#1.2 billion views

[tanagause]

😍🥰😘

[reasonsforhope]

No-paywall version.

"You can never really see the future, only imagine it, then try to make sense of the new world when it arrives.

Just a few years ago, climate projections for this century looked quite apocalyptic, with most scientists warning that continuing “business as usual” would bring the world four or even five degrees Celsius of warming — a change disruptive enough to call forth not only predictions of food crises and heat stress, state conflict and economic strife, but, from some corners, warnings of civilizational collapse and even a sort of human endgame. (Perhaps you’ve had nightmares about each of these and seen premonitions of them in your newsfeed.)

Now, with the world already 1.2 degrees hotter, scientists believe that warming this century will most likely fall between two or three degrees. (A United Nations report released this week ahead of the COP27 climate conference in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, confirmed that range.) A little lower is possible, with much more concerted action; a little higher, too, with slower action and bad climate luck. Those numbers may sound abstract, but what they suggest is this: Thanks to astonishing declines in the price of renewables, a truly global political mobilization, a clearer picture of the energy future and serious policy focus from world leaders,

we have cut expected warming almost in half in just five years.

...Conventional wisdom has dictated that meeting the most ambitious goals of the Paris agreement by limiting warming to 1.5 degrees could allow for some continuing normal, but failing to take rapid action on emissions, and allowing warming above three or even four degrees, spelled doom.

Neither of those futures looks all that likely now, with the most terrifying predictions made improbable by decarbonization and the most hopeful ones practically foreclosed by tragic delay. The window of possible climate futures is narrowing, and as a result, we are getting a clearer sense of what’s to come: a new world, full of disruption but also billions of people, well past climate normal and yet mercifully short of true climate apocalypse.

Over the last several months, I’ve had dozens of conversations — with climate scientists and economists and policymakers, advocates and activists and novelists and philosophers — about that new world and the ways we might conceptualize it. Perhaps the most capacious and galvanizing account is one I heard from Kate Marvel of NASA, a lead chapter author on the fifth National Climate Assessment: “The world will be what we make it.” Personally, I find myself returning to three sets of guideposts, which help map the landscape of possibility.

First, worst-case temperature scenarios that recently seemed plausible now look much less so, which is inarguably good news and, in a time of climate panic and despair, a truly underappreciated sign of genuine and world-shaping progress...

[I cut number two for being focused on negatives. This is a reasons for hope blog.]

Third, humanity retains an enormous amount of control — over just how hot it will get and how much we will do to protect one another through those assaults and disruptions. Acknowledging that truly apocalyptic warming now looks considerably less likely than it did just a few years ago pulls the future out of the realm of myth and returns it to the plane of history: contested, combative, combining suffering and flourishing — though not in equal measure for every group...

“We live in a terrible world, and we live in a wonderful world,” Marvel says. “It’s a terrible world that’s more than a degree Celsius warmer. But also a wonderful world in which we have so many ways to generate electricity that are cheaper and more cost-effective and easier to deploy than I would’ve ever imagined. People are writing credible papers in scientific journals making the case that switching rapidly to renewable energy isn’t a net cost; it will be a net financial benefit,” she says with a head-shake of near-disbelief. “If you had told me five years ago that that would be the case, I would’ve thought, wow, that’s a miracle.”"

-via The New York Times Magazine, October 26, 2022

[femenaces]

I may or may not be one of the anonymous sources in this article

Edit, the text of the article for those who can’t view it (under the cut):

Last month, the Trump administration placed a $1 spending limit on most government-issued credit cards that federal employees use to cover travel and work expenses. The impacts are already widely felt.

At the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, scientists aren’t able to order equipment used to repair ships and radars. At the Food and Drug Administration, laboratories are experiencing delays in ordering basic supplies. At the National Park Service, employees are canceling trips to oversee crucial maintenance work. And at the Department of Agriculture and the Federal Aviation Administration, employees worry that mission-critical projects could be stalled. In many cases, employees are already unable to carry out the basic functions of their job.

“The longer this disruption lasts, the more the system will break,” says a USDA official who was granted anonymity because they aren’t authorized to speak to the media about the looming crisis.

A researcher at the National Institutes of Health who tests new vaccines and treatments in rodents says he has had to put experiments on hold; his lab is not able to get certain necessary materials, such as antibodies, which are needed to assess immune response. “We have animals here that are aging that will pretty soon be too old to work with,” says the researcher, who requested anonymity as they aren’t authorized to speak publicly about the agency. Young mice and rats that are 6 to 8 weeks old are typically used for drug and vaccine studies, but some of the animals in their lab have now aged out of that window and may have to be euthanized.

They say NIH workers have been using internal listservs to ask for reagents and lab equipment from other buildings or institutions to try to compensate for shortages, but they’re not always able to track down what they need. The NIH is made up of 27 institutes and centers, and its Bethesda, Maryland, campus is spread across more than 75 buildings. “Sometimes you need something that's really niche, and you're just not going to find it from someone else on campus,” they say.

The change comes as Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency continues to hunt for alleged examples of waste across the federal government. Late last month, DOGE announced that it was working to “simplify” the government’s largest credit card program, which issues GSA SmartPay travel and purchase cards for federal employees. Last Wednesday, the agency claimed 24,000 cards had been deactivated.

The credit card program allows federal workers to bypass the typical procurement process required to buy goods and services. A 2002 report from the Department of Commerce said that, “by avoiding the formal procurement process, GSA estimates the annual savings to be $1.2 billion.” It also enables federal employees to avoid paying sales tax on expenses that the government is exempt from.

At the FDA, labs that analyze samples to ensure that food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics are safe and meet regulatory standards are already facing shortages. "While we are always acutely aware of when Congress’ funding is going to run out, we are able to order supplies to keep things going in the lab. This abrupt ending felt like the rug was being pulled out from under us," says an employee at the FDA who requested anonymity because they aren't authorized to speak with the media.

The employee recently placed an order for pipette tips, an essential laboratory supply, but found that order was put on hold. "Now we are running out, asking colleagues at other offices to share what they might not be using,” they told WIRED.

In addition, workers say FDA labs now have to go through a lengthy process to order liquid nitrogen, which is used to keep ultra-cold freezers running. These freezers preserve samples of cells and other biological material that reflect years, and sometimes decades, of research. Delays in getting liquid nitrogen tanks could destroy that material. Previously, new tanks could usually be acquired the same day as putting in a request. Now, it takes a week or so to receive a tank after initiating a request.

