Topology protects light propagation in photonic crystal

Dutch researchers at AMOLF and TU Delft have seen light propagate in a special material without reflections. The material, a photonic crystal, consists of two parts that each have a slightly different pattern of perforations. Light can propagate along the boundary between these two parts in a special way: It is “topologically protected,” and therefore does not bounce back at imperfections….

Standing wave cloud at sunrise, over Zimbabwe

Standing wave clouds form when wind blows over a mountain. Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/animation-standing-wave-cloud-sunrise-zimbabwe…

Top tips for feeding wild birds

It’s OK to feed wild birds. Here are some tips for doing it the right way from a wildlife ecologist. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/top-tips-feeding-wild-birds…

Microsoft Reveals More Xbox Series X Specs

Microsoft revealed new details on its next-generation console, text, on Monday morning, confirming specifications on what the company calls its “superior balance of power and speed” for its new hardware. From a report: The next-gen Xbox, Microsoft said, will be four times as powerful as the original Xbox One. The Xbox Series X “next-generation custom processor” will employ AMD’s Zen 2…

How to watch the Perseids in moonlight

You can avoid the moon during the 2019 Perseid meteor shower by watching in the days before the peak, in the hours before dawn. Or … you can embrace the moon. Here’s how to enjoy the Perseids in moonlight. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/how-to-minimize-moon-and-optimize-meteor-shower…

Himalayan glaciers melting double fast since 2000

A new study, which used declassified images from spy satellites, shows that glaciers in the Himalayas melted twice as fast from 2000 to 2016 as they did from 1975 to 2000. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/himalayan-glaciers-melting-double-fast-since-2000…

‘Motorola Has Let Me Down For the Last Time’

Jerry Hildenbrand, writing for AndroidCentral: If you’re ever in the mood to think about a “how the mighty have fallen” story, you need to look no further than Motorola. The company used to be at the forefront of technology in everything digital, but buyouts, restructuring, and eventually becoming another OEM nameplate has left Motorola little more than a memory that old…