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Stunning images of actively-forming stars captured by James Webb Space Telescope

Jul 28, 2023 |

Scientists operating the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) announced on Wednesday that it had captured the most detailed images ever of two actively forming stars, collectively known as Herbig-Haro 46/47. Using high-resolution infrared light, the JWST managed to catch images of the distant objects despite being roughly 1,470 light-years away.

NASA scientists are particularly intrigued by these images because of the two “lobes” that can be seen jutting out of either side of the disk where the two stars are gathering mass....

Originally posted on salon.com

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The Supreme Court approves controversial fossil fuel pipeline construction — with Biden’s support

Jul 27, 2023 |

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of allowing construction of a gas pipeline that will further exacerbate climate change, which is largely caused by the greenhouse gases emitted by burning fossil fuels. Even though the Mountain Valley Pipeline is staunchly opposed by climate activists, the Supreme Court, without elaboration, granted an emergency request to begin construction from the pipeline’s backers with the support of Congress — and President Joe Biden himself....

Originally posted on salon.com

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Hexagon heaven: Scientists reveal bees and wasps use the same math to build their nests

Jul 27, 2023 |

Hexagons are mutually associated with bees and wasps, as both insect species build their nests using this humble six-sided shape. Anyone who stumbles upon a bee or wasp nest in nature will be greeted by rows and rows of dozens of tiny symmetrical hexagons. But these bug aesthetics are completely functional and used by the insects to store their food and raise their young....

Originally posted on salon.com

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Heart problems from vaccines are extremely rare. Heart problems from COVID itself are not

Jul 27, 2023 |

Elon Musk, owner of Twitter, the website rebranding as X, is facing heated criticism for spreading misinformation on his platform again. On Tuesday, Musk incorrectly linked COVID-19 vaccines to college basketball star LeBron “Bronny” James Jr. suffering a cardiac arrest during practice. In a tweet, Musk claimed that “we cannot ascribe everything to the vaccine, but, by the same token, we cannot ascribe nothing....

Originally posted on salon.com

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European and US heatwaves “virtually impossible” if climate change wasn’t happening, study finds

Jul 25, 2023 |

Billions of humans are sweating bullets as the hottest summer in recorded history continues. From the United States to Europe, thousands of temperature records have been shattered due to greenhouse gases released by burning fossil fuels. The Mediterranean Sea hit its highest-ever temperature, reaching 83.1ºF (28.4ºC), while the waters in southern Florida hit literal Jacuzzi temperatures at 100ºF (37.8ºC), also a record....

Originally posted on salon.com

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Unsanitary and deadly: The Great Stink of 1858 may foreshadow our future climate breakdown

Jul 25, 2023 |

As Summer 2023 continues to shatter heat records, climate change experts are talking about a “new abnormal.” Studies indicate that ecosystems are likely to rapidly collapse as extreme weather events caused by these heatwaves pile up, one on top of the other. Sky high temperatures are rendering cities like Phoenix, Arizona into borderline uninhabitable heat domes....

Originally posted on salon.com

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Light pollution is the easiest pollution to fix — so why aren’t we doing it?

Jul 22, 2023 |

Our night sky is rapidly disappearing. At our current rate of dumping excess light into the world, a child born today who could see 250 stars right now from their nearby night sky will only be able to see 100 stars from that same spot on their 18th birthday.

Light pollution does far more than ruin stargazing experiences — it has a devastating affect on the environment....

Originally posted on salon.com

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