The Sun will someday die. This will happen when it runs out of hydrogen fuel in its core and can no longer produce energy through nuclear fusion[1] as it does now. The death of the Sun is often thought of as the end of the solar system. But in reality, it may be the beginning of a new phase of life for all the objects living in...
Escaped slaves on St. Croix hid their settlements so well, they still haven’t been found – archaeologists using new mapping technology are on the hunt
“For a long time now, a large number of [escaped slaves] have established themselves on lofty Maroon Hill in the mountains toward the west end of the island [of St. Croix][1]. … They are there protected by the impenetrable bush and by their own wariness.”
Those are the words of Christian Oldendorp[2], a Danish missionary who visited...
How one company – Palantir – is mapping the nation’s data
When the U.S. government signs contracts with private technology companies, the fine print rarely reaches the public. Palantir Technologies[1], however, has attracted more and more attention over the past decade because of the size and scope of its contracts with the government.
Palantir’s two main platforms are Foundry and Gotham. Each does...
Chaos gardening – wild beauty, or just a mess? A sustainable landscape specialist explains the trend
If you’ve spent any time in the gardening corners of social media lately, you’ve likely come across a trend called “chaos gardening.”
The name alone is eye-catching – equal parts fun, rebellious and slightly alarming. Picture someone tossing random seeds into bare soil, watering once or twice, and ending up with a backyard jungle of...