50 years after the last Apollo mission, NASA is now just 48 hours away from returning humans to the Moon with Artemis II. This historic 10-day mission marks the first crewed launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft as it carries four pioneer astronauts around the Moon.

In this photo story, we’ll look at how the crew and rocket got to this point of being ready to launch, looking at all the hard work and challenges that went on during the unmanned Artemis 1 foundation in 2022, through the crew’s high-pressure survival training and complex hardware integration. The images that follow show how the most powerful rocket in the world is being developed and how the diverse crew is preparing for the permanent presence of human beings on the Moon.

The FBI said Monday that a man who drove his pickup truck into a Detroit-area synagogue earlier this month was inspired by the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, the FBI said Monday.Ayman Mohammad Ghazali, 41, of Dearborn Heights, made a video before the attack on Temple Israel, saying he “wanted to kill as many of them as possible,” said Jennifer Runyan, head of the FBI in Detroit.“Our assessment is that this attack is a Hezbollah-inspired terrorist act that intentionally targeted the Jewish community and the largest Jewish temple in Michigan,” he said. “The evidence shows that the attacker was motivated and inspired by the extremist ideology of Hezbollah.”Ghazali was a naturalized American citizen, originally from Mashghara in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon. Israeli military officials confirmed that his two adult brothers, as well as his niece and nephew, were killed in Israeli air strikes in Lebanon, and his family connections include a brother, Ibrahim Ghazali, who was a Hezbollah commander.

attack on temple israel

On March 12, Ghazali sat in the synagogue parking lot for several hours and then drove his Ford F-150 through the closed doors into a hallway containing an early childhood education area, injuring a security guard. A vehicle reportedly filled with commercial-grade fireworks and jugs of gasoline caught fire during a shootout with security personnel. Ghazali ultimately shot himself during the confrontation.First responders immediately evacuated the building, and none of the approximately 150 children and staff members present were injured. Authorities later searched Ghazali’s residence and investigated his digital activity, noting that he had shared photos of children killed in Israeli air strikes before the attack.Temple Israel, part of Reform Judaism, is the largest branch in North America, the second-largest congregation in the denomination, with more than 12,000 members. Founded in Detroit in 1941 and moved to West Bloomfield in the 1980s, the synagogue emphasizes progressive values, including social justice and gender equality.Following the incident, security was increased at Jewish institutions across Michigan to prevent further attacks.

The other woman, Usha Vance, revealed how they decided to have a fourth child.

The second woman, Usha Vance, will become the first person to give birth to a child while her husband has been vice president since the 1870s. But she said she was not aware of this data before she became pregnant with Usha and JD Vance’s fourth child. The Wayans are expecting a boy in July. In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Usha said that she never felt the pressure of being a ‘first’ – as she is also the first second woman to be a Hindu. Regarding her pregnancy, Usha said that it is quite different from her previous three pregnancies as she had to prepare more often for the role of the other woman. “In my last pregnancy, there were a lot of sweat pants,” she said. “I was working from home — you know, sometimes wearing a blazer over whatever was underneath.”

Usha is planning her fourth pregnancy

Recently, JD Vance said that he convinced Usha Vance to have a fourth child. “I remember when we decided to run for vice president, I said, ‘Honey, I really want to have a fourth child.’ And he said, ‘Okay, you can become the vice president or you can have your fourth child,'” the vice president said. “But, ladies and gentlemen, I’m confident, because I’ve got both,” JD said. Usha Vance said that perhaps JD was right in calling himself an ‘inspiration’, but he never closed the door on it.“I grew up in a family of two. And I thought that was a big number. And then I had two kids, and I thought – I’m not feeling completely fulfilled, am I?” Usha Vance said. “So I really wanted a third child.” Usha has a sister, Shreya. After the birth of their third child, the family felt complete but they did not close out the option of having another child. “We have a daughter, who is amazing, and it was great. And so I wasn’t sure. But as time went on, I realized that I was feeling more and more excited about that possibility.“And so if the opportunity arose, I would take it, and I knew I would be happy if we only had three kids, and I knew I would be happy if we had four kids. And so here we are.”Usha Vance is launching her own podcast just for kids and said her kids helped design and decorate her podcast studio.

