THE ‘Son of Concorde’ XB-1 jet is set to take off on its inaugural supersonic flight tomorrow, where it will break the sound barrier for the first time.
Bosses at Colorado-based Boom Technology believe it will be the first US-built commercial supersonic jet to hit the market.
The aircraft will top supersonic speeds during a livestream on 28 January at 6:45am PST/ 9:45am EST/ 2:45pm GMT.
Though it is worth noting that test flights can be delayed at any moment due to the weather.
Chase plane T-38 is set to follow the XB-1 so that viewers can watch the moment it reaches Mach 1 – which is about 767mph.
The XB-1 reached “transonic” speeds of Mach 0.95 in its two previous test flights.
Mach 1 and above is when a jet can be classed as supersonic.
Chief test pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, who has headed XB-1’s previous test flights, will be the man inside the cockpit when the next-generation aircraft breaks the sound barrier.
The aircraft has so far been authorised to fly in two airspaces: the Bell X-1 Supersonic Corridor and the Black Mountain Supersonic Corridor near Edwards Air Force Base in Mojave, California.
It’s the same airspace where Chuck Yeager became the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound in 1947, in his Bell X-1 plane.
On the ground, Boom’s chief test flight engineer, Nick Sheryka, and advisor Greg Krauland, will be joined by former chief Concorde pilot at British Airways, Mike Bannister.
“Even people who have flown supersonic hundreds of times never stop getting excited about it,” said Bannister, who has clocked nearly 7,000 supersonic hours in the Concorde.
In the air, the XB-1 is expected to maintain supersonic speeds for roughly four minutes, test pilot Brandenburg revealed last week.
Although, he added, the flight will last between 30 and 45 minutes in total.
Civilians on the ground will also be spared the deafening sound of its sonic boom, the company has claimed.
Only the original Concorde passengers and military fast jet pilots have travelled at such speeds – though companies like Boom are trying to change that.
Before each flight, Brandenburg practices several times in the XB-1 simulator.
“It also gives me our best prediction of how we expect the aircraft to behave in each new condition,” he said in a recent post on Boom’s website.
Then there are several emergency scenarios that Brandenburg has to run through – such as if the engine fails.
“Finally, we run the profile at least twice with the entire control room: once with the flight going as expected and once with some sort of failure or emergency,” he said.
The actual acceleration from subsonic to supersonic will be fairly gradual.
“A common misconception is that the pilot feels extreme G-forces at supersonic speeds,” said Brandenburg. “This is not true.”
Once the aircraft is at a steady airspeed, Brandenburg will only feel the force of gravity and the slight pull of acceleration.
That goes for future passengers too.
There are several types of hypersonic and supersonic jets. A breakdown of what's been happening in the industry and what's expected in the coming years.
Talon-A
A TEACHER who raised money and donations while she was supposedly pregnant with quadruplets had her tale spectacularly unravelled after raking in a fortune in donations.
Maria Verônica Aparecida César Santos, who was dubbed the Pregnant Woman of Taubaté shocked Brazil in 2012.
Incredible images showed Santos, from Sao Paulo, with a belly larger than most pregnant people.
The mother-to-be had even named her four daughters Maria Klara, Maria Eduarda, Maria Fernanda, and Maria Vitória and showed off her baby clothes.
Her story caught the attention of people locally and across Brazil with well-wishers sending in diapers, toys, and even furniture to help.
Money was even raised for the teacher by the newspapers that reported on her extraordinary story.
Santos’ tale however took a shock turn after she was asked to reveal her baby bump.
The supposed mother raised suspicions when she went on a talk show.
The presenter noted Santos’ unusually normal appearance and manner for someone apparently pregnant with four babies.
Santos did not have any difficulty moving, was never seen clothes other than dresses, and did not have a swollen face or body, like most pregnant people usually do.
The supposed mother-to-be was pulled aside and confronted by the presenter who asked the mum to expose her bump.
