The four astronauts who flew in Nasa’s Artemis II mission around the Moon have been welcomed back to Planet Earth at an event in Houston, Texas.

Commander Reid Wiseman said the mission was “the most special thing I ever went through in my life”.

The astronauts – Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen – were all reunited with their families on Saturday.

Their nine-day voyage took them further from Earth than any humans in history.

If you have teenagers in your life, they’ll probably have heard of the PSL scale. Or at least the language associated with it. Chad. Stacy. Normie. Subhuman.

The PSL scale is a pseudoscientific attractiveness rating system used by looksmaxxers, men in a part of the manosphere who sometimes use extreme methods to change their appearance. The scale purports to rank people into different categories based on their physical appearance, with looksmaxxers deeming that the higher up the scale a man is, the more attractive he will be to women.

The roots of this rating system lie in misogynistic online forums used by incels or involuntarily celibates, but now it’s all over social media, where teenage boys post photos of themselves, asking to be ranked. PSL apps are also available which will rate a person’s photograph, and give them AI-powered advice, sometimes for a fee, on how to “move up” the scale.

So how did the language of incels, and this one way of quantifying attractiveness and beauty, become so mainstream?

In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to Jordan Foster, an associate professor of sociology at MacEwan University in Alberta, Canada, who researches social media, beauty and masculinity. He explains the origins of the PSL scale, where it fits into the manosphere, and how some looksmaxxing influencers are making money off it.

PSL is an abbreviation of three, now defunct, online incel forums. Foster says that a precise dialogue emerged from discussions on these forums about what features constitute attractiveness and beauty, which turned into a pseudoscientific rating system. “So there might be notions, for example, that a strong brow bone or a stronger jawline is going to communicate a certain amount of testosterone and that this is going to suggest something about your virility or your fitness.”

Foster suggests the idea that beauty can be quantifiable in this way emerged as some men came to terms with “a topic that has historically been taboo and feminised”. He says looksmaxxers realised that if they wanted to have a discussion about beauty, they needed to communicate it in a language that is traditionally more palatable for men. “How do you do that? Wrap it in the guise of science.”

Listen to the interview with Jordan Foster on The Conversation Weekly podcast and read an article he wrote with his colleague Jillian Sunderland at the University of Toronto . This episode was written and produced by Katie Flood and Gemma Ware. Mixing by Eleanor Brezzi and theme music by Neeta Sarl.

Newsclips in this episode from NBC News, The Social CTV, CTV News, Tamron Hall Show, Saturday Night Live, BrettMaverick and PrestigeClipper via TikTok.

Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here. A transcript of this episode is available via the Apple Podcasts or Spotify apps.

HOUSTON (AP) — Still marveling over their moon mission, the Artemis II astronauts received a thunderous welcome home Saturday from hundreds who took part in NASA’s lunar comeback that set a record for deep space travel.

The crew of four arrived at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Mission Control, flying in from San Diego, where they splashed down just offshore the evening before.

After a quick reunion with their spouses and children, commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen took the hangar stage, surrounded by space center workers and other invited guests. They were introduced by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, among the first to greet them aboard the recovery ship Friday.

“Ladies and gentlemen, your Artemis II crew,” Isaacman said to a standing ovation.

The jubilant crowd included flight directors and the launch director, Orion capsule and exploration system managers, high-ranking military officers, members of Congress, the space agency’s entire blue-suited astronaut corps and even retired ones, and more.

Their homecoming was poignant: They returned to NASA’s Houston base on the 56th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 13, whose “Houston, we’ve had a problem” refrain turned a near-disaster into triumph.

“This was not easy.” an emotional Wiseman said. “Before you launch, it feels like it’s the greatest dream on Earth. And when you’re out there, you just want to get back to your families and your friends. It’s a special thing to be a human, and it’s a special thing to be on planet Earth.”

Added Glover: “I have not processed what we just did and I’m afraid to start even trying.”