PC: National Endowment for the Humanities

Before smartphones, spreadsheets or even the written alphabet as we know them, the Inca managed information in a way that still seems surprisingly advanced. Their system, known as Quipu, used knotted cords and color-coded wires to store records across a vast empire. For a long time it was believed that it was primarily numerical. Most recently, the research was accepted in February 2026, although it makes some broad suggestions. Some scientists reportedly view the quipu not simply as a counting device, but as a structured way of organizing and processing information. Almost like a primitive computing system. That idea has generated debate, curiosity, and even a little skepticism. Still, the possibility alone is interesting. Civilization without written script. Yet managing complex administrative data across different sectors.

What is the structure behind Quipu knots and Inca records?

For years, scholars such as Marcia Asher and Robert Asher argued that the Quipu knots likely represented a decimal-based numerical system. Each knot, each position, holds meaning in a structured way. Other researchers, including Sabine Hyland, have suggested that quipus may also encode linguistic elements. Symbols that can represent sounds or concepts. About 95 potential markers have been proposed in some studies. These characteristics appear to have meaning beyond simple counting. The structure seems layered, almost modular. This is not unlike how modern systems organize data into categories and subcategories.Single nodes alone do not explain the whole picture. It seems that the system depends on the relationships between the elements. That complexity is where things start to look less like ledgers and more like information structures.

what does a quipu look like tree-like data structures used in computer science

A different perspective came from computer scientist Richard Doselman, who looked at quipu through the lens of data structures. With colleagues Edward Doolittle and Vatika Tayal, he reportedly saw the system not as something to decode, but to model. His idea was simple in concept. Quipu cords branch from a main cord. That hierarchy mirrors the tree-like data systems used in computing today. Researchers translated these properties into programming logic using languages ​​such as C++ and Python. He also created a file format designed based on Quipu principles.

Quipu-Based Prototypes and How They Work in Simple Words

The team reportedly created working prototypes based on Quipu logic. A spreadsheet model. Even an image representation tool. These were not historical reproductions, but rather modern applications inspired by the structure. Hierarchies allow data to be added without reorganizing everything. Organization also scales in a linear manner, making it suitable for layered datasets such as census records or inventories.

Hidden layers of meaning and possible encryption

One of the more unusual aspects of the quipu is how flexible its structure appears to be. According to the researchers, scrambling the arrangement of cords at different levels could act as a form of data security. Encryption is not added on top, but is built-in within the structure itself. This is quite different from modern systems, where encryption is usually implemented separately. Here, mechanisms to obfuscate it are already in place in the organization of the data.The Incas were probably not designing cryptographic systems. Yet the qualities of his method seem to permit it.

Why is the Quipu considered an early information system rather than a true computer?

It may seem a bit strange to call a quipu a “computer”. No electricity, no processor, no binary code in the modern sense. Still, the comparison is not entirely unfair. What the Inca developed was a structured, scalable, and adaptable method of information storage and management. One that supported hierarchy, grouping and summarization. Features that lie at the core of many computing systems today.Experts say it may be more accurate to view the quipu as an early information technology rather than a literal computer. A system designed for organization rather than mere calculation.

The US Marine who lost both his legs in Afghanistan now catches pedophiles from his computer through his ‘geek’ team of digital forensics experts.

Justin Gartner, a native of Pasco County, Florida, joined the US Marine Corps straight out of high school and was deployed to Afghanistan. In 2010, he was seriously injured by an improvised explosive device, losing both his legs. But this did not stop him from fighting on the front lines. He is now a computer forensics analyst with Homeland Security Investigations and tracks technical evidence, social media histories, of convicts in child abuse cases. Sitting in front of a computer screen, Gartner examines hard drives, phones and other digital devices, searching for evidence linked to cases involving child abuse, human trafficking and other crimes.“We’ve arrested a police officer. We’ve arrested firefighters. We’ve arrested mayors. We’ve arrested people who are trusted by the public,” he said. “For example, I was literally on the scene, I got photos and video, while the kids were right there in the living room,” Gartner said.

