A New High (Note) at the Met Opera

In 137 years, NYC’s The Metropolitan Opera has played host to many firsts. And yet, only with their new opera production, Thomas Adès’ “The Exterminating Angel,” has the venue heard an A above high note. Soprano Audrey Luna delivers the masterful moment, which most likely will go unnoticed by many. As the New York Times points out, “a high A—a combination of genetic gifts, rigorous …

Help NASA Nickname New Horizons’ Next Target

A small, frozen world known as (486958) 2014 MU69 is the next flyby destination for NASA’s New Horizons. Understandably, the space agency thinks it needs a snappier name. Some billion miles past Pluto, MU69 is located in the Kuiper Belt and is now in the market for a nickname. Hosted online, there’s a contest where the public can suggest names and vote on them. (Perhaps …

The History of the Color Pink

Known in Chinese as “foreign color,” pink has a rich and interesting history—in nature, art and culture. From its use in the 1700s in fashion and decor, to the 18th century Rococo movement, and today’s “millennial pink” craze, it’s a hue that has plenty of historical signposts. Perhaps most fascinating about the color, it’s not part of the electromagnetic spectrum, Christina Olsen says, “When we …