The Oakville Blobs – Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World < !- end of Google Analytics Code Snippet by GA4WP–> // tabnab protection window.addEventListener(‘load’, function () { // make all links have rel=”noopener noreferrer” document.querySelectorAll(‘a[target=”_blank”]’).forEach(link => { link.setAttribute(‘rel’, ‘noopener noreferrer’); }); }); ]]> Podcast: Download MYS374: Gelatinous blobs fell from the sky in Oakville, Washington—then people got… Continue reading The Oakville Blobs – Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World
For the UK’s Early Years Education Workforce, Professional Development Should Be a Priority, Not a Perk
The early years education sector in the United Kingdom asks a lot of its workforce. Practitioners are expected to support children’s language, numeracy, social-emotional development, and more—often in settings stretched for time, staff, and resources. The training and professional development support needed to help staff meet these high expectations has traditionally been lacking. This is… Continue reading For the UK’s Early Years Education Workforce, Professional Development Should Be a Priority, Not a Perk
Computer Scientists Figure Out How To Prove Lies
Randomness is a source of power. From the coin toss that decides which team gets the ball to the random keys that secure online interactions, randomness lets us make choices that are fair and impossible to predict. But in many computing applications, suitable randomness can be hard to generate. So instead, programmers often rely on… Continue reading Computer Scientists Figure Out How To Prove Lies
Mitigating Emerging Human Intelligence Challenges with Forecasting
Human intelligence (HUMINT) has long been an informational cornerstone of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), providing crucial insights into the intentions and actions of foreign adversaries. Yet, as highlighted in a recent Washington Post article, the CIA’s ability to recruit and leverage human sources abroad may be facing significant challenges. This reported decline in HUMINT… Continue reading Mitigating Emerging Human Intelligence Challenges with Forecasting
How Can Regional Models Advance Climate Science?
Climate models have changed the way we view the world. While effective, these models are imperfect, and scientists are constantly looking at ways to improve their accuracy and predictability. MIT professor Elfatih Eltahir has spent decades developing complex models to understand how climate change affects vulnerable regions like the Nile Basin and Singapore. In this… Continue reading How Can Regional Models Advance Climate Science?
U.S.-Allied Militaries Must Prepare for the Quantum Threat to Cryptography
Quantum computers could eventually pose huge risks to the security of encrypted information, including national security information. There are two possible countermeasures to this threat. The U.S. government has clearly stated which one it plans to pursue, but not all U.S.-allied governments have articulated a clear position. Allied governments, especially militaries, should clarify their strategy… Continue reading U.S.-Allied Militaries Must Prepare for the Quantum Threat to Cryptography
The Biggest-Ever Digital Camera Is This Cosmologist’s Magnum Opus
On June 23, 2025, Tony Tyson joined a presentation in Washington, D.C., to unveil an image almost 30 years in the making: 10 million galaxies poised on an inky black backdrop. To appreciate each galaxy in detail, you’d have to stretch the picture across 400 TVs. It’s the first portrait of the cosmos delivered by… Continue reading The Biggest-Ever Digital Camera Is This Cosmologist’s Magnum Opus
Instead of Nuclear Weapons, Give Poland a Nuclear Umbrella
Since Poland’s new president and prime minister are strong on defense, questions about the country’s nuclear future may come more to the fore. In response, Poland could seek its own nuclear weapons, become a host for NATO weapons, or turn to France and the United Kingdom for protection. In March, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said… Continue reading Instead of Nuclear Weapons, Give Poland a Nuclear Umbrella
RNA Is the Cell’s Emergency Alert System
“What the cell is trying to do is make decisions about whether to live or die based on how damaged the DNA is. If DNA is too damaged, there will be mutations that are inherited,” said Rachel Green, an RNA biologist at Johns Hopkins University who co-authored the Cell study. “But amazingly, it’s the RNA… Continue reading RNA Is the Cell’s Emergency Alert System
What the Trade War Reveals About China’s Vulnerabilities and Power
The United States and China stepped away from the brink of a near embargo of bilateral trade on May 12. The countries had entered an escalatory spiral after the Trump administration announced new tariffs in April. By April 11, tariffs on both sides had reached prohibitive levels. The Geneva negotiations allowed both sides to unwind… Continue reading What the Trade War Reveals About China’s Vulnerabilities and Power