Astronomers have confirmed that ASASSN-24fw dimmed by an extraordinary 97% over a period of more than nine months, starting in late 2024 making it one of the longest and deepest stellar eclipses ever recorded. The star, located in the Monoceros constellation, was monitored through sky surveys that track brightness changes in stars over time. The data clearly shows a prolonged and structured drop in light, far beyond what a normal planet could cause. Scientists say the most likely explanation is a massive ringed object passing in front of the star either a brown dwarf or a super Jupiter–type planet. Unlike typical transits that last hours or days, this event stretched across months, pointing to something enormous in size. The ring system itself is estimated to span about 16 million miles (25 million km), making it one of the largest ever inferred. As different parts of the rings moved across the star, they created layered dimming patterns, which allowed astronomers to study the...
Iran’s Deputy Sports Minister and senior youth official Alireza Rahimi has publicly called on young Iranians, athletes, artists, students and faculty to gather along critical infrastructure particularly power plants and form “human chains” as tensions escalate with the United States over a looming deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The nationwide campaign, described on state television as the “Human Chain of Iran’s Youth for a Bright Future”, is scheduled to take place around key energy facilities and bridges in advance of the deadline set by Donald Trump for Tehran to comply with U.S. demands. Iranian officials have framed the initiative as a peaceful show of national unity and a message that “attacking public infrastructure is a war crime,” while encouraging voluntary participation from artists, students and other civilians.
The call comes amid a sharp escalation in hostilities tied to the ongoing conflict between Iran and U.S.‑Israel forces. Trump has publicly warned that if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz a vital shipping route for global oil supplies by his deadline, the United States could target bridges and Iran’s power generation infrastructure, including power plants and electricity networks. Legal experts cited in coverage note that striking civilian infrastructure that does not directly contribute to military action could constitute a war crime under international law, though U.S. officials have defended the threats as necessary pressure.
Independent reports and social media posts show images and video of civilians gathering near facilities such as the Kazerun power plant and other sites across the country, though the extent of participation and whether all gatherings are fully volunteer remains unclear. In some posts and threads on platforms like Reddit, observers describe crowds forming lines and mention the presence of young people and families at these locations, reflecting widespread concern and anxiety among ordinary Iranians as military threats loom.
Iran’s government rejected a U.S. ceasefire proposal that included reopening the Strait of Hormuz for a temporary truce, and in response put forward its own plan for a permanent end to hostilities, even as Trump reiterated threats targeting civilian infrastructure if demands are not met. Tehran’s hardline posture and symbolic civilian mobilization around infrastructure highlight how deeply the conflict is affecting the country, blurring lines between public protest, national messaging and pressure tactics in the face of potential strikes.
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