Hansen said the four of them embodied love “and extracting joy out of that” as the four joined together to stand in a row, embracing one another. “When you look up here, you’re not looking at us. We are a mirror reflecting you. And if you like what you see, then just look a little deeper. This is you.”

During Artemis II’s nearly 10-day mission, the astronauts voyaged deeper into space than the moon explorers of decades past and captured views of the lunar far side never witnessed before by human eyes. A total solar eclipse added to the cosmic wonder.

On their record-breaking flyby, the astronauts reached a maximum 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers) from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon, eclipsing Apollo’s 13 distance record.

The mission also revealed a new side of our planet with an Earthset photo, showing our Blue Marble setting behind the gray, pockmarked moon. The image echoed the famous Earthrise shot from 1968 taken by the world’s first lunar visitors, Apollo 8.

The main attraction early at UFC 327 on Saturday night wasn’t any of the fighters, but President Donald Trump.

Trump entered the Kaseya Center shortly after 9 p.m. to watch the light heavyweight fight between Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg. He was accompanied by Dana White, the president of Ultimate Fighting Championship, and several members of the Trump family.

As a Kid Rock song blasted from the speakers, Trump walked to his seat where Secretary of State Marco Rubio was waiting. Also nearby was Sergio Gor, the U.S. ambassador to India.

Trump shook hands with attendees on the floor and made a point of greeting Joe Rogan, the podcaster who also works as a UFC color commentator.

Trump gave several smiles to the cameras.

Earlier, on his way to the arena, Trump’s Truth Social account posted an advertisement that appeared to be for a UFC fight at the White House on June 14, on what would be Trump’s 80th birthday.

A crowd of onlookers could be seen filming the presidential motorcade upon arrival.

With former champion Alex Pereira vacating the belt to move up and challenge for the interim heavyweight crown at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, Ulberg (14-1-0) earned his spot across Procházka (32-5-1) in the main event of Saturday’s card.

On the main undercard, fellow light heavyweights Azamat Murzakanov (16-0-0) and Paulo Costa (15-4-0) will battle in what might end up being a qualifier for the victor to meet the winner of Ulberg and Procházka.

Fifth-ranked heavyweight Curtis Blaydes (19-5-0) will battle undefeated Josh Hokit (8-0-0).

Reyes (15-5-0), now the 10th-ranked light heavyweight, will battle No. 12 Johnny Walker (22-9-0).

In the featherweight division, Cub Swanson (31-14-0) stopped Nate Landwehr (18-8-0).

___

AP MMA: https://apnews.com/hub/mixed-martial-arts

Scientists have warned that even moderate consumption may accelerate the onset of dementia

If you want to reduce your chances of developing dementia, there’s one habit worth giving up, or at least cutting back on.

Research from a study suggests that regular alcohol use may do more than just leave you with a hangover with increasing evidence indicating it could have a significant negative impact on your cognitive health.

According to the NHS, dementia affects more than 944,000 people in the UK. The study highlighted the link between the drink and the condition in a 2023 peer-reviewed journal by Atrium Health. Researchers used a ‘chronic drinking approach’ in which mice were given the option to drink water or alcohol across 10 weeks.

The US-based researchers were especially focused on exploring the link between alcohol consumption and the development of Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for around 60% to 80% of all dementia cases. Their findings showed that even “moderate” drinking levels were sufficient to speed up brain atrophy.

This refers to the shrinking and deterioration of brain tissue, coupled with a rise in ‘amyloid plaques’ – harmful proteins closely associated with Alzheimer’s. “These findings suggest alcohol might accelerate the pathological cascade of Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages,” said Associate Professor Shannon Macauley, of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, at the time.

“These preclinical findings suggest that even moderate consumption of alcohol can result in brain injury. Alcohol consumption may be a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia”, reports Surrey Live.

Importantly, these results aren’t confined to studies on mice. In 2024, researchers at Oxford University identified alcohol as one of the most significant contributors to declining cognitive health, with the potential to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s.

