We Are Evolving Away From The Y Chromosome

Aside from the “master switch gene,” SRY, the Y chromosome (only found in men) contains very few other genes. And it’s the only chromosome not necessary for life. Right now, it’s in a state of degeneration, shriveling up for males. This degeneration has occurred because the Y chromosome is only ever present in one copy, passed from fathers to son, meaning there’s no chance to …

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Photographing cannabis, ocean-friendly Jenga, self-flying helicopters and more

1. How to Freeze Soap Bubbles in Winter Weather A craze transfixing photographers lately: capturing the freezing process of soap bubbles in winter weather yields orbs with glorious, unexpected patterning. No two bubbles are the same, and footage at Fstoppers reveals as much. They also provide extra insight and include a video from photographer Benjamin Jaworskyj—revealing that photographing these bubbles is the easy part, but …

Link About It: This Week’s Picks

Real life Star Wars destinations, a blue moon eclipse, growing materials for robots and more

1. Get Ready for a Very Rare Blue Moon Eclipse For the first time in 150 years, we can expect a blue moon total lunar eclipse on 31 January. A blue moon is the second full moon in a month—and the eclipse will happen in the middle of the night. Viewing, however, is best “in Central and Eastern Asia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Australia,” according …