Link About It: This Week’s Picks

Emissions-free cement, a women-only spacewalk, Soviet-era train stations, a very rare diamond and more from around the web

Google Maps Adds Vocal Guidance for Visually Impaired Users Now available on Google Maps iOS and Android apps (one day after World Sight Day), a more detailed voice feature will update and guide visually impaired people more effectively. To turn on the feature, access the settings page within the app and toggle through the navigation features and turn on detailed voice guidance under the walking …

Archaeology, Camels and Cars: From The Dead Sea to Petra

We ride with archaeologist Sarah Parcak and Infiniti to the ancient city in Jordan

It’s early morning in Jordan’s Wadi Rum and we’re loading our gear into the fleet of Infiniti QX80s, backed by only the sounds coming from doors opening and closing shut, and feet shuffling silently in the red sand. Despite the bright LED lights of our fleet SUVs, an observatory’s worth of glowing stars remain visible above, shining down in the pre-dawn desert. As I sit …

The First Women-Only Spacewalk Will Happen After All

Initially cancelled because NASA didn’t have spacesuits for two women (Christina Koch and Anne McClain) who happen to be the same size, the women-only spacewalk—previously scheduled for March—will now take place on 21 October. Jessica Meir (replacing McClain) and Christina Koch (in space until February) will be tasked with installing lithium-ion batteries during their mission. On this being the first walk to be performed by …