An employee at the Environmental Protection Agency says her facility is not able to place regular orders of liquid nitrogen at the moment. “We have dozens of these freezers full of important environmental samples that are imminently at risk of being lost because we can no longer get our regular shipments of liquid nitrogen,” says the employee, who requested anonymity. These samples are used as part of research on detection and remediation methods for chemicals such as PFAS, which are found in many products and break down very slowly over time.

“Scientists are being forced to jerry-rig the connection points on these freezers to accept pressures of liquid nitrogen they were not designed to handle,” the employee says. “Divisions are resorting to bartering with each other to obtain needed items.”

The FDA and EPA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from WIRED.

The credit card freeze also means that federal researchers who were working on scientific manuscripts can’t pay journal fees, meaning they can’t submit their work to certain journals for publication.

An employee at a federal forensics lab told WIRED that spending limits mean the lab is no longer able to pay to ship evidence back to agents, effectively halting its ability to do casework. Before a case goes to trial, defendants have the right to access and review evidence that the prosecution intends to use against them, which includes access to the evidence in their case. Defendants are able to send that evidence to an outside lab for analysis if they choose. “Cases can’t progress until we return the evidence,” says the forensics lab worker, who asked to remain anonymous. “I basically can’t do my job right now.”

NIH employees were told that travel cards could not be used at all for 30 days, forcing scientists to cancel plans to attend a major infectious disease conference next week. USDA employees at the Pest Identification Technology Laboratory have stockpiled reagents used for molecular tests in advance of the spending limits, according to the USDA official.

FAA employees who travel to work on and test aviation systems worry the credit card freeze will prevent them from completing their projects. “We are allowed to use our personal cards in emergencies but none of us trust them to pay us back now,” says one employee.

The impacts have hit the National Park Service as well. One employee was poised to go on a trip to oversee road maintenance at a national monument when the change went into effect on February 20. “Unless I want to pay for it myself, I can’t go. I can’t pay for my hotel, my rental car, fuel for the car. Now I can’t carry out the mission,” the employee says. “Today, instead of focusing on other work, I’m focused on three different contingencies on how to handle this. Do I go? Do I call my engineering team and tell them to reschedule? And if so, when? The project is on an indefinite hold.”

A memo written to staff at the National Park Service specified that “all travel that is NOT related to national security, public safety, or immigration enforcement should be canceled if it begins on Wednesday, February 26, through the end of March 2025.” A long-term decision on the travel policy, it said, will come “at a later date.” Some NPS staffers were able to travel in February despite not getting official clearance. They have now been told no travel will be allowed in March. To date, roughly 75 trips have been canceled or rescheduled, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The National Park Service did not respond to a request for comment from WIRED.

Some government employees say they were given a warning prior to the change being announced on February 20. “We went out and bought cases and cases of toilet paper the night before,” another current employee at the National Park Service says. “There’s a general acknowledgement that things are going to break.”

That employee works in the Pacific West Region, which manages federal land in California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Nevada, as well as parks in Arizona, Montana, Guam, and American Samoa. While the GSA did allow for the possibility of exceptions to the clamp-down, the employee claims there are only four purchase cards with spending limits above $1 available for the entire region.

Some of these parks pay for services like internet and wireless on purchase cards—leaving staffers wondering if their work devices could soon be cut off. “Before someone can fix a bathroom a work order has to be issued,” the current employee explains. “That happens electronically. Like any business, we rely on email, Teams, and chat to get things done.”

The spending limits reflect Musk’s belief in zero-based budgeting. After he purchased Twitter, he slashed the budget to zero and forced employees to justify every expense. He also froze people’s corporate credit cards.

“With the Twitter pausing of payments, at some point we were in a meeting at 1 am on a Saturday, and it was like, ‘Hey, let's turn the credit cards off to see what bounces, and what happens,’" explained angel investor Jason Calacanis on the All In podcast in February. (Calacanis was part of Musk’s transition team at Twitter.) “And of course, we started getting calls ... The people who come first, they're probably the ones who are in on the biggest grift.”

Employees see it a different way. “There are so many controls in place to make sure fraud doesn’t happen,” alleges the current NPS staffer. “I honestly believe the only fraud occurring is being committed by Musk, [Russell] Vought, and [Donald] Trump.”

[apod]

2023 November 8

Perseus Galaxy Cluster from Euclid Image Credit & License: ESA, Euclid, Euclid Consortium, NASA; Processing: Jean-Charles Cuillandre (CEA Paris-Saclay) & Giovanni Anselmi; Text: Jean-Charles Cuillandre

Explanation: There's a new space telescope in the sky: Euclid. Equipped with two large panoramic cameras, Euclid captures light from the visible to the near-infrared. It took five hours of observing for Euclid's 1.2-meter diameter primary mirror to capture, through its sharp optics, the 1000+ galaxies in the Perseus cluster, which lies 250 million light years away. More than 100,000 galaxies are visible in the background, some as far away as 10 billion light years. The revolutionary nature of Euclid lies in the combination of its wide field of view (twice the area of the full moon), its high angular resolution (thanks to its 620 Megapixel camera), and its infrared vision, which captures both images and spectra. Euclid's initial surveys, covering a third of the sky and recording over 2 billion galaxies, will enable a study of how dark matter and dark energy have shaped our universe.

