Notices by Laura Helmuth (laurahelmuth@mastodon.social)

Brace yourself for this one: Black holes the size of an atom (!) that contain the mass of an asteroid (!!) may fly through the inner solar system about once a decade (!!!) and could explain dark matter (!!!!) and if one flies by the moon or Mars, we should be able to detect them (!!!!!) https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dark-matter-black-holes-could-fly-through-the-solar-system-once-a-decade/

New and improved ways to measure how gross it is out, explained: heat index, wet bulb, dew point, and a new measure called "stickiness" https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-heat-index-dew-point-and-wet-bulb-temperature-describe-summer-weather/

This is fascinating and surprising: mineral deposits in the deep ocean can generate oxygen from seawater. It was such a weird finding that the scientists who first detected it thought for years that their instruments were wrong https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dark-oxygen-discovered-coming-from-mineral-deposits-on-deep-seafloor/

This research has come up several times at a big climate conference: A huge majority of people are worried about climate change and want governments to do more to control the crisis. BUT they think they are in a tiny minority and nobody else cares. Everybody (almost) cares! You are not alone https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-change-actions-are-far-more-popular-than-people-in-u-s-realize/

"As an astronomer, I already had good reasons to worry about SpaceX." Worries like: light pollution from mega-constellations, atmospheric pollution from launches and disintegrations, and now silo-sized space junk dropping on people's farms. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spacex-dropped-space-junk-on-my-neighbors-farm-heres-what-happened-next/ by @sundogplanets

Why ARE bears friend-shaped? A beary scientific analysis of the meme "If not friend, why friend-shaped?" https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-are-bears-friend-shaped/

Derelict satellites pass within 1,000 kilometers of each other 1,000 times a year, and any collision would instantly double the amount of space debris. A space rush is filling up orbit with unregulated satellites, mostly from private companies, and we need better protections https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/there-is-too-much-trash-in-space/

Fun fun fun: Beluga whales have a lump on their forehead called a "melon" that they shake, wiggle, thrust and bump to communicate https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/belugas-flirt-and-fight-by-morphing-their-squishy-forehead/

Millions of pregnant people have received COVID vaccines, and the data are solid: the vaccines are safe and effective for the pregnant person, and a growing consensus is emerging that vaccination during pregnancy also protects newborns. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-vaccination-during-pregnancy-protects-newborn-babies/

It's the year 2024 and West Virginia just signed a law that will allow the teaching of religious alternatives to science (meaning creationism) in public schools. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-law-allowing-religion-into-science-classrooms-is-dangerous-for-everyone/

Walking backwards can improve flexibility, relieve joints, strengthen muscles, and improve your sense of humor about looking ridiculous https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/walking-backward-can-improve-joints-arthritis-and-overall-health/

So much ice is melting from the poles that the water is redistributing Earth's mass and slowing its rotation https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/global-warming-is-slowing-the-earths-rotation/

Lots of great practical advice here about how to use wastewater surveillance to judge COVID risk in close to real time. Be careful out there ... https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/online-covid-wastewater-sites-can-help-you-stay-safe-during-the-holidays/

What exactly are ultraprocessed foods? This is an interesting look at the debates over how to define them and determine their health impacts & sorry if you are now craving Froot Loops https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-ultraprocessed-foods-affect-your-health/

"Long ago, around an otherwise unremarkable faraway star, two infant planets had an extraordinarily bad day...." This is a delightful story about a planet-vaporizing impact https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/astronomers-may-have-witnessed-worlds-in-collision/

Smart advice for how to help "passive positives" (people who are pro-vaccination but not especially motivated) go get a COVID booster. 🧪 And get their RSV & flu vaccines while they're at it, which protects them and all of us https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-new-way-to-inspire-people-to-get-a-covid-vaccine/

The anti-science movement is "organized, it’s well-financed, and it’s politically motivated. It’s doing a lot of damage to the country and to American science and scientists. And now it’s become a lethal force." https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/vaccine-scientist-warns-antiscience-conspiracies-have-become-a-deadly-organized-movement/

Scientists detected oxygen-28 for the first time, an isotope with 12 extra neutrons that is "doubly magic." Only it doesn't act doubly magic... https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/rare-superheavy-oxygen-isotope-is-detected-at-last/

We keep updating this collection of heat records that were broken this summer with new heat records that were broken this summer https://scientificamerican.com/article/here-are-the-stunning-heat-records-set-so-far-this-summer1/