How to see Sirius B

Sirius is a binary star, with a small white dwarf called the Pup orbiting the large primary star. It’s not easy to observe, but it is possible. Here’s how. Source: https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/how-to-observe-sirius-b…

Google Will Let You Limit the Alcohol and Gambling Ads You See

On Thursday, Google announced a new setting that lets people limit the alcohol- and gambling-related ads they come across. Gizmodo reports: Per the announcement, the feature will first roll out for YouTube ads in the U.S., before globally expanding to ads across YouTube and Google search in “early 2021.” Countries that already have legal limitations on ads in these sorts of…

Should you avoid alcohol when getting a coronavirus vaccine?

Some Russian scientists are warning that people should avoid drinking alcohol around the time they receive coronavirus vaccines. But while heavy drinking can affect the immune system, it isn’t clear whether low levels of alcohol are problematic Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2262654-should-you-avoid-alcohol-when-getting-a-coronavirus-vaccine/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…

Why people enjoy alcohol or are teetotal may come down to a hormone

Whether you are a happy carouser or a small-time tippler could depend on a hormone produced by your liver that tells your brain to stop boozing Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833122-300-why-people-enjoy-alcohol-or-are-teetotal-may-come-down-to-a-hormone/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…

Another California City Launches a Two-Year Guaranteed Income Program

The Los Angeles Times reports a new guaranteed income pilot program which within a few months “will begin giving 800 Compton residents free cash for a two-year period,” according to mayor Aja Brown:
So far, private donors have contributed $2.5 million to the Fund for Guaranteed Income, a charity headed by Nika Soon-Shiong, daughter of Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong… Each…

Study of 11,000 Kids Links Cannabis Use During Pregnancy To Child Behavioral Change

Slashdot reader omfglearntoplay shared this article from Science Alert: A cross-sectional analysis of 11,489 children, 655 of whom were exposed to THC in the womb, has found cannabis use during pregnancy is tied to a small elevation in psychotic-like behaviours later in life. These include aggression towards others, as well as attention and social problems… the relationship stood even when other…

What Happens When Researchers Give Thousands of Dollars to Homeless People?

CNN reports on “The New Leaf Project,” an initiative in which the University of British Columbia partnered with a Vancouver-based charity called Foundations for Social Change: Researchers gave 50 recently homeless people a lump sum of 7,500 Canadian dollars (nearly $5,700). They followed the cash recipients’ life over 12-18 months and compared their outcomes to that of a control group who…