Here’s the space weather forecast for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope launch

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Strong winds and rain at the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, were responsible for the latest delay of the James Webb Space Telescope launch. But there is also another type of weather that might interfere with the grand telescope’s journey to orbit: space weather. So what does the space weather forecast look like for … Read more

Why Racism, Not Race, Is a Risk Factor for Dying of COVID-19

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Editor’s Note (12/21/21): This article is being showcased in a special collection about equity in health care that was made possible by the support of Takeda. The article was published independently and without sponsorship. COVID-19 has cut a jarring and unequal path across the U.S. The disease has disproportionately harmed and killed people of color. … Read more

The Christmas night sky: A 2021 Yuletide stargazing guide

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Christmas is almost here, and the night sky obliges by presenting a beautiful display of celestial sights, perfectly timed out to coincide with the holiday. In ancient times, Dec. 25 was the date of the lavish Roman festival of Saturnalia, a sort of bacchanalian Thanksgiving to the god of agriculture, for whom the slowest moving … Read more

30 years and $10 billion later, the James Webb Space Telescope is finally on the launch pad

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NASA and the astronomy community have poured $10 billion and more than two decades into just one piece of machinery. Now they are facing the moment of truth. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, also known as Webb or JWST, is finally in French Guiana, perched atop its rocket, ready to bid farewell to Earth and … Read more

Treatments like sotrovimab, molnupiravir, Paxlovid and Evusheld could lead to a new strategy in 2022: tackling covid-19 soon after infection to prevent severe symptoms from developing

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By Clare Wilson Prescriptions of pills that can be taken at home could help prevent people developing severe covid-19 Backyard Productions / Alamy People in the UK who are at higher risk for covid-19 can now help trial the first antiviral pill for this infection that can be taken at home, while those who are … Read more

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope won’t hit Santa during Christmas launch

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NASA is launching a huge observatory into space early Christmas morning (Dec. 25), but you don’t need to worry about it hitting Santa Claus. While St. Nick is wrapping up his annual world tour, presumably somewhere in Alaska, Hawaii or the other Pacific islands in the westernmost time zones, an Ariane 5 rocket will be … Read more

Inequality before Birth Contributes to Health Inequality in Adults

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Editor’s Note (12/21/21): This article is being showcased in a special collection about equity in health care that was made possible by the support of Takeda. The article was published independently and without sponsorship. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately hurt members of minority communities in the U.S. As of July 2020, 73.7 Black people out … Read more

Get Back: Beatles documentary used custom AI to strip unwanted sound

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Sound engineers used custom-made artificial intelligence to strip out unwanted audio from footage of the band in the studio Technology 24 December 2021 By Matthew Sparkes The Beatles’ rooftop performance from 1969 in The Beatles: Get Back Apple Corps Ltd. The Beatles: Get Back, Peter Jackson’s documentary about the making of the album Let It … Read more

Family Traditions Boost Happiness – Scientific American

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Some people go home for the holidays hoping just to survive, burying their attention in their phones or football to avoid conflict with relatives. Yet research now suggests that is the wrong idea. Family rituals—of any form—can save a holiday, making it well worth the effort of getting everyone in the same room. In a … Read more