside.
Since his release Brown has used his experience with the parole system to take on a leadership role with the National Action Network, a group that specializes in advocating for those still inside, where he chairs the Criminal Justice Committee.
He might be in luck as criticism over the state’s parole system is not a single party issue, however the end goals are quite different.
Democrats have long taken issue with the programs near abolition, signed into law by Republican Governor George Allen in 1994 as part of a nationwide “truth in sentencing” effort which required inmates to serve large majorities of their sentences as opposed to an earned good-time release program that existed previously.
The new system led to rapidly increased incarceration rates, tax-payer funded prison projects, and lasting impacts on those, sometimes in their teens like Brown, who were burdened with seemingly endless sentences.
“We’re a nation of second chances, and people ought to have a second chance,” Senator John Edwards of Roanoke told the Washington Post in defense of his effort, after submitting legislation earlier this year that aimed to roll back the 25-year-old ban.
The effort failed, but another bill that addressed so-called Fishback parole. This program — named after the plaintiff in a Virginia Supreme Court opinion that addressed those sentenced to life after parole’s abolition but without proper jury instruction — passed.
In an email, Chapman said Virginia’s Department of Corrections had identified 549 inmates eligible under the new Fishback law but only 14 have been granted parole “thus far” since Northam signed the effort into law in April.
Energy to address the system more broadly exists in the House as well. Delegate Jay Jones, a Norfolk Democrat, who’s gunning for the state’s attorney general’s chair next year, has a unique connection to the effort. His father, Delegate Jerrauld Jones, was in the Legislature in the '90s when parole was abolished, but the senior Jones voted against it.
“My father had serious concerns about the policy, but also with the money being spent,” he said, pointing to the millions of dollars spent on a handful of prisons the state built in the wake of parole’s demise.
And despite the failure of Senator Edwards’ effort, the junior Jones is hopeful the 2021 session will open the door to real parole reform for the first time.
“Now, more than 25 years on, I think it's worth examining reinstating,” he said.
But any such effort is sure to be met with pushback from both chambers’ Republican members.
“Sentences should be upheld by what the jury or judge made,” said Suetterlein. “The folks being kept locked up have done some of the most serious crimes.”
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, was unsurprised by the right’s effort to hammer Northam and Democrats over the board’s missteps.
“Politically, it’s worked well for them in the past,” he said, pointing to the years with former Governor Allen in charge and the decades of GOP control that followed. He also said parolees are not exactly sympathetic subjects to most voters. Combine that with modern political tribalism and the parole boards errors and you get a perfect open wound for the minority party to pour salt on.
And as for any parole-reform efforts from either side actually making it to Northam’s desk in 2021, a year when all 100 of the state’s House of Delegates seats are up for grabs, Farnsworth is less optimistic there, too.
“The difficulty of legislating in an election year is apparent to both incumbent parties,” he said about the dangers of taking bold steps when your district seat is on the line. “Fuller resolution of both parties’ agenda items in this area will probably wait till 2022 when seats aren’t up for grabs.”
Virginia legislators start their 2021 General Assembly Session Jan. 13, 2021.


