From Science Fiction to Science Fact: Cal Scientists Discover Jupiter's "Mush Balls"

Here are the morning’s headlines for Friday, April 18th, 2025:

• Imagine that severe storms sent ice balls containing chemical slush raining down onto the ground. While that sounds like science fiction here on earth, researchers at UC Berkeley have discovered, that is science-fact on our solar system’s biggest planet–Jupiter.
• The U.S. Justice Department has ruled that tech giant Google has been holding an unlawful monopoly over online ads, enabling them to manipulate the market and keep competition out.
• A new report shows that Black and Latina women in California continue to face disproportionate challenges when it comes to accessing maternal healthcare.

UC Berkeley Researchers Find Truth Behind Off-World Weather Phenomenon Thought Theoretical

The idea that these “mush balls” were even real was offered as a reason why there was not uniformity in the distribution of ammonia gas in Jupiter’s upper atmosphere–an inconsistency spotted by NASA’s Juno mission and radio telescopes here on earth.

The “mush balls” were theorized to be spheres of ammonia-water slush, encased in a shell of ice, which dropped like hailstones when massive lightning storms occurred in Jupiter’s skies.

However, scientists first dismissed the theory as too complex to be real, since these mush balls would require very specific atmospheric conditions.

UC Berkeley researcher Chris Moeckel and his one-time adviser Imke de Pater, who’s professor emerita of astronomy and earth planetary science, shook off their doubts since the theory was put for back in 2020. Through their research, they have modeled the formation of these “mush balls” via 3D visualization, and their findings were included in the journal, Science Advances, late last month.

Women of Color Distrust  Maternal Care in California: Report

HOPE and Black Women Organized for Political Action examined the experience of more than 800 Black and Latina women in California about how they feel about maternal care in the state. The response: roughly 60 percent of responder said they didn’t trust the state’s birthing system to have their or their child’s well-being as a priority.

Helene Torrez, who is CEO of Hispanas Organized for Political Equity, one of the groups behind the report, says that California’s health care system has a long way to go to earn the trust of Black and Latina women.

Court Rules That Google’s Monopoly on Internet Ads is Illegal

The U.S. Department of Justice allege that Google has an illegal stranglehold on internet advertising, to the point that the tech giant can charge higher prices to its competition, and take a bigger cut of ad sales.

Google may be forced to sell parts of the company, after yesterday’s ruling.

U.S. Attorney General, Pamela Bondi, said in a statement that the ruling is a landmark victory in stopping Google control the digital public square.

Google said in a statement that it plans to appeal parts of the ruling.