geek squad

Gartner calls his team the Geek Squad. “We’ve arrested a police officer. We’ve arrested firefighters. We’ve arrested mayors. We’ve arrested people who are trusted by the public,” he said. Recently, they settled a case against an Oldsmar man who was accused of abusing dozens of children, including his own. “For example, I was literally on the scene, I got photos and video, while the kids were right there in the living room,” Gartner said.“I say the Marines made me a man,” he said. “But really, this – working for Homeland Security Investigations – is where I was supposed to be.”

mentally tougher

Gartner said his current role is more mentally demanding and more demanding because all his days are spent reviewing disturbing material. “It’s mentally tougher and more bearable,” Gartner said. “That’s why they included war-wounded veterans, because we have a certain mentality.”Gartner said that in this digital age, nothing is ever truly deleted. “And if so, we will eventually find it.”

A Florida man has gone viral after riding his horse through a Chick-fil-A drive-thru, leaving employees stunned.Felipe Delmora shared a video of the unusual tour, filmed on March 21, showing himself riding through the drive-thru lane of a fast food restaurant on horseback. The clip was recorded through his glasses and went viral online.Describing that moment, Delmora said, “I was riding my horse back home, and I felt thirsty, so I stopped at the Chick-fil-A drive-thru and had a wonderful conversation with the employees.”The footage captures the back of the horse’s head as it walks through the street. As Delmora approaches the ordering area, staff members react with surprise and excitement upon seeing the unexpected customer.“What’s up, y’all? How are we doing today,” a worker named Mike can be heard saying. Then he and a co-worker ask if they can record the moment, to which Delmora replies, “Go ahead.”The exchange continues. An employee asked the name of the horse and Delmora told him its name was Gitano. As the situation becomes serious, another worker is at a loss for words.At one point, a car approaches the drive-thru behind them. “Can’t get any better than this in this lane,” says Mike, hoping to avoid any interference. When the car chooses a different lane, he reacts with relief, clenching his fists and saying, “Yes, yes, yes”.Still happy, Mike looks at Delmora and says, “Please tell me you’re getting food.”According to Delmora, the employees inside the restaurant were already aware of the horse’s arrival. An employee mentioned that they were talking about the animal after seeing it on the camera system.The video cuts off before the order is completed, as Delmora later explains that the glasses he was using to film had run out of battery. Despite the sudden ending, he praised the staff, writing, “[Michael] And the rest of the staff was great!”The clip has since been flooded with reactions online. Mike himself appeared in the comments, writing, “Bruh I’m an activist, I was in complete shock.”

The other woman, Usha Vance, says she is not expected to agree with her husband JD Vance on all issues.

Second lady Usha Vance spoke openly about her disagreements with Vice President JD Vance and said that she was never expected to always be on the same page with the VP. “I’m not their employee. I’m not involved in any business sense.” …There’s no expectation that we’ll see eye to eye on everything,” Vance said in an interview with NBC News. Usha Vance was known as a registered Democrat until at least 2014 and voted for Republicans when JD ran for the Senate. She said that she does not feel any pressure to conform to any political views.“The hope is that we will be open-minded and have a conversation, and I will provide meaningful input from the perspective of someone who loves him and wants him to succeed. So even if we don’t agree, it’s – I think it’s always very productive.“There are conversations all the time,” Usha Vance said. “I really like to understand what’s going on in his world, what he’s really focused on, what concerns he has, because it’s a marriage. I mean, I want to support him, and I can’t do that if I don’t really know what’s going on.”Usha said the VP has a full staff of policy advisers, but he turns to Usha when something is bothering him, “when he really wants to talk about something that feels more personal, highly personal or important.”

‘I was myself, I am myself’

Usha said that even when she was a Democrat, she was herself and even today she is herself. Vance said, “I feel very comfortable in that no one has asked me to engage in any kind of litmus test on anything. And I’ve found that I was myself in 2014. I can be myself today. And I feel very comfortable in that world.”

Will JD run for President in 2028?

Usha Vance said that the Vice President’s focus is now on the mid-terms. Usha Vance said, “JD’s focus right now is on the midterm elections, on all the things that are happening right now, which are obviously extremely important. And so if you come back in 2027 and ask me, I’ll have a better sense of what he’s thinking along the way. But that’s not a priority in our conversation.”