∞ Source: apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap231108.html

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Star League Department of Stellar Cartography System Profile:

Merdengard

Star Type: K3V

Charge Time: 194 hours

Transit Time: 4.62 days

Safe Jump Distance: 386,486,041 km

Mass: 0.70

Luminosity: 0.335

Radius: 0.65

Temp: 4,480.00 K

Inner Life Zone Edge (km/AU): 37,332,074 / 0.251 (Avg Temp: 308.21 K)

Outer Life Zone Edge (km/AU): 76,400,524 / 0.513 (Avg Temp: 274.02 K)

Merdengard II (Merdengard):

Diameter: 15500 km

Density: 5.328 g/cm3

Gravity: 1.07 G (10.55 m/s²)

Escape Velocity: 12794 m/s

Orbital Velocity: 9048 m/s

Day Length: 22 hours

Year Length: 163 days

Moons: 0

Atmospheric Pressure: Normal

Surface Water: 80%

Atmosphere: Breathable

Equatorial Temperature: Low = ~287° K / 14° C

Climatic Zone 6 (Equatorial): avg temp - 287° K; dominant terrain/weather: Evergreen Forest/Rain & Fog

Climatic Zone 5: avg temp - 282 K; dominant terrain/weather: Evergreen Forest/Rain & Fog

Climatic Zone 4: avg temp - 277 K; dominant terrain/weather: Evergreen Forest/Fog+Hail+Rain+Snow)

Climatic Zone 3: avg temp - 272 K; dominant terrain/weather: Evergreen Forest+Tundra/Fog+Hail+Rain+Snow+Extreme Temperatures [Cold])

Climatic Zone 2: avg temp - 267 K; dominant terrain/weather: Tundra+Snow Field+Glacier/Hail+Snow+Extreme Temperatures [Cold])

Climatic Zone 1 (Polar): avg temp - 262 K; dominant terrain/weather: Snow Field+Glacier/Hail+Snow+Extreme Temperatures [Cold])

Highest Native Life: Mammals (“Gewitterfuchs”)

Special/Notable Features:

> Hostile Life Form ("Calamun")

> Star League Facility (occupied; Castle Erebor, ex-SLDF Castle Brian, currently in use by LCAF; HQ for planetary garrison)

> Lost Colony (early FWL colony misjump under CPT Eloise Marten, colony of "Marten's Landing" founded, joined LC after a century of no contact with the FWL)

Primary Agricultural Export: "Bluteispflaume"

Landmasses: 5 (+ significant archipelago in western ocean)

Colony History: Pre-Star League

Planetary Population: 1.2 billion

Capital City: New Bremen

Major Cities: Marten's Landing, Nova Canopus, Mötz-Hanberg, Eisenstadt

HPG Class: A

Recharge Station(s): Zenith, Nadir

USILR Codes (Socio-Economic Levels): A-B-D-A-B

Primary Languages: German, Dutch, Czech, English, other

Government Type: Representative Democracy

Planetary Leader (3153): Chancellor Willem T. Sonnhild

Representative to the Estates General (3153): Thalia Marten

Military Commander (3153): Generalleutnant Gabriel Christopher Bisclavret von Thiess III

+++++++++++

Commonwealth Ministry of Tourism Profile: Merdengard (below):

Welcome to Merdengard!

A chilly world of snowy evergreen forests, misty mountains, awe-inspiring glaciers and fjords, and vibrant culture, Merdengard is a hidden gem in the Lyran Commonwealth. Known for its breathtaking natural beauty, unique wildlife, and rich history, this planet offers something for every traveler. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or a taste of local culture, Merdengard promises an unforgettable experience.

---

Key Attractions

1. New Bremen

- Description: The planetary capital and cultural heart of Merdengard, New Bremen is a bustling metropolis located on the largest island of the northwestern archipelago. The city is a blend of modern architecture and traditional Lyran design, with towering skyscrapers overlooking cobblestone streets and canals.

- Highlights:

- Planetary Congress: Guided tours and public viewing areas allow visitors to witness a genuine democracy in action.

- The Grand Plaza: A sprawling public square surrounded by cafes, theaters, and art galleries.

- The Lyran Gardens: A massive botanical garden showcasing native flora, including the famous Bluteispflaume trees.

---

2. Marten’s Landing

- Description: The site of the original FWL colony, Marten’s Landing is now the planet’s largest tourist hub and "second city." Its historic district preserves the architecture and culture of the early settlers, while its modern areas are filled with luxury hotels, shopping districts, and entertainment venues.

- Highlights:

- Colonial Museum: Learn about the lost FWL colony and the founding of Marten’s Landing through interactive exhibits and artifacts.

- Marten’s Port: The largest tourist DropShip port on the planet, offering easy access to off-world visitors.

- The Old Market: A vibrant bazaar where you can sample local delicacies, including adernwein and blutkognak, and shop for handmade crafts.

---

3. Mötz-Hanberg

- Description: Nestled in the southern mountains, Mötz-Hanberg is a picturesque city known for its prestigious university and stunning alpine scenery. The city is a hub for academics, adventurers, and nature lovers.

- Highlights:

- University of Mötz-Hanberg: One of the premier educational institutions on the planet, offering public lectures and cultural events.

- Calamun Taming Tradition: Witness the daring (and often humorous) attempts by students to tame the local Calamun, a griffon-like creature native to the region.

- Mountain Trails: Explore the surrounding peaks and forests, home to the iconic Gewitterfuchs and other native wildlife.

---

4. Eisenstadt

- Description: The industrial powerhouse of Merdengard, Eisenstadt is a sprawling city of factories, warehouses, and commercial DropShip ports. While not as glamorous as other destinations, it offers a unique glimpse into the planet’s economic backbone.

- Highlights:

- Industrial Tours: Take a guided tour of the city’s factories and learn about Merdengard’s manufacturing and export industries.

- Eisenstadt Port: The largest commercial DropShip port on the planet, where you can watch cargo ships come and go.

- The Foundry District: A revitalized area with trendy bars, restaurants, and art installations made from recycled industrial materials.

---

5. Nova Canopus

- Description: Founded by Canopian expats, Nova Canopus is Merdengard’s premier destination for nightlife and entertainment. Built around a landed luxury DropShip, this city is a dazzling blend of Canopian decadence and Lyran sophistication.

- Highlights:

- The Pleasure Circus: A world-famous entertainment venue housed in a grounded luxury DropShip, offering everything from live performances to high-stakes gambling.

- The Strip: A neon-lit boulevard filled with clubs, bars, and casinos, where the party never stops.

- Fusion Cuisine: Sample unique dishes that blend Canopian and Lyran flavors at the city’s many restaurants.

---

Natural Wonders

- Evergreen Forests: Vast, misty, and snowy forests that cover much of the planet, offering endless opportunities for hiking, camping, and wildlife spotting.

- The Western Archipelago: A chain of islands with pristine black and red sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and charming coastal villages.

- The Southern Glaciers: Majestic ice fields and snow-capped mountains, perfect for skiing, snowboarding, and ice climbing.

