February 25, 2014

Our Flat Solar System

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Why is our solar system flat? We started off as a shapeless blob of gases after the Big Bang. How did our solar system flatten out? From Saturn’s rings to other galaxies, it turns out that “flatness” is common in our 3D universe. It has to do with collisions.

MinutePhysics breaks down the mathematics for our 3D-thinking brains:

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Animation of a star being engulfed by another star, emitting bright light and gas in space.

Starts With A Bang

A new origin story for supernovae after 94 years

Since 1930, type Ia supernovae have been thought to arise from white dwarfs exceeding the Chandrasekhar mass limit. Here’s why that’s wrong.

Collage of social media icons and pixelated images in a grid layout, featuring Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook logos on a red background.

The Present

Internet freedom is fading in the new era of social control

“The evolution of digital media makes stricter regulation of online behavior not only feasible but inevitable,” writes media ecologist Andrey Mir.

Open book with a gradient bar design on the left page and an illustration of founders sharing wisdom around a fire on the right page.

Business

Why founders should fight hardwired “hyperbolic discounting”

Startup success can often hinge on a key lesson derived from behavioral science … and Jerry Seinfeld’s “Night Guy vs. Morning Guy” routine.

Starts With A Bang

Political realities do not change scientific ones

In partisan political times, recognizing the scientific truth is more important than ever. Scientists must be vocal and clear about reality.

Abstract digital art featuring geometric shapes, circuitry patterns, and a central star motif on a blue and red background.

The Present

Is this the biggest industrial espionage campaign in history?

The cat-and-mouse game between China and the world’s semiconductor companies is already having enormous consequences.

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