courthousenews--2020-12-13--Chaos Averted For Now: Brexit Deal Talks Carry On

( CN ) — The United Kingdom and the European Union on Sunday said they would continue last-ditch negotiations to agree on a trade deal before Britain leaves the EU on the New Year for good .
Earlier in the week the two sides set Sunday as a deadline by which they would announce whether a deal could be done .
Major differences remain and both sides say the prospect that the U.K. will leave the EU without a deal has become a strong possibility .
A so-called no-deal Brexit is expected to cause major economic , political and social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.K. stands to lose a lot more , at least initially .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his hard-core pro-Brexit Conservatives have placed their country ’ s independence from the EU and its laws over the economic harm caused by not agreeing to sign up to an EU trade deal that ties the U.K. to EU rules and laws .
For its part , the EU doesn ’ t want to give the U.K. a trade agreement that rewards British businesses with a competitive edge .
Therefore , to prevent that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by EU rules and standards if it wants a deal .
In a joint statement , Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said they would “ go the extra mile ” and continue talks .
They spoke by telephone in the morning .
“ Our negotiating teams have been working day and night over recent days , ” the statement said .
“ And despite the exhaustion after almost a year of negotiations , despite the fact that deadlines have been missed over and over we think it is responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mile.
” Unless a deal is reached before the end of the year , the U.K. and the EU will resort to trading on World Trade Organization terms and that will mean tariffs and customs checks would be imposed .
Already , the U.K. has suffered a major hit after businesses and corporations moved their activities to the EU .
In an interview with Sky News , Johnson said a deal remained unlikely .
“ I ’ m afraid we ’ re still very far apart on some key things , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be concerned about the possibility of leaving the EU without a deal .
“ Don ’ t forget everybody , we ’ ve made huge preparations for this.
” With the risk of tariffs approaching , British companies have been stockpiling and that ’ s led to heavy delays and long lines of trucks at English Channel crossings .
There are concerns over price rises , a shortage in goods , interrupted travel and many other disruptions if the U.K. leaves without a deal .
In July 2016 , 52 % of British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a referendum .
Most of the support for Brexit came from English voters while majorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland opted to stay in the EU .
Now , an independence drive has picked up steam in Scotland and polls show a majority of Scots want to break away from the U.K. and rejoin the EU .
Brexit has caused major problems in Northern Ireland too .
To prevent a new border popping up between Northern Ireland and Ireland , and potentially reigniting sectarian violence there , Johnson has agreed to treat Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.K. and keep it tied to EU rules and laws .
That solution though has enraged Protestants in Northern Ireland who feel that they were betrayed by Johnson after he ’ d pledged to never allow a border to run down the Irish Sea , which is the effect of Johnson ’ s Brexit strategy to extirpate the EU ’ s influence over the U.K .
Courthouse News reporter Cain Burdeau is based in the European Union .

The United Kingdom and the European Union on Sunday said they would continue last-ditch negotiations to agree on a trade deal before Britain leaves the EU on the New Year for good.
(CN) — The United Kingdom and the European Union on Sunday said they would continue last-ditch negotiations to agree on a trade deal before Britain leaves the EU on the New Year for good.
Earlier in the week the two sides set Sunday as a deadline by which they would announce whether a deal could be done. Major differences remain and both sides say the prospect that the U.K. will leave the EU without a deal has become a strong possibility.
A so-called no-deal Brexit is expected to cause major economic, political and social damage to both sides, though the U.K. stands to lose a lot more, at least initially.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his hard-core pro-Brexit Conservatives have placed their country's independence from the EU and its laws over the economic harm caused by not agreeing to sign up to an EU trade deal that ties the U.K. to EU rules and laws.
For its part, the EU doesn't want to give the U.K. a trade agreement that rewards British businesses with a competitive edge. Therefore, to prevent that, the EU is demanding the U.K. abide by EU rules and standards if it wants a deal.
In a joint statement, Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said they would “go the extra mile” and continue talks. They spoke by telephone in the morning.
“Our negotiating teams have been working day and night over recent days,” the statement said. “And despite the exhaustion after almost a year of negotiations, despite the fact that deadlines have been missed over and over we think it is responsible at this point to go the extra mile.”
Unless a deal is reached before the end of the year, the U.K. and the EU will resort to trading on World Trade Organization terms and that will mean tariffs and customs checks would be imposed. Already, the U.K. has suffered a major hit after businesses and corporations moved their activities to the EU.
In an interview with Sky News, Johnson said a deal remained unlikely.
“I'm afraid we're still very far apart on some key things,” he said.
He said Brits should not be concerned about the possibility of leaving the EU without a deal. “Don't forget everybody, we've made huge preparations for this.”
With the risk of tariffs approaching, British companies have been stockpiling and that's led to heavy delays and long lines of trucks at English Channel crossings. There are concerns over price rises, a shortage in goods, interrupted travel and many other disruptions if the U.K. leaves without a deal.
In July 2016, 52% of British voters chose to leave the EU in a referendum. Most of the support for Brexit came from English voters while majorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland opted to stay in the EU.
Now, an independence drive has picked up steam in Scotland and polls show a majority of Scots want to break away from the U.K. and rejoin the EU.
Brexit has caused major problems in Northern Ireland too. To prevent a new border popping up between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and potentially reigniting sectarian violence there, Johnson has agreed to treat Northern Ireland differently from the rest of the U.K. and keep it tied to EU rules and laws.
That solution though has enraged Protestants in Northern Ireland who feel that they were betrayed by Johnson after he'd pledged to never allow a border to run down the Irish Sea, which is the effect of Johnson's Brexit strategy to extirpate the EU's influence over the U.K.
Courthouse News reporter Cain Burdeau is based in the European Union.