The team analysed the brain scans of 40,000 individuals to determine this. Professor Gwenaëlle Douaud, who led the study, said: “We know that a constellation of brain regions degenerates earlier in ageing, and in this new study we have shown that these specific parts of the brain are most vulnerable to diabetes, traffic-related air pollution − increasingly a major player in dementia − and alcohol, of all the common risk factors for dementia.

“We have found that several variations in the genome influence this brain network, and they are implicated in cardiovascular deaths, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, as well as with the two antigens of a little-known blood group, the elusive XG antigen system, which was an entirely new and unexpected finding.”

Current UK guidance from the NHS states that being aware of your units will help you stay in control of your drinking.

To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks, it suggests:

• Men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis
• spread ySpreadinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
• If you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week

It adds: “14 units is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine.”

For information on alcohol units and support, visit the NHS website here.

What are the signs of dementia?

Accoridng to Dementia UK: “Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of conditions that affect the brain. There are many different types, subtypes and causes. It is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms always get worse over time.”

It added: “The most common symptoms of dementia include difficulties with remembering, thinking and speaking, which get worse over time. However, there are many other possible symptoms, and everyone has their own unique experience of the condition.”

You can read all about the signs and symptoms of dementia online via the Dementia UK website.

Owen Hargreaves believes only Declan Rice and Gabriel Magalhaes ‘played properly’ in Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta’s side delivered another unconvincing performance as Viktor Gyokeres’ penalty cancelled out Junior Kroupi’s opener before Alex Scott scored the winner for Bournemouth in the 74th minute at the Emirates Stadium.

The defeat means Arsenal are still nine points clear at the top of the Premier League but Manchester City now have two games in hand and also play the Gunners next Sunday.

Arteta, meanwhile, continues to face criticism over Arsenal’s playing style and their inability to create several clear-cut chances during games.

‘They [Arsenal] didn’t play confident,’ Hargreaves told Premier League Productions.

‘I was at the game and the crowd were super up for it at the beginning of the game, by the end of it they were not happy with what they saw.

‘The only ones who played properly were Declan Rice and Gabriel, the rest of them got thoroughly outplayed.

‘Bournemouth were brilliant by the way, they pressed the life out of Arsenal.

‘Arsenal could not keep the ball for the life of them, kept going long, they’d pass the ball back to the goalkeeper, I think it was 39 times in the game, David Raya had the second-most passes of an Arsenal player. They just really encouraged Bournemouth into that press and the press is probably one of the best in the Premier League but they just surprised Arsenal and they deserved to win the game.

‘I think the biggest problem is they’ve been outplayed in three of the last four games – City in the Carabao Cup final, Southampton in the FA Cup, and then today.

‘They had the win against Sporting but David Raya was one of their best players in that game and he made quite a few saves so there is a little bit of a trend there where they’re being outplayed.

‘They’ve worked so hard to get to this point but they have to finish the job. Today they lacked a little bit of courage, belief and a little bit of aggression in crucial moments, Bournemouth were more aggressive today.’

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The helicopters were seen touching down on Oxford Grove playing fields in the early evening.

Ivy Road was closed as emergency crews responded to a suspected medical episode.

Paramedics from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) took the lead in treating the casualty.

Emergency crews worked together (Image: Phil Taylor)

A spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Police confirmed the incident was in its early stages when officers were first called shortly before 5.30pm.

There was no further police role beyond assisting ambulance colleagues.

Ivy Road, where the incident took place, was blocked to drivers (Image: Phil Taylor)

Witnesses described a large emergency presence in the area, with multiple responders, police vehicles and an ambulance in attendance.

A crowd of residents gathered nearby as treatment was carried out, with reports that a dignity sheet was put in place.

An onlooker told The Bolton News that a child was seen assisting emergency crews at the scene.

A child helping the emergency team (Image: Phil Taylor)

At around 6.30pm, air ambulance crews were seen preparing to leave, with one aircraft departing shortly afterwards and a ground ambulance also leaving the area.

By 7pm, Ivy Road had reopened to traffic and the incident was reported to have been cleared.

The condition of the casualty has not been confirmed.

The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has been contacted for comment.