Thursday, November 7, 2024

Today in Science: Misinformation spreads like a virus

Today In Science

November 6, 2024: There is more than one kind of twilight, dog groups are re-ordered, and misinformation spreads like a pathogen.
Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor
TODAY'S NEWS
• How misinformation spreads can be effectively described using mathematical models designed to simulate the spread of pathogens. It really does spread like a virus. | 5 min read
• A second Trump term will be devastating for curbing climate change: he has vowed to promote fossil fuels, weaken pollution regulations and reverse Biden administration climate efforts. | 7 min read
• Astrology was considered a serious science to medieval elites. Curator Larisa Grollemond of the Getty Museum explains the medieval zodiac and how someone's sign decided their day-to-day life. | 15 min listen
More News
TOP STORIES
Photograph of a sliver of moon above the pinks and oranges of a sunset
Katrin Ray Shumakov/Getty Images

Phases of Twilight

Astronomers have designated three phases of twilight. The first is civil twilight, which varies from place to place on Earth depending on latitude and can last anywhere from 30 minutes to many hours. The second is nautical twilight, when the sun is between six and 12 degrees below the horizon. The moon, some planets and bright stars can pop out if the sky is dark enough. Third is astronomical twilight, when the sun is 12 to 18 degrees below the horizon and the sky is black. 

Why this matters: Astronomical observations are a matter of timing and light. For some objects, like planets, where and when they appear above the horizon mean the difference between not seeing them at all and having a fabulous view. The atmosphere also changes throughout the day and night, so morning twilight and evening twilight have very different visibilities. 

What the experts say: "For an astronomer, twilight signals a welcoming to the universe, and the anticipation of that is one of the best things I know," writes astronomer and columnist Phil Plait.

Same Dogs, New Groups

An analysis of DNA sequences for more than 4,000 domesticated and wild dogs established a new way of categorizing dogs. According to the traditional system, all canines fall into one of 365 unique breeds. But the latest genetic analysis shows that there are 10 "lineage" groups of dogs that share close genetic connections.

Why this is interesting: Some breeds traditionally considered distinctive (like pinschers or schnauzers) actually share a lot in common with other dogs (terriers or sheepdogs, say). In the graphic below the opacity of the dots represents how closely a dog is related to other dogs. 

What the experts say: By combining the genetic data with behavioral surveys filled out by the owners of around 46,000 purebred dogs, the researchers identified a series of genes associated with brain development in herding breeds. "That's a great jumping-off point to study how herding dogs herd," says Elaine A. Ostrander of the National Human Genome Research Institute. 

  Newly Established Dog Lineages
A GIF showing the genetic connections between different dog species
Credit: Emily V. Dutrow and MSJONESNYC; Source: "Domestic Dog Lineages Reveal Genetic Drivers of Behavioral Diversification," by Emily V. Dutrow, James A. Serpell and Elaine A. Ostrander, in Cell, Vol. 185; December 8, 2022 (reference)
EXPERT PERSPECTIVES
• An essential principle of science is that it might change as research accumulates, write David Faigman and Jeff Kukucka, professors of law and psychology, respectively. But such change is a principle that the law has largely failed to come to grips with, they say. Fairness in law for everyone "requires the opportunity to have their cases tried in light of the best science available in the moment." | 5 min read
More Opinion
WHAT WE'RE READING
• The board of a school district in Tucson, Ariz. last week adopted a plan to cut its emissions in half by 2030 and to reach net-zero emissions by 2040. | Fast Company
• The world's first wooden satellite, a tiny Japanese spacecraft called LignoSat, arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) yesterday. | Space.com 
• There are seven continents on Earth, right? Not so fast. | The New York Times
It's an honor to connect with you every day and share in the delight, discovery, and resilience of science. Thank you for being a part of the Today in Science community.  
Send any suggestions or feedback to: newsletters@sciam.com. We'll be back tomorrow!
—Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor
Scientific American
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Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Why can't active NASA astronauts endorse US presidential candidates?

Can NASA astronauts endorse US presidential candidates? | Parker Solar Probe to glimpse Venus' surface today | Satellites can now spot plastic trash from space (photo)
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November 6, 2024
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The Launchpad
Can NASA astronauts endorse US presidential candidates?
(NASA)
Yes, NASA astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) or on other spaceflight missions have voted in U.S. elections throughout the agency's history, and this year is no exception. The four NASA astronauts currently on the ISS have either voted early or are able to vote through casting special absentee ballots using NASA's Near Space Network network of satellites and ground stations. And because most NASA astronauts live in Texas near the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas passed a law in 1997 officially allowing astronauts to vote from space, according to NASA.
Full Story: Space (11/5) 
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Parker Solar Probe to glimpse Venus' surface today
(NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben)
On Wednesday (Nov. 6), NASA's Parker Solar Probe will complete its seventh swing past Venus - the spacecraft's final maneuver around the amber planet that will nudge it onto a trajectory that will take it within 3.8 million miles of the sun's surface. That will be the closest that any human-built object has come to our star.
Full Story: Space (11/5) 
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Spaceflight
Satellites can now spot plastic trash from space (photo)
(RMIT University/Maxar Technologies)
Plastic littered across the world's beaches can now be detected from space. Researchers from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia developed a new satellite imaging technique that can spot plastics on beaches by measuring differences in reflected light from the debris compared to the surrounding sand, water or vegetation, according to a statement from the university.
Full Story: Space (11/5) 
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Science & Astronomy
Astronomers spot unusually synchronized star formation'
(ESO/ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/A. Prieto et al./Fornax Deep Survey)
Astronomers have spotted thousands of young stars huddled around the center of an ancient galaxy, all of which formed nearly simultaneously 4 million years ago. This observation marks the first time such synchronized star formation has been spotted in an old galaxy, and challenges the idea that star formation declines as galaxies age.
Full Story: Space (11/5) 
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SpaceX
Dragon capsule arrives at ISS on 31st resupply mission
(NASA)
The space station received a new shipment of supplies this morning (Nov. 5). A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft laden with 6,000 pounds (2,700 kilograms) of food, equipment and experiments completed docking with the International Space Station (ISS) at 10:04 a.m. EST (1404 GMT), about 11 minutes ahead of schedule.
Full Story: Space (11/4) 
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Technology
1st wooden satellite arrives at ISS for orbital test
(STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images)
This new spaceflight tech has a very retro feel. The world's first wooden satellite, a tiny Japanese spacecraft called LignoSat, arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) today (Nov. 5) aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule. LignoSat measures just 4 inches (10 centimeters) on each side, but it could end up having a big impact on spaceflight and exploration down the road.
Full Story: Space (11/5) 
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Entertainment
'The Man Who Loved UFOs' explores how hoaxes go viral
(Netflix)
"The Man Who Loved UFOs" is a satirical foreign film that just landed on Netflix and hailing from Argentina that takes a nostalgic approach to the subject of flying saucers and the hysteria, fear, and misinformation these sightings spawn. It might not be on your immediate radar, but it demands a viewing for its semi-comedic examination of the nature of hype, media fabrications, and the need to believe.
Full Story: Space (11/5) 
 
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Today in Science: Misinformation spreads like a virus

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