courthousenews--2020-12-15--‘It’s Time to Turn the Page,’ Biden Says After Electoral College Victory

( CN ) — President-elect Joe Biden celebrated his victory in the 2020 presidential election with a speech Monday evening about the sacred democratic values of America and how his opponent ’ s efforts to overturn the will of American voters only served to reveal the strength and resiliency of institutional democracy .
“ The flame of democracy was lit in this nation a long time ago , ” Biden said .
“ And we now know that nothing , not even a pandemic — or an abuse of power — can extinguish that flame.
” The speech came after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden received 306 electoral votes , comfortably exceeding the 270 needed to win the White House .
California cast its 55 votes — the most in the union — at around 3:15 p.m. , securing the victory for Biden and punctuating a day with heightened security and an unusual amount of attention on a procedure that is largely formal and predetermined .
But President Donald Trump has continued to assail the 2020 election as one corrupted by widespread fraud , which if revealed would put him back in the White House for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to no evidence for his assertions despite multiple opportunities to do so in both federal and state courts .
Trump ’ s claims of electoral fraud have emboldened his supporters and made Biden supporters anxious , but Monday ’ s vote means what Trump says about the election is of little consequence .
“ In this battle for the soul of America , democracy prevailed , ” Biden said .
“ We the People voted .
Faith in our institutions held .
The integrity of our elections remains intact.
” Biden has avoided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it became clear he would win the White House in the days after the election , preferring to call for unity and promising to represent Republican constituents as well as Democrats as president .
But Monday evening saw Biden forcibly repudiate Trump ’ s tactics as well as those of other Republicans who attempted to subvert the electoral outcome .
“ It ’ s a position so extreme , we ’ ve never seen it before , ” Biden said .
He said Trump had ample opportunity to pursue his claims and court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There were dozens of legal challenges , they were heard again and again , and each time they were heard , they were found to be without merit , ” Biden said .
He also defended the election workers , who worked through a pandemic — often as volunteers — only to be accused of committing the largest scale electoral fraud in the history of the nation .
“ I hope we never again see the threats and abuse to our election officials , ” the president-elect said .
“ It was unconscionable.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more conciliatory self toward the end of the speech , saying the nation needs to move forward .
“ Now it is time to turn the page , to unite , to heal , ” Biden said .
“ As I said through this campaign , I will be a president for all Americans .
I will work just as hard for those of you who didn ’ t vote for me as I will for those who did.
” Biden gave the speech from The Queen , a theater in Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he has been giving speeches since the transition process began in earnest over the past couple of weeks .
Biden said focusing on the past will only hamper the efforts of his new administration to concentrate on the task at hand , particularly as it applies to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ There is urgent work in front of all of us , ” the president-elect said .
“ Getting the pandemic under control to getting the nation vaccinated against this virus .
Delivering immediate economic help so badly needed by so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then building our economy back better than ever.
” Trump said little Monday after the Electoral College cemented his defeat , tweeting out that he has accepted the resignation of Attorney General William Barr .
Barr incurred Trump ’ s ire this month when he said the U.S. Department of Justice found no evidence of widespread fraud to the extent it would affect the outcome of the election .
Biden has chosen not to antagonize Trump , even giving his Republican colleagues latitude to deny the outcome for reasons of political expediency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he made clear he has little tolerance for Trump ’ s attempts to undermine the election .
“ If anyone didn ’ t know it before , we know it now : what beats deep in the hearts of the American people is this — democracy , ” Biden said .
“ In America , politicians don ’ t take power — the people grant it to them.
” Several Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill — including Senators Mitt Romney , Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski — have already acknowledged Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more reticent .
However , more and more senators appear to be coming around .
“ The orderly transfer of power is a hallmark of our democracy , and although I supported President Trump , the Electoral College vote today makes clear that Joe Biden is now president-elect , ” said Senator Rob Portman , a Republican from Ohio .

