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Desert Hot Springs, CA PERMIT NO 00005
Friday, March 8, 2019 Vol. 15 No. 18
Mysterious ‘Planet 9’ By Desert Star Staff The furor surrounding the solar system’s theoretical ‘Planet 9’ reached new heights after a University of Michigan researcher discovered evidence that may shed light on the existence of the elusive world beyond Neptune. Some researchers believe that ‘Planet 9’ exists
because of the way certain space phenomena, known as Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs), behave. Conspiracy theorists, meanwhile, believe that NASA is keeping Planet 9’s existence a secret because it’s on a collision course with Earth, which will result in our annihilation. But let’s stick with the
scientists for now, shall we? Research from Juliette Becker and her team indicates the answer to Planet 9’s existence lies in the life of TNOs. Smaller than the former planet Pluto, TNOs are solid objects which orbit the sun at a greater distance than Neptune, the gas giant at
the edge of the solar system. Some astronomers say that for these TNOs to occupy their current orbits, they must have been in the solar system for more than a billion years. Others think, however, that in that vast amount of time some of these TNOs should have either crashed into another planet, been
hurled into the sun or been flung out into deep space by the gravitational force of other planets. Using a large set of computer simulations, Becker uncovered two new pieces of information about TNOs. First, researchers Continues on Page 3
Eisenhower Training Kicked in During Emergency Kitty Alvarado Monday’s shooting outside the orthopedic building Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage happened quickly. Frank McDonell a patient who was there when a man opened fire says the staff responded just as fast, “Pretty scary when I was just opening the door and she came running out at me and said don’t go outside there’s a shooter outside.” Patients were whisked away by staff to a secure building to shelter in place. Elizabeth Wholihan, the marketing and public
relations vice president with Eisenhower Health says no one can predict when emergencies like these will happen but their staffed stepped up, “Everyone knew how to react in the moment that was challenging, unexpected and shocking.” While they cannot speak about specifics of this case because of the investigation, she says staff follows homeland security protocols in emergency situations and they train year round for the unexpected, “We do drills for all kinds of all different Continues on Page 3