Some Recently Discovered Moons of Jupiter are Weirder Than Others

Scott Sheppard’s astronomy division at the Carnegie Institution for Science hunts for objects in very distant parts of our Solar System. Sometimes, however, they’re able to scour areas closer—depending on the orbit of planets intersecting with their work. When the latter scenario arose with Jupiter, Sheppard and his colleagues discovered 10 new moons—bringing the grand total of satellite bodies to 79. A few of these …

Link About It: This Week’s Picks

Making clouds, pet pampering, Snoopy in space, alternatives to banning straws and more

1. Hawaii Bans Common Sunscreens to Save Coral Reefs In a few years, the majority of common sunscreens available on the market will be banned in Hawaii in an effort to save their coral reefs. These sunscreens contain oxybenzone or octinoxate—both ingredients that make coral more vulnerable. As Mother Jones explains, oxybenzone “deforms coral cells, damages their DNA, and, most disturbing of all, disrupts coral …

Hope Rises From New Gene-Editing Method

Innovative Genomics Institute—a partnership between University of California, San Francisco and the University of California, Berkeley—has released their findings on a new gene-editing method that holds the potential to advance treatment against cancer. This new immunotherapy process involves using electric fields rather than viruses to splice into white blood cells to deliver gene-editing tools and modified genetic material. Not only is it efficient, it’s far …