President-elect Joe Biden celebrated his victory in the 2020 presidential election with a speech Monday evening about the sacred democratic values of America and how his opponent’s efforts to overturn the will of American voters only served to reveal the strength and resiliency of institutional democracy.
(CN) — President-elect Joe Biden celebrated his victory in the 2020 presidential election with a speech Monday evening about the sacred democratic values of America and how his opponent’s efforts to overturn the will of American voters only served to reveal the strength and resiliency of institutional democracy.
“The flame of democracy was lit in this nation a long time ago,” Biden said. “And we now know that nothing, not even a pandemic — or an abuse of power — can extinguish that flame.”
The speech came after the Electoral College cast their votes confirming Biden received 306 electoral votes, comfortably exceeding the 270 needed to win the White House.
California cast its 55 votes — the most in the union — at around 3:15 p.m., securing the victory for Biden and punctuating a day with heightened security and an unusual amount of attention on a procedure that is largely formal and predetermined.
But President Donald Trump has continued to assail the 2020 election as one corrupted by widespread fraud, which if revealed would put him back in the White House for a second term.
He has provided scant to no evidence for his assertions despite multiple opportunities to do so in both federal and state courts. Trump’s claims of electoral fraud have emboldened his supporters and made Biden supporters anxious, but Monday’s vote means what Trump says about the election is of little consequence.
“In this battle for the soul of America, democracy prevailed,” Biden said. “We the People voted. Faith in our institutions held. The integrity of our elections remains intact.”
Biden has avoided sharply criticizing Trump and his tactics since it became clear he would win the White House in the days after the election, preferring to call for unity and promising to represent Republican constituents as well as Democrats as president.
But Monday evening saw Biden forcibly repudiate Trump’s tactics as well as those of other Republicans who attempted to subvert the electoral outcome.
“It’s a position so extreme, we’ve never seen it before,” Biden said.
He said Trump had ample opportunity to pursue his claims and court and came up empty repeatedly.
“There were dozens of legal challenges, they were heard again and again, and each time they were heard, they were found to be without merit,” Biden said.
He also defended the election workers, who worked through a pandemic — often as volunteers — only to be accused of committing the largest scale electoral fraud in the history of the nation.
“I hope we never again see the threats and abuse to our election officials,” the president-elect said. “It was unconscionable.”
But Biden did tack to his more conciliatory self toward the end of the speech, saying the nation needs to move forward.
“Now it is time to turn the page, to unite, to heal,” Biden said. “As I said through this campaign, I will be a president for all Americans. I will work just as hard for those of you who didn’t vote for me as I will for those who did.”
Biden gave the speech from The Queen, a theater in Biden’s hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, where he has been giving speeches since the transition process began in earnest over the past couple of weeks.
Biden said focusing on the past will only hamper the efforts of his new administration to concentrate on the task at hand, particularly as it applies to the coronavirus pandemic.
“There is urgent work in front of all of us,” the president-elect said. “Getting the pandemic under control to getting the nation vaccinated against this virus. Delivering immediate economic help so badly needed by so many Americans who are hurting today — and then building our economy back better than ever.”
Trump said little Monday after the Electoral College cemented his defeat, tweeting out that he has accepted the resignation of Attorney General William Barr. Barr incurred Trump’s ire this month when he said the U.S. Department of Justice found no evidence of widespread fraud to the extent it would affect the outcome of the election.
Biden has chosen not to antagonize Trump, even giving his Republican colleagues latitude to deny the outcome for reasons of political expediency.
But in Monday’s speech, he made clear he has little tolerance for Trump’s attempts to undermine the election.
“If anyone didn’t know it before, we know it now: what beats deep in the hearts of the American people is this — democracy,” Biden said. “In America, politicians don’t take power — the people grant it to them.”
Several Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill — including Senators Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski — have already acknowledged Biden’s win. But others have been more reticent.
However, more and more senators appear to be coming around.
“The orderly transfer of power is a hallmark of our democracy, and although I supported President Trump, the Electoral College vote today makes clear that Joe Biden is now president-elect,” said Senator Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio.


courthousenews--2020-12-15--California Courts Covid Update

California Courts Covid Update

Dec. 7 , 2020 : Activation of continuity of operations plan due to recent surge in pandemic , effective 12/9/20 through 1/8/21 , courthouses in central district are closed to the public with limited exceptions , all filings must be electronic or mailed Dec. 11 , 2020 : Court reduces fees for document downloads on the Register of Actions Dec. 11 , 2020 : Court suspends jury trials and other appearances due to Covid-19 increase Dec. 11 , 2020 : Suspension of Civil jury trials and other appearances Dec. 7 , 2020 : Activation of continuity of operations plan due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12/9/20 through 1/8/21 , courthouses in central district are closed to the public with limited exceptions , all filings must be electronic or mailed Dec. 7 , 2020 : Activation of continuity of operations plan due to recent surge in pandemic , effective 12/9/20 through 1/8/21 , courthouses in central district are closed to the public with limited exceptions , all filings must be electronic or mailed Dec. 10 , 2020 : Order , court is to reduce court operations due to Covid-19 stay at home order Dec. 11 , 2020 : Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exhibits to the court no later than five days before the hearing date , due to pandemic