---

Local Cuisine and Beverages

- Bluteispflaume: A unique fruit with snow-white skin and blood-red flesh - do mind the euphoric effects, especially in large quantities. Try it fresh or in the form of adernwein (a bitter wine) or blutkognak (a sweet brandy).

- Gewitterfuchs Stew: A hearty dish made from the meat of the native Gewitterfuchs, often served with root vegetables and spices.

- Calamun Eggs: A delicacy often served poached or in omelets, prized for their rich flavor and nutritional value.

---

Cultural Experiences

- Festival of Lights: An annual celebration in New Bremen, where the city is illuminated by thousands of lanterns and fireworks.

- Calamun Races: Held in Mötz-Hanberg, this thrilling event showcases the speed and agility of tamed Calamun.

- Blutkognak Tasting Tours: Visit local distilleries and vineyards to sample Merdengard’s famous beverages.

---

Travel Tips

- Best Time to Visit: The planet’s temperate climate makes it a year-round destination, but the summer months (local year days 80–120) are particularly pleasant.

- Transportation: High-speed maglev trains connect major cities, while VTOL shuttles provide access to remote areas.

- Currency: The Lyran Kroner (LK) is the official currency, but most establishments accept Sea-Bills and Clan work credits.

---

Merdengard is a world of contrasts, where misty forests meet bustling cities, and ancient traditions blend with modern innovation. Whether you’re exploring the historic streets of Marten’s Landing, partying in Nova Canopus, or marveling at the natural beauty of the Evergreen Forests, Merdengard offers an experience like no other. Come for the adventure, stay for the culture, and leave with memories that will last a lifetime.

Welcome to Merdengard – where nature, history, and luxury collide!

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Astronomers discover 2,674 dwarf galaxies using Euclid telescope

ESA's Euclid space telescope has been providing valuable data from the depths of space for almost two years. With its help, the largest and most accurate 3D map of the universe to date is to be created, with billions of stars and galaxies. The data from Euclid is analyzed by the international Euclid consortium, which also includes the research teams of Francine Marleau and Tim Schrabback at the University of Innsbruck.

From 25 Euclid images, astronomer Marleau and her team at the Department of Astro- and Particle Physics at the University of Innsbruck have now discovered a total of 2,674 dwarf galaxies and created a catalogue of dwarf galaxy candidates. Using a semi-automatic method, the scientists have identified candidates and analyzed and described them in detail.

"Of the galaxies identified, 58% are elliptical dwarf galaxies, 42% are irregular galaxies and a few are rich in globular clusters (1%), galactic nuclei (4%) and a noticeable fraction (6.9%) of dwarfs with blue compact centers," say Marlon Fügenschuh and Selin Sprenger from Marleau's team.

Testing cosmological models

The study, posted to the arXiv preprint server, provides insights into the morphology, distance, stellar mass, and environmental context of dwarf galaxies. As part of the Euclid project, Marleau is investigating the formation and development of galaxies, especially dwarf galaxies, the most numerous galaxies in the universe, whose abundance and distribution provide critical tests for cosmological models.

"We took advantage of the unprecedented depth, spatial resolution, and field of view of the Euclid Data. This work highlights Euclid's remarkable ability to detect and characterize dwarf galaxies, enabling a comprehensive view of galaxy formation and evolution across diverse mass scales, distances, and environments", emphasizes Marleau.

Deep look into the universe

The European Space Agency's (ESA) Euclid space telescope was launched on 1 July 2023. Scientists hope to learn more about the previously unexplored dark matter and dark energy that make up the universe. The international Euclid consortium analyzes the data. Over the next few years, the 1.2-meter-diameter space telescope will create the largest and most accurate 3D map of the universe and observe billions of galaxies.

Euclid can use this map to reveal how the universe expanded after the Big Bang and how the structures in the universe have developed. This gives scientists more clues to better understand the role of gravity and the nature of dark energy and dark matter.

More than 2,000 scientists from about 300 institutes and laboratories are jointly analyzing the mission data, which are also supplemented by ground-based telescopes.

IMAGE: Some of the dwarf galaxies discovered in the Euclid images. Credit: arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2503.15335

[soon-palestine]

On Monday, a brave Google Cloud engineer spoke up against the corporation’s complicity in Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people. A video of the worker standing up for their rights went viral, with some reposts reaching up to 8 million views and generating widespread global support, including from Palestinians in Gaza. Three days later, Google fired this worker.

Google has engaged in a clear cut act of retaliation against its own worker for speaking up about the terms and conditions of their labor.

This is the first immediate firing of a worker after a public, brave act of employee dissent against Project Nimbus, Google and Amazon’s shared $1.2 billion contract with the Israeli military and government. This is the second worker associated with the No Tech For Apartheid campaign that Google has retaliated against for organizing within their workplace, and the latest in a series of cases in which Google has retaliated against workers for speaking up about the corporation’s ethical malpractice in a range of business decisions.

While touting the importance of “democratic values” in the workplace, Google is shutting down free speech and silencing debate and dissent among workers within the company.

Google’s aims are clear: The corporation is trying to silence workers to hide their moral failings. Google is enabling the world’s first AI-powered genocide through Project Nimbus. Through this contract, Google and Amazon are aiding and abetting the Israeli apartheid state and genocidal campaign in Gaza against Palestinians. Instead of cleaning up its own house, and dropping its contract with a genocidal regime, Google is punching down on its own workers. For almost three years, thousands of Google & Amazon workers have organized against the companies’ contracts with the Israeli government and military, with no response from management or executives.

As a Cloud Software Engineer on critical technology that enables Project Nimbus to run on sovereign Israeli data centers, this worker spoke from a place of deep personal concern about the direct, violent impacts of their labor. They spoke from a deep belief that truly ethical engineering must account for the impact on communities around the world.

While terminating this brave worker, Google HR asked how they were feeling. The worker replied: “proud to be fired for refusing to be complicit in genocide.”

[itsvivace]

— SAD GIRLS CLUB . . THE DISCOGRAPHY !

tw: flashing lights !!!

Sad Girls Club is a fictional sub-unit of the fictional thirteen-member girl group, VIVACE, consisting of five members : EUNMI, NOELLE, ARA, YANA, & HAYEON. VIVACE is split into three active sub-units to promote in, and today, we’ll be exploring their first and most famous unit, Sad Girls Club. Sad Girls Club explores more of VIVACE’s mature side, along with heavily Second Gen inspired music, which has captured the hearts of fans all around the world.

