Sunspots 986

Gizmodo reports that potatoes are descended from tomatoes.

Newsweek, and other outlets, report a lightning event that was over 500 miles long.

     ScienceAlert reports that peacocks have lasers in their feathers.

Gizmodo (and other sources) report that Robert F Kennedy jr, Secretary of Health and Human Services, has cut funding for vaccinations based on mRNA. This is a dangerous move. One of the achievements of the first Trump administration was the rapid development of mRNA -based immunization. This probably saved hundres of thousands of lives, perhaps yours or mine. For a more detailed discussion, see here.

 

Sunspots 985

 

Gizmodo reports that lightning kills more trees than we thought.

CBS News, and other sources, reports that corn plants release water vapor into the air, which contributes to the uncomfortable humidity you may be feeling now.

Sunspots 799

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

Christianity: Relevant reports on a Barna study, which indicates that white Christians are less motivated to do something about racial injustice than they were a year ago.

Christianity Today tells us how we might commit one of the seven deadly sins in this political season.

Computing: Gizmo's Freeware recommends two bridge-building games, for iOS and Android.

Education: Grammarphobia tells us about the history and usage of "status quo."

Environment: Gizmodo reports that international plans to cut plastic pollution of the oceans just aren't good enough.

Gizmodo also reports on how the Trump administration is threatening wildlife, and indigenous peoples, across the US border.

Ethics: Gizmodo tells us how captive tigers are mistreated, and how most of them are  not really contributing to tiger conservation.

NPR interviews the author of a book on the finances of President Trump.

History: (and ornithology) Gizmodo reports on reflections on the life of John  James Audubon, who wasn't exactly a role model, scientifically, and in other ways.

Politics: (or something) Listverse tells us about the 10 safest large cities in the US.

FiveThirtyEight analyzes the Supreme Court situation, after Ginsburg's death.

FiveThirtyEight also analyzes the rural skew of the US Senate.

Science: Gizmodo reports that giraffes may be vulnerable to lightning strikes.

(or something) The Fall Foliage prediction map.

ListVerse has an essay on 10 gross things about the human body.

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, it is free to use like this.

Thanks for looking!

Sunspots 752

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

Christianity: (and Politics) A Christianity Today article examines the connection between Paula White-Cain and evangelicals. White was featured at President Trump's inauguration.

A Relevant writer tells about being a fat Christian.

Christianity Today reports that European students are praying for revival in 40 countries, most of which have 1% or less who say they are evangelical Christians.


Computing: A Gizmodo writer says that Google and Facebook can help you to search for your (or someone's) license plates. Note - Google doesn't seem to have been interested in our vehicles. Yours, maybe.

Environment: For the first time in 10 years, air pollution in the US  is increasing, according to Earther.

Gizmodo reports that the Trump Administration claims that the border wall helps to preserve the environment.

History: Listverse tells us the stories of 10 people whose lives were ruined for doing the right thing. Sad.

Politics: FiveThirtyEight has a crash course on Executive Privilege.

Catherine Rampell writes that the Trump Administration's "deregulation" hasn't really helped the economy much, and in some cases has hurt it.

Science: Earther reports that lightning flashes may be hundreds of miles long.

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, it is free to use like this.
 
Thanks for looking!