The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.


courthousenews--2020-12-15--Ninth Circuit Orders Arbitration in ‘Leaving Neverland’ Dispute Between Jackson Estate, HBO

( CN ) — Michael Jackson ’ s estate won its quest to pull HBO into arbitration to settle claims the 2019 documentary “ Leaving Neverland ” disparaged the pop legend with child abuse allegations .
The two-part documentary by director Dan Reed centers on the accounts of two men , Wade Robson and James Safechuck , who claim they were sexually abused by Jackson over several years when they were children .
Jackson ’ s estate sued for damages and to force arbitration , saying Home Box Office — informally called HBO — produced a “ one-sided ” documentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1992 agreement between the parties .
The network countered , calling the agreement invalid and the claims dismissible under California ’ s anti-SLAPP statute , which protects against meritless lawsuits that impede free speech rights .
In September 2019 , U.S. District Judge George Wu denied HBO ’ s bid to toss the lawsuit and ordered arbitration with both the Jackson estate and its Optimum Productions .
But two months later , Wu granted the network ’ s request to pause arbitration , saying the Ninth Circuit should review HBO ’ s claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First Amendment rights to create “ newsworthy works ” about a celebrity .
More than a year later , a Ninth Circuit panel weighed in Monday and found the parties ’ 1992 agreement clearly contained a broad arbitration provision .
In a 4-page , unpublished and unsigned memorandum , the panel rejected HBO ’ s contract validity challenge and cited text in the agreement that said “ any dispute ” was to be settled in arbitration .
“ As part of the confidentiality provisions , HBO agreed that it would not ‘ make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the memorandum states , citing the circuit ’ s 1977 decision in Nolde Bros. v. Local No .
358 , Bakery & Confectionery Workers Union .
“ An arbitration clause can still bind the parties , even if the parties fully performed the contract years ago.
” The panel said claims must be arbitrated because HBO used video from Jackson ’ s performances to make its allegations in the documentary and that those performances fall under the 1992 agreement .
“ We may only identify whether the parties agreed to arbitrate such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to decide whether those claims are meritorious , ” the panel held .
U.S .
Circuit Judges Richard A. Paez , a Bill Clinton appointee , Lawrence VanDyke , a Donald Trump appointee , and U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut , sitting by designation from the District of Oregon , made up the panel .
Immergut is also a Trump appointee .
A spokesperson for HBO did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Theodore J. Boutrous of Gibson , Dunn & Crutcher represents the network .
In a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Kinsella Weitzman , counsel for the Jackson estate , applauded the ruling .
“ The trial judge and now the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals have unanimously rejected HBO ’ s arguments , ” the statement said .
“ In the court ’ s own words , HBO ‘ agreed that it would not make any disparaging remarks concerning Jackson.
’ It ’ s time for HBO to answer for its violation of its obligations to Michael Jackson.
” The Jackson estate is also represented by Bryan Freedman of Freedman & Taitelman @

