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Twenty-four years later, the Webb telescope has smashed a number of records with its design, production, and assembly. Biggest telescope built for space? Check. Costliest tool made for stargazing? Check. Dozens of delays on the way to the launch pad? Check check check. So it’s fair to say, the stakes are higher than imagined. As the world cautiously waits for the telescope to kick off its decade-long mission (the launch date is currently set for Christmas morning), here’s a look back on what it took to prepare it for this moment....

After more than a decade of research, progress on xenotransplants, or animal-to-human transplants, has accelerated sharply over the past year. In January, surgeons at the University of Alabama at Birmingham successfully transplanted pig kidneys into two brain-dead patients. That same month, a team at the University of Maryland transplanted a pig heart into a patient named David Bennett Sr., who suffered from cardiac disease but wasn’t eligible for a typical organ donation....

The scientists, from Newcastle University, attached colored lenses to the bugs’ eyes and showed them rudimentary 3D movies. The insects’ reactions, captured on video, provided a clear indication of their abilities. Unlike humans, who used to use red and blue lenses to see 3D movies (until someone came up with polarized lenses which let you see in full color), mantises can’t see red all that well. So the researchers instead substituted green and blue lenses, which they attached to the bugs using beeswax....

PrEP has been a game changer in the global HIV epidemic. By taking the medication, which consists of antiviral drugs that prevent HIV from latching onto human immune cells, every day, those at risk of contracting HIV from sex see their risk drop by 99 percent, according to the CDC. But access to PrEP and the stigma that surrounds it has created significant barriers for nearly every group that needs the drug, including teenagers....

S’COOL: If you’re a fan of clouds, this project is for you. S’COOL is designed to provide “ground truth” observations of clouds and cloud formations. The data is correlated with overhead satellite imagery from the CERES instrument. CERES stands for Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy Sytem. It is now orbiting the Earth as part of NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise to study the ways in which clouds may affect the Earth’s climate....

The phenomenon, a cognitive shift known as the overview effect, sparks a sense of awe that can be transcendent for some space travelers. In interviews, they recount a rush of oneness linking all people and the planet. “The feeling of unity is not simply an observation,” noted Russian cosmonaut Yuri Artyukhin of his view during the Soyuz missions of the 1970s. Seeing Earth from that vantage can spark emotion but also action....

Deane’s model of work might sound like the perfect antidote to Bitcoin’s environmental woes, but renewable energy isn’t a cure-all. Bitcoin’s annual energy use is currently estimated at 127.22 terawatt hours. For comparison, that’s just over 3 percent of the total terawatt hours consumed in the US in 2020. As this number continually grows, we will need to find solutions to reckon with this kind of consumption. What is Bitcoin?...

The endocochlear potential, which resides in the inner ear, is the only anatomical structure in the mammalian body that maintains electrochemical potential across such a large region. It’s not a lot of power–something like ten times less than what you can capture with the most efficient non-biological circuitry in existence today–but it’s enough that it could one day be used as a power source for new drug delivery systems or implanted sensors or other devices that function inside a living body....

“What a piece of work is a man!” marvels Hamlet. “How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! … In action how like an angel! / In apprehension how like a god! … The paragon of animals!” Hamlet then ponders the paradox at the heart of humankind: What is this quintessence of dust? We are special, but we are also merely matter. We are animals, yet we behave like gods....

“Our biggest fear is that the aftermath could be more lethal than the storm itself,” said Caryl Stern, head of the U.N. Children’s Fund. Four days on, electricity and water supplies are still cut throughout the country. With broken sewage lines, mounting trash, impassable roads preventing access to clean water and food, and damaged hospitals, the nation faces a likely-devastating public health crisis. The World Health Organization has pinpointed malaria and tuberculosis—two diseases that thrive amidst overcrowding and bad water—as especial threats....

Until wireless chargers become more wallet-friendly and accessible, the smart thing to do is continue using cables. While you’re at it, make sure that your wire is durable enough to last a lifetime. The Infinity Cable from ChargeASAP is a great option, and it’s 54 percent off for a limited time. As you can tell by the name, the Infinity Cable is made to last for, well, ever. It’s crafted out of military-grade nylon to allow for extra currents and enhanced durability....

For a limited time, a 2014 Apple MacBook Air, featuring 128GB of storage and a fifth-generation Intel Core i5 processor, can be purchased for only $295.99 (reg. $1,199). During our Refurbished Event, which lasts through Sept. 30, that 75-percent savings is automatically applied at checkout, with no coupon necessary. Mac accessories are always in demand, so users will appreciate that this computer comes complete with a protective case and charger....

If you’re looking to pivot into information security, the only way to win the cyber talent race is to acquire a couple of certifications to solidify your skill set. The Complete 2023 Tech Certification Training Bundle can help with its technical training on digital forensics, penetration testing, infosec, and more. You can get it on sale for less than $50 for a limited time — a price that is better than anywhere else on the internet....

About 8 percent of children in the United States have food allergies–to peanuts, shellfish, eggs, etc.–and a study from researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that about a third of those children are bullied. Their study appeared online December 24 in the journal Pediatrics. The researchers surveyed 251 pairs of parents and children on visits to allergy clinics and had them fill out a questionnaire about incidents of bullying and overall quality of life....

Last week, however, a team of government researchers at the Department of Energy-run Idaho National Laboratory announced extremely promising new advancements that could help the US achieve the Biden administration’s lofty goal of making EVs half of all automotive sales by 2030. Thanks in part to a machine learning program analyzing vast amounts of lithium-ion battery data, scientists have reportedly found a means to safely and reliably recharge EVs’ power supplies up to 90 percent within just 10 minutes....

Until now, that is. As explained in a paper in Nature today, a team of researchers led by University of Arizona astronomers has become the first to directly image the dust clouds around a baby planet. An Astronomical Mystery The birth of a planet is a mysterious process. Scientists know they form out of the disks of gas and dust that encircle and feed newborn stars. “But little is known about how microscopic dust particles can grow 14 orders of magnitude bigger to become a giant planet,” Zhaohuan Zhu, an astrophysicist from Princeton University, wrote in a commentary that accompanied the paper....

Whether you’re a Mac or Windows user, this 5/5 star deal nets you lifelong access to the Microsoft Office apps you know and love. It includes licenses to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote. It’s also ideal for families, students, and small businesses who want to take advantage of what the suite can offer. Format unlimited documents on Word, crunch numbers and perform data analysis on Excel, collaborate with teammates on Teams, get to inbox zero with Outlook, and accomplish so much more....

If you want to stay warm without looking stuffy like a snowman, a heated jacket is a great option. These things have built-in coils that are powered by batteries to deliver extra warmth, keeping you comfortable all winter long. The CALDO-X Heated Jacket happens to be on sale ahead of the holidays for only $59.99 (reg. $259). Everything these days is electronic, so you might as well wear an electronic jacket....

The Space Act of 2015 would do a lot of things to encourage the private space industry–including extending the “learning period” wherein fledgling spaceflight companies can operate without too much government oversight. It would also give companies the rights to the resources they might one day extract from asteroids, such as platinum and water (which, believe it or not, is a valuable resource in space). The bill has just passed in the Senate with unanimous approval and a few amendments....