— 2019 - 2021 . . ALL EYES ON ME . .

A few weeks after VIVACE’s debut, I-Teen Media announced that they would be debuting their first sub-unit under the name Sad Girls Club. Due to the popularity of ARA, NOELLE, & HAYEON, their debut was hugely anticipated by even non fans of VIVACE. Sad Girls Club debuted on October 2, 2019, with the self-titled mini album “SAD GIRLS CLUB” consisting of five tracks, “Like This” serving as the title track. SAD GIRLS CLUB debuted with 96K album sales, and Like This immediately charted #1 on every South Korean chart within the first week of release, even getting the girls their first win on their second week of promotions.

Sad Girls Club would return six months later on April 4, 2020, with their first single album, “My Attitude”, consisting of two tracks, “Inside Job” serving as the album’s title track. The album debuted with 139K album sales, with Inside Job debuting at #3 on the chart and moving up to #1 a week after release. Inside Job was the start of their slower and more mature sounding music, which gained them a bunch of fans during this era.

A few months later on August 5, 2020, they released their second mini album, “REVOLUTION”, which consists of six tracks including the title track, “VILLAIN”. REVOLUTION is a more noisy and experimental sound than what they usually did but the album still debuted with 194K album sales and debuted #2 on charts.

As an end-of-the-year release, they dropped their third mini album, “WOMAN”, consisting of five tracks, including the title track “Woman”, on December 14, 2020. Woman trended for its second-gen sound and woman-empowering message, which earned the album 482K album sales and #1 across global charts.

Sad Girls Club would only release two things in the year 2021. On May 23, 2021, they put out their first digital single, “Pretty Savage”, which charted #3 on Melon and #2 globally. They would then come back on July 15, 2021, with their fourth mini album, “Movie Star”, consisting of six tracks, including the title track, “N♡︎DE”. They would comment on the unfair standards and sexualization women go through, especially in the music industry, which earned them Album of The Year in 2021. Movie Star would give them their first million-seller album, debuting with 1.3M album sales and all of the songs on the album hitting the top ten on charts.

— 2022 - 2023 . . I LIVE FOR THE APPLAUSE . .

With the hype from Movie Star starting to die down and having no comeback announcements from Sad Girls Club, fans were beginning to get anxious waiting for a new release. They would release their first full album, “SUPERWOMAN”, on January 28, 2022, consisting of twelve tracks, including the pre-release single, “SUPERLADIES”, and the second title track, “I Am The Best”. SUPERWOMAN is a powerful album about empowering women, self-love, and self-appreciation. SUPERLADIES would gain 85 million views within the first 24 hours and earned them six music show wins. As of August 2024, SUPERLADIES is one of Sad Girls Club’s most viewed music videos, with 953 million views. I Am The Best went viral for its second-gen influence and powerful sound, releasing with 294 million views in the first 24 hours and giving Sad Girls Club eleven music show wins. The music video is currently at 1.2 billion views, their most viewed music video ever. SUPERWOMAN debuted with 7.8M album sales and sold out almost instantly, making it Sad Girls Club’s biggest release.

Sad Girls Club would come back on June 23, 2022, with their fifth mini album, “Club 5”, consisting of five tracks including the title track “Live It Up”. Club 5 shows a slower and more mature side to Sad Girls Club which earned the album 4.8M album sales and Live It Up hitting the top five on the South Korean charts.

They would end the year off with the release of their second single album, “Bad Boy”, consisting of three tracks including the title track of the same name, “Bad Boy”. They would continue their slower and mature sounding songs for this album which made it get 4M album sales and debuted first on the Global Charts.

Sad Girls Club released their sixth mini album, “Breakfast At Tiffany’s”, on February 4, 2023, which consists of six tracks, including the title track, “Lion Heart”. Breakfast At Tiffany’s has a '60s aesthetic and is heavily themed around media created from then. It also talks about the downside of Hollywood and the movie industry as a whole and how it treats its actors, which gave the album 7.6M sales and charted in the top ten.

In a huge suprise to fans, they released their second full album, “The Plastics”, on June 3, 2023, consisting of fifteen tracks, including the pre-release singles “Get In, Loser”, “You Can’t Sit With Us”, and the title track, “Queen B”. The album was completely based off the movie “Mean Girls” made in 2004 and is filled to the brim with references to the movie. The album debuted with over 9 million sales, five music show wins, and a performance at the 2023 Grammy Awards, which they were nominated for.

Sad Girls Club released their third full album, “I’m The Drama” on October 16, 2023, consisting of eleven tracks including the title track, “DRAMA”. This album brought many worries of Sad Girls Club being possibly overworked but nothing was outwardly confirmed other than a few hints some of the members made. The album sold 14 million copies overall and is what fans say was the start of their “Reputation” era.

The latest release from Sad Girls Club is their second digital single, “Hopeless Romantic”, released on November 29, 2023. The song charted third on the charts but fans still say it was overall forgettable and earned the group a suprising amount of hate. As of September 2024, Sad Girls Club have not made a comeback despite the members outwardly stating they would like to have one soon.

[athena5898]

(PrR)Journalist Anas Al-Sharif (https://x.com/anasalsharif0/status/1854161925363392718?s=46) in North Gaza: After the account reached more than 1.2 million followers and more than a billion views, Meta blocked my Instagram account and shut it down completely

[ausetkmt]

The Onion, the Chicago-based satirical news company, won a bid Wednesday in a private bankruptcy auction to acquire conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars and related assets to his media empire, with backing from the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims, who are owed compensation due to Jones’ years of dismissing the massacre.

Families of Sandy Hook victims support the new deal

According to The Associated Press, Jones spread false claims about the Sandy Hook shooting, calling it a hoax, which led to over $1 billion in defamation judgments against him. The families have supported this move, viewing it as a form of justice for the 20 children and six teachers killed in the 2012 Connecticut shooting.

“The dissolution of Alex Jones’ assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for,” Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was among the victims killed in the shooting, said in a statement from his lawyers, per AP.