When Santos refused, by making excuses about having stretch marks, journalist Chris Flores launched an investigation.
A shocking report revealed Santos had been lying about her pregnancy altogether.
The kicker was a supposed ultrasound found on the internet which featured the gynecologist Wilson Vieira de Souza.
The doctor was tracked down and revealed the teacher had visited him for a consultation where he told her she was not pregnant.
Santos’ lies came crashing down as she was charged with fraud and was even sued by the mother whose scan she had stolen and claimed as her own.
Her charges were eventually dropped after she returned all of the donations she received from well-wishers.
The now 38-year-old has since relaunched herself as a born-again Christian with a bizarre return to social media.
In a YouTube clip, she appears in a plain white blouse in front of a painting of Jesus and a figurine of the Virgin Mary.
Other images show her sitting on a bench clutching an open bible next to a huge statue of Christ’s mother.
Looking piously at the camera, Maria said: “I came up with this channel to take back my identity.
“Many people know me as the pregnant woman of Taubate, but now I want to be known as Maria Veronica.”
She added: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you, I am no longer worthy to be called your daughter.
“I have decided to bring this testimony to you after many years to remind people that conversions still exist and that they are not only in the Bible.
“There are people who go through a beautiful conversion and this was my case.”
A GROUP of motoring experts have unveiled the 10 cheapest cars to insure in the UK for 2025.
According to CarGurus, drivers can find a good selection of vehicles with low-cost insurance policies – without having to compromise on practicality or certain creature comforts.
When it comes to car insurance, vehicles are categorised into groups ranging from group 1, the cheapest option typically reserved for small city cars, to group 50, which is the most expensive and generally applies to high-performance models.
These insurance groups are determined based on a variety of factors, including repair costs, parts prices, standard safety equipment, and security features.
To that end, here are 10 cars that fall into the lowest insurance groups, offering some of the most affordable policies available.
The lower-powered 1.0-litre Polo, which produces a modest 79bhp, qualifies for group 1 insurance – but do be cautious with higher-powered models, as they fall into higher insurance groups.
The Polo, which has been around since 1975, is now in its sixth generation, which launched in 2017.
It remains a practical, high-quality small car with a spacious and refined interior.
What’s more, it’s the perfect beginner-car for new drivers.
The compact Kia Picanto is an excellent choice for cheap insurance, with some automatic models qualifying for group 1.
That said, CarGurus advises steering clear of the basic ‘1’ trim and opting for the ‘2’ trim, which includes features such as alloy wheels and air conditioning.
While the Picanto is ideal for city driving, the small 66bhp engine isn’t particularly quick.
Older Picantos and the slightly larger Kia Rio also offer affordable options, and both are backed by Kia’s renowned seven-year warranty.
One of Britain’s most beloved superminis, the Nissan Micra, has early 1.0-litre models that qualify for group 1 insurance.
While it’s not the quickest car, it offers excellent fuel economy, modern styling, and a crucial five-star safety rating.
The Acenta trim is the one to look out for, as it features extras such as climate control and touchscreen technology.
The Polo’s smaller, quirkier sibling, the Up, is another fun and nimble city car that qualifies for group 1 insurance – provided you choose a 1.0-litre engine.
Impressively, despite its compact size, the Up offers decent boot space and room for four adults.
Its VW-owned counterparts, the Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo, are nearly identical and also deliver similarly low insurance costs.
With its spacious, comfortable, and well-equipped entry-level models, the Skoda Fabia with a 1.0-litre engine is another motor that qualifies for group 1 insurance.
While it’s not the fastest car, it’s practical and reliable, making it a great choice, particularly for younger drivers.
The nation’s favourite hatchback may have been discontinued in 2023, but it remains a top pick on the second-hand car market.
In fact, last year it was described as the ideal city car, with prices starting at under £5,000.
The 1.1-litre Fiesta in Style trim qualifies for group 2 insurance, making it an affordable option.
