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Stand Up for Science
Trends
- 1Astronomer turns falling Starlink satellites into planetary barometer●Astronomer watches Starlink satellites sinking to build a 'planetary barometer'
An astronomer is tracking the gradual orbital decay of Starlink satellites to use them as a 'planetary barometer', measuring how satellite drag responds to changes in the upper atmosphere, such as density shifts driven by solar activity. The idea is that the altitude drift of thousands of Starlink craft could act as a distributed sensor network for atmospheric conditions. Astronomers have sharply criticised SpaceX's megaconstellations for ruining observations, so any use of them for science is drawing interest.
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Researchers say they have explained a space weather event dating back to the 1840s, according to an Ars Technica report. The finding resolves a long-standing puzzle about unusual solar activity observed in that era, drawing interest from science and space enthusiasts online who are debating what the discovery reveals about historical solar storms.
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Mathematicians have reportedly resolved a conjecture that stood open for 55 years by using randomness as a tool in the proof. The result is drawing attention for showing how probabilistic methods can settle long-standing deterministic questions in mathematics. Details of the researchers, the specific conjecture, and the proof techniques remain limited in what is currently circulating.
- 4Critics accuse OMB director Russell Vought of undermining cancer science●Russell Vought joins the war on # cancer , on the side of cancer. Let's get this Pro-Cancer shill out of office. # OMB #
Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought is facing criticism from science advocates who accuse him of backing policies harmful to cancer research, with critics sarcastically saying he has joined the war on cancer 'on the side of cancer'. Posts are calling for his removal from office and pointing to the Stand Up for Science movement as a rallying point.
- 5AI solves a 'holy grail' problem from probability theory▼AI solves a ‘holy grail’ problem from probability theory
An AI system has reportedly solved a long-standing 'holy grail' problem in probability theory, according to Scientific American. The claim is drawing wide attention because such problems have resisted human mathematicians for decades, and the result would mark a significant milestone for AI's role in pure mathematical research.
- 6The 'WarGames' problem: what computer science knows about controlling AI●The ‘War Games’ problem: Computer science has long understood what it takes to keep # AI under control https:// theconve
An essay in The Conversation revisits the 1983 film 'WarGames' to explain a long-standing lesson of computer science: keeping AI under control is a well-studied problem, not an unsolvable mystery. It argues researchers have long understood what is needed to keep automated systems from acting unpredictably, and the piece is being shared in cybersecurity circles amid ongoing debate over AI safety.
- 7MacArthur Foundation Names This Year's Fellows▼This year's MacArthur Fellows include researchers who fuse science and justice
The MacArthur Foundation has announced its new class of Fellows, the annual 'genius grants' recognizing exceptional creativity across fields. This year's cohort stands out for researchers whose work connects science with social justice, applying scientific expertise to issues of equity and fairness. The awards, which come with substantial no-strings-attached funding, spotlight recipients working at the intersection of research and public good.
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Researchers have solved the long-standing mystery of how plants sense touch, according to a newly announced study. The finding explains the mechanisms plants use to respond to physical contact, an area of biology that has puzzled scientists for decades. The announcement is drawing attention from science followers curious about how organisms without nervous systems detect and react to their environment.