your science briefing for 01.13.2025
Why we need to return to the Moon, how dating apps ruin your self-esteem, using new techniques to get even more detailed images of black holes, and more...
Despite the “been there, done that attitude” when it comes to the Moon, experts say that if we want to explore our solar system, we need lunar cities, observatories, and launch complexes. It’s the place where we can learn how to survive and thrive on an alien world in relative safety, with constant communication and an escape route which wouldn’t be available anywhere else, which is why we should not only return, but plan to stay for as long as possible… (Wired)
Dating apps being bad for your self-esteem is nothing new. But it’s still a pretty good reminder of just how often they help enforce unrealistic standards for looks thanks to popularity algorithms, AI image correction, and lopsided success rates… (SciMex)
For all their power, galactic collisions are extremely slow-moving events that unfold over the course of millions of years. We’re due for one ourselves in about 4.5 billion years, just in case you needed to make some plans. But what exactly happens when two galaxies merge? Astronomer Phil Plait has some insights… (Bad Astronomy)
This past year has been yet another scorcher. Temperatures broke all time records in some 111 countries. Deserts became hotter and drier. Mountainous regions became wetter and more prone to landslides and flash floods. And scientists say this is only going to get worse… (Eureka Alert)
Okay, so I know that I kind of made a big deal about satellite constellations, but maybe we can let this one slide. A proposal by an astronomer from Seoul National University says that four small satellites could give us even more unprecedented, highly detailed images of black holes, potentially giving us even more insights into the places where reality as we know it starts to completely break down… (Space)