Michael Jackson’s estate won its quest to pull HBO into arbitration to settle claims the 2019 documentary “Leaving Neverland” disparaged the pop legend with child abuse allegations.
(CN) — Michael Jackson’s estate won its quest to pull HBO into arbitration to settle claims the 2019 documentary “Leaving Neverland” disparaged the pop legend with child abuse allegations.
The two-part documentary by director Dan Reed centers on the accounts of two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who claim they were sexually abused by Jackson over several years when they were children.
Jackson’s estate sued for damages and to force arbitration, saying Home Box Office — informally called HBO — produced a “one-sided” documentary that violated a nondisparagement clause from a 1992 agreement between the parties.
The network countered, calling the agreement invalid and the claims dismissible under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which protects against meritless lawsuits that impede free speech rights.
In September 2019, U.S. District Judge George Wu denied HBO’s bid to toss the lawsuit and ordered arbitration with both the Jackson estate and its Optimum Productions.
But two months later, Wu granted the network’s request to pause arbitration, saying the Ninth Circuit should review HBO’s claim that the out-of-court proceedings would impede its First Amendment rights to create “newsworthy works” about a celebrity.
More than a year later, a Ninth Circuit panel weighed in Monday and found the parties’ 1992 agreement clearly contained a broad arbitration provision.
In a 4-page, unpublished and unsigned memorandum, the panel rejected HBO’s contract validity challenge and cited text in the agreement that said “any dispute” was to be settled in arbitration.
“As part of the confidentiality provisions, HBO agreed that it would not ‘make any disparaging remarks concerning’ Jackson,” the memorandum states, citing the circuit’s 1977 decision in Nolde Bros. v. Local No. 358, Bakery & Confectionery Workers Union. “An arbitration clause can still bind the parties, even if the parties fully performed the contract years ago.”
The panel said claims must be arbitrated because HBO used video from Jackson’s performances to make its allegations in the documentary and that those performances fall under the 1992 agreement.
“We may only identify whether the parties agreed to arbitrate such claims; it is for the arbitrator to decide whether those claims are meritorious,” the panel held.
U.S. Circuit Judges Richard A. Paez, a Bill Clinton appointee, Lawrence VanDyke, a Donald Trump appointee, and U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut, sitting by designation from the District of Oregon, made up the panel. Immergut is also a Trump appointee.
A spokesperson for HBO did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Theodore J. Boutrous of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher represents the network.
In a statement Monday, Howard Weitzman and Jonathan Steinsapir of Kinsella Weitzman, counsel for the Jackson estate, applauded the ruling.
“The trial judge and now the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals have unanimously rejected HBO’s arguments,” the statement said. “In the court’s own words, HBO ‘agreed that it would not make any disparaging remarks concerning Jackson.’ It’s time for HBO to answer for its violation of its obligations to Michael Jackson.”
The Jackson estate is also represented by Bryan Freedman of Freedman & Taitelman.


courthousenews--2020-12-15--Flamboyant Dinosaur Linked to Extravagance of Modern Birds

( CN ) — A newly discovered , 110-million-year-old theropod ’ s elaborate appearance , including pairs of blades protruding backwards from its shoulders , suggest the bright plumage and courtship displays seen in today ’ s birds may date further back than scientists previously believed .
“ We ’ ve been perhaps too conservative in our reconstruction of other dinosaurs .
I think we have to be a bit more imaginative , ” said Robert Smyth , a paleobiologist at the University of Portsmouth in England and the lead author of a study published Monday in Cretaceous Research about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ lord of the spear ” in an indigenous Brazilian Tupi language — was a carnivorous theropod , a member of that clade of dinosaurs sporting hollow bones and three-toed limbs .
The most popularly known theropod is likely the Tyrannosaurus rex , a giant compared to Ubirajara , which was about the size of a chicken .
Well-preserved remains allowed Smyth and his colleagues to find that Ubirajara sported a long fur mane along its back and featured unique long , flat , stiff “ ribbons ” that jutted outward and backward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s really unusual in that it preserves really elaborate display plumage , ” Smyth said in an interview .
“ This includes a mane of really elongated monofilaments along the animal ’ s back , and something we ’ ve never seen before in any kind of dinosaur or bird : these weird , broad ribbon-slash-bladelike structures that appear to come out from the animal ’ s shoulder blade.
” A sharp ridge ran down the middle of each ribbon , each of which jutted out and away from the dinosaur ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with its movement .
“ They could perhaps have been used for other types of social interactions , maybe threat displays , or — whenever you see elaborate displays like that , in modern birds , it ’ s been normally evolved for the purposes of intra-specific communication : communicating with members of the same species , ” Smyth said .
Ubirajara could have been an early step toward the development of the extravagant , showy inclinations seen in peacocks and other contemporary birds — the world ’ s only still-living dinosaurs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bright plumage and elaborate courtship rituals .
“ All the really elaborate and extravagant display behaviors that we see in birds — for a long time we thought those were uniquely avian characteristics , we believed they were restricted to those dinosaurs that were really closely related to birds , ” Smyth said .
“ This new dinosaur shows us the link , that capacity for integumentary [ skin-protruding ] structures to become really elaborate goes really deep in the evolution of feathers , almost to the beginning.
” The Ubirajara specimen was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ancient lagoon located in northeastern Brazil ’ s Crato Crato Formation .
An X-ray scan revealed skeletal remains and soft tissue , providing the researchers rare insight into the individual ’ s ancient anatomy .
“ The conditions in this lagoon are really beneficial to the fossilization process because they inhibit decomposition and this allows structures like soft tissues … to be preserved , ” Smyth said .
If it weren ’ t for the high-quality fossils , Smyth and his colleagues would never have guessed Ubirajara had its showy blades or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that these features were composed of keratin , the same fibrous protein that makes up anatomical parts such as claws , feathers , fur , hair and nails .
Smyth said keratin is less resource-intensive for bodies to produce , and can be more easily replaced or repaired if damaged .
The bony crests of other dinosaurs , by comparison , were heavier and more dangerous if broken .
“ Really the most , I think , exciting part is that this is the earliest example , from the theropod family tree , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ Elaborate feathery displays go way further back into the dinosaur lineage than we had previously supposed .
”