Jones breaks silence on Infowars sale

While the sale price remains was not made public, The Onion now owns the Infowars website; video archive; social media accounts; studio in Austin, Texas; and trademarks, per AP. Jones, 50, shared a video Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter, providing an update about the sale to his followers.

“I just got word 15 minutes ago that my lawyers and folks met with the U.S. trustee over our bankruptcy this morning, and they said they are shutting us down even without a court order this morning,” Jones said.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m going to be here until they come and turn the lights off,” he added.

The Onion partners with Everytown for Gun Safety to raise awareness

Jones founded Infowars in 1999, which is operated under Free Speech Systems with around $6 million in cash and $1.2 million in inventory, according to June court filings obtained by NBC News.

Despite his earlier claims about Sandy Hook, Jones has since testified in court multiple times, stating that he now believes the shooting was “100% real.” However, the litigation between him and the families in Connecticut and Texas remains ongoing, per NBC News.

The Onion also reached a multiyear agreement with Everytown for Gun Safety — the anti-violence organization will be the exclusive advertiser on the new Infowars website in order to highlight gun control and related issues.

[henglihong]

Green and Eco-Friendly Blasting Media: Current Development, Trends, and Future Challenges

——An In-Depth Industry Analysis for Manufacturing Managers and Environmental Engineers

Introduction: The Revolution of Blasting Technology in the Era of Environmental Transformation

As global environmental regulations tighten (e.g., EU REACH, U.S. EPA standards) and the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) concept gains traction, the manufacturing industry is increasingly demanding sustainable surface treatment technologies. Traditional blasting media, such as silica sand and steel grit, are under scrutiny due to dust pollution, high energy consumption, and health risks. In contrast, green and eco-friendly blasting media are emerging as a core breakthrough for industry transformation. This article combines the latest market data and technological trends to analyze the current development and future challenges in this field, providing strategic insights for decision-makers.

I. Market Status: Policy-Driven Growth and Technological Advancements

1. Market Size and Growth Potential

According to Grand View Research, the global blasting media market reached $5.2 billion in 2023, with the share of eco-friendly media rising from 12% in 2018 to 28% in 2023, achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7%. By 2030, the market share of green media is expected to exceed 45%, with the Asia-Pacific region (especially China and India) becoming a growth engine due to manufacturing upgrade demands.

2. Mainstream Eco-Friendly Media Types

Plant-Based Materials (walnut shells, corn cobs): Biodegradable, low dust emission (70% less than silica sand), suitable for precision parts.

Synthetic Ceramic Particles (alumina, silicon carbide): High hardness, reusable 5-8 times, reducing long-term costs.

Ice/Dry Ice: Zero-residue technology, with over 40% penetration in the aerospace sector.

Recycled Glass Beads: Made from waste glass, reducing carbon emissions by 65% compared to traditional processes.

3. Policy and Industry Standards Driving Adoption

The EU Circular Economy Action Plan aims to increase industrial waste recycling to 70% by 2030.

China’s 14th Five-Year Plan tightens blasting dust emission limits to 10mg/m³ (previously 20mg/m³).

Automotive giants (e.g., Toyota, Volkswagen) have incorporated "green blasting certification" into supply chain standards.

II. Technological Advantages and Business Value: Why Choose Green Media?

1. Environmental Benefits

Dust Control: Plant-based media reduce dust concentration to <2mg/m³ (compared to 15-20mg/m³ for silica sand), lowering the risk of silicosis.

Carbon Reduction: Each ton of recycled glass beads reduces CO₂ emissions by 1.2 tons compared to new steel grit.

Waste Management: 95% of synthetic ceramic media can be recycled, reducing landfill costs.

2. Economic Breakthroughs

Lower Lifecycle Costs: In the automotive industry, switching to ice media reduced annual maintenance costs by 18% per production line (source: Frost & Sullivan).

Improved Efficiency: High-precision ceramic particles increase blasting speed by 30% and reduce rework rates.

III. Future Challenges: Technological Bottlenecks and Industry Collaboration

1. Technical Pain Points

Material Limitations: Plant-based media have low hardness (Mohs 2-3), making them unsuitable for hard substrates like high-strength steel.

Cost Barriers: Green media prices remain 20-50% higher than traditional materials, hindering adoption by SMEs.

Lack of Recycling Systems: Only 35% of global companies have media recycling equipment, relying on third-party processing.

2. Industry Collaboration Challenges

Lack of Standardization: Differing definitions of "eco-friendly media" across countries create barriers to cross-border procurement.

Insufficient R&D Investment: SMEs lack funding for new material testing (single certification costs exceed $50,000).

IV. Solutions: Innovation and Ecosystem Building

1. Technological Breakthrough Paths

Composite Material Development: For example, "bio-resin + ceramic" hybrid media balancing hardness and biodegradability.

Smart Blasting Equipment: AI algorithms optimize media usage, reducing waste.

Cryogenic Plasma Technology: A zero-media alternative to physical blasting (currently in the lab stage).

2. Industry Ecosystem Recommendations

Policy Subsidies: Governments should offer tax credits for green media procurement (e.g., U.S. IRA Act).

Industry Alliances: Establish cross-company recycling networks to share regeneration facilities.

Customer Education: Use Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) reports to quantify long-term benefits and boost decision-maker confidence.

V. Conclusion: Green Blasting—A Must for Sustainable Manufacturing

Eco-friendly blasting media are not just a compliance requirement but a strategic choice for cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and brand value enhancement. To overcome the dual challenges of technological evolution and market education, innovation, policy coordination, and industry collaboration are essential to transition this field from an "optional solution" to an "industry standard."

Keywords: Green blasting media, eco-friendly surface treatment, sustainable manufacturing, blasting technology trends, industrial carbon neutrality, ESG compliance

Data Sources: Grand View Research, Frost & Sullivan, European Environment Agency, China Ministry of Ecology and Environment. Further Reading:

2024 Global Surface Treatment Technology White Paper

Pathways to Carbon Neutrality in Manufacturing: Starting with Blasting Processes

[gwydionmisha]

Elon Musk’s X accused of bias after pro-Harris accounts labeled as ‘spam’

If you wouldn't watch FOX "News" or read the daily Stormer, unsubscribe from Xitter. It is a Neo-Nazi Republican disinformation machine.

