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Thursday, August 21, 2014

Could Ransom Have Saved James Foley? (Newser Nine at Nine)

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Could Ransom Have Saved James Foley?

(Newser) - Special forces reportedly tried to free journalist James Foley in Syria earlier this summer, but to no avail. A ransom, however, may have gotten the job done. The Islamic State, which filmed the decapitation of the 40-year-old video journalist who'd been held hostage since 2012, had demanded a multimillion-dollar... More »

Scientists Find Life Half a Mile Below Antarctic Ice

(Newser) - A half a mile below the surface of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, in a lake that hasn’t been touched by sunshine or wind in millions of years, life goes on. A large US expedition called WISSARD , led by a professor at Montana State University, has unearthed a thriving... More »

Robin Williams' Ashes Scattered in San Francisco Bay

(Newser) - Robin Williams' ashes were scattered in San Francisco Bay on August 12, the day after his death, Radar reports. The information was listed on his official death certificate, TMZ reports, noting that the certificate doesn't list cause of death yet; it simply says "pending investigation." The coroner... More »

Virginia's Ex-Gov: My Wife Freaked About Being First Lady

(Newser) - Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell took the witness stand himself yesterday to begin testimony that will likely be the biggest factor in determining whether he and his wife end up in federal prison on corruption charges, reports the Washington Post . On day one, McDonnell began making two key points: that... More »

Latest Weird Mars Find: Is That a Thigh Bone?

(Newser) - First, Mars was thought to be invaded by jelly doughnuts . Now, some are claiming the latest photos from NASA's Curiosity rover show proof of human or animal life on the Red Planet. UFO Blogger first discovered what it calls a "fossilized thigh bone" in a photo snapped by... More »

American Ebola Patients to Be Released Today

(Newser) - It looks like Nancy Writebol and Dr. Kent Brantly are two of the lucky ones. The American Ebola patients, who contracted the virus in Liberia, will be released from Emory University Hospital today after weeks of treatment, ABC News reports. NBC News , however, says Writebol may only be released from... More »

Satanists Stole Holy Wafer for Black Mass: Archbishop

(Newser) - A Satanist group has stolen a holy wafer from a Catholic church to use in an upcoming "black Mass," or so alleges a lawsuit filed yesterday by the Oklahoma City Catholic archbishop. Paul S. Coakley asked an Oklahoma County district court judge "to halt the desecration" of... More »

Yosemite Climber Complained of Cramps Before Fall

(Newser) - Renowned California climber, surfer, yoga instructor, cyclist, and traveler Brad Parker was dehydrated and seemed fatigued on the day that he died, according to various people who encountered him before he fell while climbing in Yosemite National Park. After climbing a route with his girlfriend and proposing at the top... More »

Neanderthals May Have Died Out 10K Years Earlier Than We Thought

(Newser) - Scholars have long wondered why Neanderthals disappeared—and exactly when. Recent estimates date their last days to 30,000 years ago, but a new take using sophisticated radiocarbon dating suggests their rapid decline actually happened between 40,000 and 45,000 years ago. Based on this timing, the findings also... More »