The full worm moon helped break the logjam in the Suez Canal
A piece of celestial good luck likely made it easier for engineers to successfully refloat the giant container ship that blocked the Suez Canal for almost a week.
Sunday's so-called full "Worm moon" led to a high spring tide -- about 18 inches (46 centimeters) above normal -- on Monday, which eased the process of straightening out and dislodging the ship, according to NASA.Spring tides have nothing to do with the season; it's a historical term for when tides "spring forth" during new and full moons, according to the National Ocean Service.While there are 12 to 13 full moons in a year, only six to eight are associated with a tide high enough to do what was done on Monday -- because the moon is closest to Earth during those full moons, said CNN meteorologist Judson Jones.
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"It is not uncommon for these tides to be a foot higher than other high tides during the year when the moon is further from the Earth," Jones said. "It is no doubt that these high tides were part of the strategy for dislodging such a massive ship."
Those six to eight full moons are called supermoons, because they appear bigger and brighter in the sky. The March supermoon was the first of the year and was expected to be the fourth brightest moon of 2021.The Native American tribes in the US South call the March full moon the Worm moon because the earthworm casts -- soil that the worms digest -- become visible as the ground thaws at this time of year.
Traffic resumed in both directions of the Suez Canal on Monday evening after tug boats spent several hours working to free the bow of the Ever Given container ship after dislodging the stern earlier in the day.
The successful refloating was met with triumph and relief, as hundreds of vessels that have been trapped in the pivotal shipping lane since March 23 prepare to restart their journeys.
The challenge now is dealing with the backlog and congestion of the ships, which, working day and night, could take more than three days to clear.Donald Wynn Williams II, an eyewitness at the scene of the incident, testified today that after George Floyd was put into an ambulance he called 911 because "I believe I witnessed a murder."
"I felt the need to call the police on the police," Williams continued.
Asked why he didn't speak to the officers already on the scene, Williams said, he felt they were involved in the incident.
Williams' 911 call from that day was played for the jury.
On tape, Williams can be heard telling the 911 operator that an officer "is trying to kill this citizens" in front of the Cup Foods store.
"He had his knee on the dude's neck the whole time," Williams said.
He told the 911 operator that Floyd "stopped breathing," adding "he wasn't resisting arrest or nothing. He was in handcuffs."
"I don't know if he is dead for sure. But he was non-responsive when the ambulance came and got him," Williams said.
Williams appeared to become emotional on the witness stand as the tape played, at one point picking up a tissue to wipe his eyes.The second day of Derek Chauvin's trial in George Floyd's death just began. There will be further questioning of a professional mixed martial arts fighter who stumbled onto the scene of the 46-year-old Black man's final moments.
Donald Wynn Williams II began testifying Monday as the third witness in the trial. Relying on his own MMA experience, he said that Chauvin performed a "blood choke" on Floyd and adjusted his positioning several times to maintain pressure on Floyd's neck.
He testified he watched Floyd gasp for air, his eyes roll to the back of his head and blood start to come out of his nose.
His testimony was abruptly cut off Monday because of a technological issue.
The opening statements in Chauvin's trial yesterday came 10 months after Floyd's death launched a summer of protest, unrest and a societal reckoning with America's past and present of anti-Black racism and aggressive policing.
Chauvin, 45, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges.We expect the jury to enter the courtroom between 10:15 a.m ET and 10:30 a.m. ET (9:15-9:30am local) to continue receiving testimony.
Direct examination of the third witness, Donald Williams II, will continue today. His testimony was abruptly cut off Monday because of a technological issue.
More on the trial: Chauvin knelt on 46-year-old Floyd’s neck May 25 as Floyd told Chauvin and three other officers he couldn't breathe.
Chauvin, 45, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter charges.
This is the 14th day of the trial and the second day of testimonyThe murder trial of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin will continue today with further questioning of witnesses.
Chauvin faces of second-degree unintentional murder, second-degree manslaughter and third-degree murder for the May 2020 death of George Floyd.George Floyd’s brother Philonise Floyd said the former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin's legal defense team is “trying to assassinate" his brother's character.