[partisan-by-default]

Trump’s nominee to head the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a physician and economist at Stanford, reportedly wants to target so called “cancel culture” at a number of top progressive universities, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Those with knowledge of Bhattacharya’s thinking told the newspaper that he’s considering linking the doling out of billions in federal research grants to a measure of “academic freedom” on campuses and punishing those that apparently don’t adequately embrace perspectives championed by conservatives.

Bhattacharya wants to take on what he views as academic conformity in science, which pushed him aside over his criticism of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including his opposition to school closures and mask mandates to stop the spread of the virus. He suggested in a Wall Street Journal op ed in 2020 that only up to 40,000 Americans would be killed by the pandemic. More than 1.2 million people died.

While he hasn’t yet established how to measure academic freedom, he has been looking at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and the nonprofit’s scoring of universities and their rankings based on freedom of speech.

[stephen-barry]

Elon Musk's misleading election claims have accrued 1.2 billion views on X, new analysis says

The nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate said Musk’s debunked claims are spreading widely and don't appear to be subject to X’s Community Notes fact-checking system.

[reasoningdaily]

It’s easy to forget that people of African descent come from a rich legacy of community and wealth-building as the first kings and queens on the planet. In a world that stifles Black progress and seeks to recreate a Eurocentric world-view of history, the brilliance of Black business owners shines through like a diamond in the rough.

As communities of the African diaspora, from Historic Greenwood District to Cape Town, South Africa, seek to build generational wealth after decades and centuries of pillaging and persecution, a few exceptional entrepreneurs stand out. The 10 wealthiest people of African descent prove the potential that’s often locked away inside Black people everywhere.

Using data from Forbes, which tracks the net worth of the wealthiest human beings in the world, The Black Wall Street Times compiled a list of the top 10 wealthiest Black people. Out of the 10, four are American, and three are Nigerian. Additionally, two are women, and eight are men.

What lessons can we learn from their success? Let’s meet them.

10. Folorunsho Alakija — Nigerian businesswoman and philanthropist.

Alakija has an estimated net worth of $1 billion as of 2020. Alakija is the founder and executive vice chairman of Famfa Oil, one of Nigeria’s largest oil exploration companies. Entering the business world with a fashion label, Alakija rose to financial prestige by cultivating high-profile clients, including the wife of former Nigerian president Ibrahim Babangida. At 72 years old, Forbes ranks her as the 20th wealthiest person in Africa and the wealthiest woman on the continent.

I have faced many hurdles in my own life, but I have learned that with the right mindset, every challenge is a chance to create bigger and better opportunities. pic.twitter.com/KJDholX9tx— Folorunso Alakija (@alakijaofficial) March 20, 2023

9. Mohammed Ibrahim — British-Sudanese businessman and philanthropist.

Ibrahim has an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion as of 2023. Born in Sudan, he’s the founder and chairman of Celtel International, one of Africa’s largest mobile phone companies. He also established the Mo Ibrahim Foundation to support good governance in Africa. He sold Celtel International to Kuwait’s Mobile Telecommunications Company for a whopping $3.4 billion in 2005, pocketing $1.4 billion in the process.

— startupAFRICA (@startupafrimag) April 28, 2019

8. Michael Jordan — Former NBA player and American businessman.

The six-time NBA champion has stayed busy in his retirement years. He’s now a successful businessman with an estimated net worth of $2 billion as of 2023. Jordan is the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets franchise and has several other investments in business ventures across the world.

7. Strive Masiyiwa — Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist.

Masiyiwa has an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion as of 2023. In 1998, he overcame government opposition to launch the mobile phone network Econet Wireless Zimbabwe. He also owns stakes in fiber optic and fintech companies in several African countries. Together with his wife Tsitsi, he found HigherLife Foundation. The organization supports orphaned and low-income children in  Zimbabwe, South Africa, Burundi and Lesotho.

I met Strive Masiyiwa’s Higher Life Foundation & Celebration Ministries International fact finding team that will help Joyce Banda Foundation International provide immediate & long term help to cyclone Freddy victims. Our people need urgent help. Looking forward to their support. pic.twitter.com/SvRuG7CSB0— H.E. Dr. Joyce Banda (@DrJoyceBanda) March 20, 2023

6. Oprah Winfrey — American media mogul and philanthropist.

Arguably one of the most famous Black American women, Winfrey has a net worth of $2.5 billion as of 2023. She is the founder and chairwoman of Harpo Productions, which produces television shows, films, and digital media for a variety of platforms. Beginning her career as a TV journalist, Winfrey transitioned her hit talk show into a media empire with the OWN network, reinvesting profits from movies into more ventures.

Top five

5. Patrice Motsepe — South African businessman.

In 2008, Motsepe became the first Black African billionaire and has an estimated net worth of $2.7 billion as of 2023. Motsepe is the chairman and founder of African Rainbow Minerals, a South African-based mining company. In 1997, he flippled low-producing mining shafts into a profitable enterprise. He is the owner of the Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club and was elected president of the Confederation of African Football in 2021.

This is Patrice Motsepe. He bought an unknown South African club to frustrate Orlando Pirates and Kaiser Chiefs. All the cups prize money is shared among the players. Today Mamelodi Sundows is the best football club in Africa pic.twitter.com/k2vhDRXtBo— Tolo (@021Nongwadla) March 28, 2023

4. David Steward — American businessman and philanthropist.

Steward has a net worth of $6 billion as of 2023, making him the fourth wealthiest Black person in the world. Steward is the founder and CEO of World Wide Technology, Inc., a privately held technology solutions provider. A man who once watched his car get repossessed has progressed past poverty to become owner of a company that boasts high-profile clients, such as: Citi, Verizon and the U.S. government. In 2018, Steward donated $1.3 million to the University of Missouri-St. Louis to establish the David and Thelma Steward Institute for Jazz Studies.

David Steward battled with obstacles like poverty and racism. David didn’t enjoy the best resources from his parents. However, he learnt lessons from his parents that gave him significant wealth. One such is “treating people right.”https://t.co/b1ntWaFeEX— Business Elites Africa (@ElitesAfrica) March 27, 2023

3. Mike Adenuga — Nigerian businessman and billionaire.

Adenuga has an estimated net worth of $6.1 billion as of 2023. He’s the founder and chairman of Globacom, one of Nigeria’s largest mobile phone networks. It’s the third largest operator in Nigeria, with 55 million subscribers. Adenuga also runs a profitable oil exploration company in the Niger delta. He supported himself as a college student earning an MBA in New York by moonlighting as a taxi driver. At age 26, he earned his first million dollars selling lace and soft drinks.

