TWN members, we are still trying to sort out some persisting issues with our system, so our daily update for Wednesday, May 24 did not come out as scheduled. However, it is out now, and we are working hard to fix these problems as fast as possible to resume providing you with the news you need, when you need it.
Now, let's get into today's news.
A new study shows that Saturn's massive, iconic rings are slowly disappearing! Recent research has shown that the rings are very young by geologic time standards, and they likely formed during the Mesozoic Era (the era of the dinosaurs). However, they still have quite some time left, about 100 million years. New evidence also shows that the thin rings of Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune may have once been the size of Saturn's, and that when Saturn's rings deteriorate, they may become like the other gas giants'.
On another note, environmentalists have just received a huge blow from the United States Supreme Court. In a new ruling, they voted 5-4 that property rights are more important that clean water and the safety of US wetlands and marshes. It has been scientifically proven that marshes and wetlands actually help improve water quality. However, according to the ruling, the EPA's Clean Water Act only applies to bodies of water that are directly connected to official "waters of the United States," so other areas which are not connected can be developed on. This new ruling allows for over 90 million acres of wetlands and marshes to be privately owned, which is massive setback to environmentalists around the country.
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