A newly discovered, 110-million-year-old theropod’s elaborate appearance, including pairs of blades protruding backwards from its shoulders, suggest the bright plumage and courtship displays seen in today’s birds may date further back than scientists previously believed.
(CN) — A newly discovered, 110-million-year-old theropod’s elaborate appearance, including pairs of blades protruding backwards from its shoulders, suggest the bright plumage and courtship displays seen in today’s birds may date further back than scientists previously believed.
“We’ve been perhaps too conservative in our reconstruction of other dinosaurs. I think we have to be a bit more imaginative,” said Robert Smyth, a paleobiologist at the University of Portsmouth in England and the lead author of a study published Monday in Cretaceous Research about the new dinosaur.
Ubirajara jubatis — “lord of the spear” in an indigenous Brazilian Tupi language — was a carnivorous theropod, a member of that clade of dinosaurs sporting hollow bones and three-toed limbs. The most popularly known theropod is likely the Tyrannosaurus rex, a giant compared to Ubirajara, which was about the size of a chicken.
Well-preserved remains allowed Smyth and his colleagues to find that Ubirajara sported a long fur mane along its back and featured unique long, flat, stiff “ribbons” that jutted outward and backward from its shoulders.
“It’s really unusual in that it preserves really elaborate display plumage,” Smyth said in an interview. “This includes a mane of really elongated monofilaments along the animal’s back, and something we’ve never seen before in any kind of dinosaur or bird: these weird, broad ribbon-slash-bladelike structures that appear to come out from the animal’s shoulder blade.”
A sharp ridge ran down the middle of each ribbon, each of which jutted out and away from the dinosaur’s limbs so they wouldn’t interfere with its movement.
“They could perhaps have been used for other types of social interactions, maybe threat displays, or — whenever you see elaborate displays like that, in modern birds, it’s been normally evolved for the purposes of intra-specific communication: communicating with members of the same species,” Smyth said.
Ubirajara could have been an early step toward the development of the extravagant, showy inclinations seen in peacocks and other contemporary birds — the world’s only still-living dinosaurs, descended from theropods themselves — and their bright plumage and elaborate courtship rituals.
“All the really elaborate and extravagant display behaviors that we see in birds — for a long time we thought those were uniquely avian characteristics, we believed they were restricted to those dinosaurs that were really closely related to birds,” Smyth said. “This new dinosaur shows us the link, that capacity for integumentary [skin-protruding] structures to become really elaborate goes really deep in the evolution of feathers, almost to the beginning.”
The Ubirajara specimen was preserved between two slabs of limestone in an ancient lagoon located in northeastern Brazil’s Crato Crato Formation. An X-ray scan revealed skeletal remains and soft tissue, providing the researchers rare insight into the individual’s ancient anatomy.
“The conditions in this lagoon are really beneficial to the fossilization process because they inhibit decomposition and this allows structures like soft tissues … to be preserved,” Smyth said.
If it weren’t for the high-quality fossils, Smyth and his colleagues would never have guessed Ubirajara had its showy blades or mane. Nor could they have known that these features were composed of keratin, the same fibrous protein that makes up anatomical parts such as claws, feathers, fur, hair and nails.
Smyth said keratin is less resource-intensive for bodies to produce, and can be more easily replaced or repaired if damaged. The bony crests of other dinosaurs, by comparison, were heavier and more dangerous if broken.
“Really the most, I think, exciting part is that this is the earliest example, from the theropod family tree, of these really elaborate structures,” he said. “Elaborate feathery displays go way further back into the dinosaur lineage than we had previously supposed.”