Alice Winocour’s new film Proxima shows the difficulties of balancing family life with a career as an astronaut, finds Simon Ings Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24732930-400-proxima-review-eva-green-shines-as-a-troubled-astronaut/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Tag: simon
To find giant black holes, start with our solar system’s center
A new study from researchers at Vanderbilt University suggests that to find the most massive black holes, measure the effects of their gravitational waves on the flashes of light coming from pulsars. The best location to do that is at the precise gravitational center of the solar system. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/black-holes-gravitational-waves-pulsars-solar-system…
How academic institutions make it harder to be a female scientist
Picture a Scientist shines a light on gender discrimination in science – and also finds reasons to be hopeful, says Simon Ings Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24632892-800-how-academic-institutions-make-it-harder-to-be-a-female-scientist/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Should Maintainers of Open Source Projects Be Paid?
Matt Asay, a former COO of Canonical now working at AWS, writes “Over the last few weeks I’ve interviewed a range of open source project maintainers, most of which don’t directly get paid for supporting their projects… Is this a bad thing?” It’s not completely clear. Linux Foundation executive Chris Aniszczyk has been an outspoken opponent of open source “tip jars”…
Sudoku as Spectator Sport is Unlikely Lockdown Hit
It may not be as hair-raising as Formula 1, nor as dramatic as Premier League football, but Sudoku solving is acquiring a niche following as a spectator sport. From a report: It’s surprisingly thrilling, believe me. Just ask fans of the puzzle-solving YouTube channel Cracking the Cryptic, which has seen its viewing figures shoot up over the last two months. Its…
Can Bookshop.org Save Independent Bookstores?
The Los Angeles Times recently checked in on Bookshop.org, an online bookseller, as it pulled in its first $1 million to help local bookstores across America (thanks partly to a partnership with Simon & Schuster). “(This milestone) means that we’re accomplishing our mission of being a real meaningful support for independent bookstores,” said Andy Hunter, Bookshop’s founder and CEO. “We’re exceedingly…
Code 8 review: A crime and sci-fi mash-up that’s actually pretty good
Code 8, a film about people with special powers that have been shunned by the world, is both a cracking crime caper and a comment on society, says Simon Ings Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24632811-100-code-8-review-a-crime-and-sci-fi-mash-up-thats-actually-pretty-good/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…
Watch for Lyrid meteors this week
Assuming ideal conditions, you might catch 10 to 15 meteors per hour in 2020’s Lyrid meteor shower. The peak is probably Wednesday morning – April 22 – but watch the mornings before and after, too. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/lyrid-meteors-best-before-dawn…
‘Claim That Covid-19 Came From Lab In China Completely Unfounded Scientists Say’
Newsweek reports: There is no evidence to back claims the coronavirus that has caused the COVID-19 pandemic emerged from a lab in China, scientists have told Newsweek. Adam Lauring, an associate professor at the University of Michigan Medical School and an expert in the evolution of viruses, told Newsweek: “This claim is a conspiracy theory and it is not supported at…
Vivarium review: An indie sci-fi that packs a creepy punch
In Vivarium, a young couple in need of a starter home meet an estate agent who is very definitely not what he seems, and nor is the estate he shows them, finds Simon Ings Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24632774-000-vivarium-review-an-indie-sci-fi-that-packs-a-creepy-punch/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…