Mike Adenuga worked as a taxi driver to help fund his university education. A student in New York, USA, he drove a taxi to pay for his studies, even though his parents belonged to the upper middle class in Nigeria. He was born and raised in Ibadan, Oyo. pic.twitter.com/qs7CCk0CVh— Yorùbáness (@Yorubaness) March 17, 2023

2. Robert F. Smith — American businessman.

Smith a net worth of $8 billion as of 2023, making him the second wealthiest Black person in the world. He is the founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm that specializes in software, data, and technology companies. Vista is one of the most successful private equity firms, with $96 billion in assets. The persistent self-starter earned an internship at Bell Labs during college after calling the company every week for five months. As an engineer, he worked at Goodyear Tire and Kraft Foods before earning an MBA from Columbia University. In 2019, he vowed to pay the student debt for the entire graduating class of Morehouse College.

1. Aliko Dangote — Nigerian businessman.

Topping the list of the wealthiest Black person in the world with an estimated net worth of $13.7 billion as of 2023, is none other than Nigeria’s own Aliko Dangote. He’s founder and chairman of Dangote Cement, one of Africa’s leading cement producers and he’s Africa’s richest man. The company has operations in 10 countries across the Motherland, and he also boasts a newly created fertilizer company as of 2022. Once completed, Dangote Oil Refinery is expected to be one of the world’s largest, even as climate change continues to disrupt the planet.

Today we celebrate a polio-free Africa, the result of decades of vaccination, hard work, collaboration. Tomorrow we get back to work, to ensure wild polio does not come back. Together, we all can #EndPolio globally.— Aliko Dangote (@AlikoDangote) August 25, 2020

While Nigeria boasts the third and first richest Black people in the world, the list reflects a diverse array of personalities, backgrounds, and ingenuity across the African diaspora.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Lunar ice deposits are widespread

Deposits of ice in lunar dust and rock (regolith) are more extensive than previously thought, according to a new analysis of data from NASA’s LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) mission. Ice would be a valuable resource for future lunar expeditions. Water could be used for radiation protection and supporting human explorers, or broken into its hydrogen and oxygen components to make rocket fuel, energy, and breathable air.

Prior studies found signs of ice in the larger permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) near the lunar South Pole, including areas within Cabeus, Haworth, Shoemaker and Faustini craters. In the new work, “We find that there is widespread evidence of water ice within PSRs outside the South Pole, towards at least 77 degrees south latitude,” said Dr. Timothy P. McClanahan of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and lead author of a paper on this research published October 2 in the Planetary Science Journal.

The study further aids lunar mission planners by providing maps and identifying the surface characteristics that show where ice is likely and less likely to be found, with evidence for why that should be. “Our model and analysis show that greatest ice concentrations are expected to occur near the PSRs’ coldest locations below 75 Kelvin (-198°C or -325°F) and near the base of the PSRs’ poleward-facing slopes,” said McClanahan.

“We can’t accurately determine the volume of the PSRs’ ice deposits or identify if they might be buried under a dry layer of regolith. However, we expect that for each surface 1.2 square yards (square meter) residing over these deposits there should be at least about five more quarts (five more liters) of ice within the surface top 3.3 feet (meter), as compared to their surrounding areas,” said McClanahan. The study also mapped where fewer, smaller, or lower-concentration ice deposits would be expected, occurring primarily towards warmer, periodically illuminated areas.

Ice could become implanted in lunar regolith through comet and meteor impacts, released as vapor (gas) from the lunar interior, or be formed by chemical reactions between hydrogen in the solar wind and oxygen in the regolith. PSRs typically occur in topographic depressions near the lunar poles. Because of the low Sun angle, these areas haven’t seen sunlight for up to billions of years, so are perpetually in extreme cold. Ice molecules are thought to be repeatedly dislodged from the regolith by meteorites, space radiation, or sunlight and travel across the lunar surface until they land in a PSR where they are entrapped by extreme cold. The PSR’s continuously cold surfaces can preserve ice molecules near the surface for perhaps billions of years, where they may accumulate into a deposit that is rich enough to mine. Ice is thought to be quickly lost on surfaces that are exposed to direct sunlight, which precludes their accumulations.  

The team used LRO’s Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) instrument to detect signs of ice deposits by measuring moderate-energy, “epithermal” neutrons. Specifically, the team used LEND’s Collimated Sensor for Epithermal Neutrons (CSETN) that has a fixed 18.6-mile (30-kilometer) diameter field-of-view. Neutrons are created by high-energy galactic cosmic rays that come from powerful deep-space events such as exploding stars, that impact the lunar surface, break up regolith atoms, and scatter subatomic particles called neutrons. The neutrons, which can originate from up to about a 3.3-foot (meter’s) depth, ping-pong their way through the regolith, running into other atoms. Some get directed into space, where they can be detected by LEND.  Since hydrogen is about the same mass as a neutron, a collision with hydrogen causes the neutron to lose relatively more energy than a collision with most common regolith elements. So, where hydrogen is present in regolith, its concentration creates a corresponding reduction in the observed number of moderate-energy neutrons.

“We hypothesized that if all PSRs have the same hydrogen concentration, then CSETN should proportionally detect their hydrogen concentrations as a function of their areas. So, more hydrogen should be observed towards the larger-area PSRs,” said McClanahan.

The model was developed from a theoretical study that demonstrated how similarly hydrogen-enhanced PSRs would be detected by CSETNs fixed-area field-of-view. The correlation was demonstrated using the neutron emissions from 502 PSRs with areas ranging from 1.5 square miles (4 km2) to 417 square miles (1079 km2) that contrasted against their surrounding less hydrogen-enhanced areas. The correlation was expectedly weak for the small PSRs but increased towards the larger-area PSRs.

IMAGE: This illustration shows the distribution of permanently shadowed regions (in blue) on the Moon poleward of 80 degrees South latitude. They are superimposed on a digital elevation map of the lunar surface (grey) from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter instrument on board NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. Credit NASA/GSFC/Timothy P. McClanahan