The Fiesta has always been a superb all-rounder, offering excellent handling and a fun driving experience – which is likely why it remains the UK’s best-selling car of all time.
To qualify for group 1 insurance, drivers should look for the previous-generation Hyundai i10, built from 2014 to 2019, with the 1.0-litre engine.
Despite its compact size, the i10 is practical, roomy, and comfortable, much like the Picanto and the Up.
For those interested in the newer model, from 2019 onwards, it falls into group 3 but comes with improved refinement and equipment.
Almost as iconic as the Fiesta, the Renault Clio remains in production, though the cheapest insurance options are found with older models.
Specifically, Clios with the 1.0-litre SCe engine are the most affordable to insure, while still offering stylish looks, a spacious front cabin, and a large boot.
Much like the relationship between the Picanto and the i10, the Seat Ibiza is closely related to the VW Polo, sharing much of the same technology.
The Ibiza, however, boasts sportier styling.
The 1.0-litre non-turbo engine, producing 79bhp, qualifies for group 2 insurance, while still offering a roomy interior, good equipment levels, and excellent value for money.
Romanian manufacturer Dacia has built its reputation on affordability, and the Sandero is no exception.
Currently available from £13,795, the Sandero is set for a slight price increase in 2025 but will remain significantly cheaper than its rivals.
It’s also one of the UK’s most affordable new cars to insure, even in its Essential trim, which includes features such as cruise control and a DAB radio.
Yes, it’s basic, but it’s also practical and highly economical to insure.
You keep getting those flu shot reminders for a reason—we're still in the thick of sick season.
According to new info released by the CDC on Friday, January 24, positive tests for influenza increased nationwide by 25% during the week of January 18. Emergency room visits for the flu are also "very high," and influenza A has been found to be increasing in wastewater samples throughout the U.S.
That said, this data is different and much less specific from the weekly reports the CDC usually provides about the flu.
Related: Flu Levels Are "Very High" and "High" in 41 States After Holiday Surge
Typically, the CDC releases a weekly FluView report that offers a detailed look at seasonal influenza activity, including the types of the virus found, hospitalization stats, mortality rate, and cases by state. The last time the CDC provided the FluView was for the week ending on January 11, 2025.
Since then, the Trump administration has put a halt on all scientific communication from federal health agencies until at least February 1. As a result, the CDC has changed gears by including these latest flu stats in a "Respiratory Virus Activity Levels" report, which also shares data on nationwide COVID-19, RSV, and other acute respiratory illness cases.
Still, experts are worried about the new lack of specificity.
"We look at data like this to see what additional resources we might need to bring in," Dr. Aaron Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau in New York, told NBC News. "It gives us a certain sense of what will happen." Without precise state-by-state or strain-specific trends, hospitals and health care physicians are operating with more blind spots.
"One piece of data in a huge data stream is probably not the end of the world,” Glatt added. “However, I am concerned if this continues. We do need to know, are we going up? Or are we going down?"
Related: New OTC Tests Can Check for Both COVID & the Flu
U.S. Wastewater sample map of influenza A as of January 18, 2025CDC
For now, both experts and the public will have to rely on a mix of new and older data to see where the flu is spreading most rapidly.
As of January 18, Influenza A has been found to be "very high" in wastewater samples from:
Influenza A has been found to be "high" in wastewater samples from:
For more detailed info, the best the CDC can provide right now is its report from two weeks ago.
To keep yourself healthy, experts agree that it's still "worth it" to get vaccinated against influenza if you haven't yet. As of January 4, roughly 43% of U.S. adults and 43% of children had received an influenza vaccine, according to CDC data.
Якщо президент США втілить свою обіцянку про депортацію усіх нелегальних мігрантів, американська економіка впаде на 8%. Про це пише Bloomberg із посиланням на економістів. “Імміграційна політика президента Дональда Трампа, ймовірно, матиме руйнівний вплив на зростання та прибутки Корпоративної Америки, але інвесторів це ще не збентежило — здебільшого тому, що вони не вірять, що він […]