Cool Stuff Ride Home

Tue. 12/21 - Why the Webb Telescope Launch Is Freaking Out Astronomers


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The James Webb Space Telescope is launching on Friday. Here’s what to expect, and why astronomers are so stressed out about it. Plus, Scotland may soon be issuing a three centuries overdue pardon to victims of its many witchcraft trials. And when the snowstorms come this season, your town might just be de-icing the roads with beet juice.

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  • Links:

    Webb Telescope Approaches Launch, With an Eye Toward Cosmic Origins (NY Times)
  • James Webb Space Telescope: how our launch of world's most complex observatory will rest on a nail-biting knife edge (The Conversation)
  • Watch this space: New telescope to unlock mysteries of the cosmos (NBC News)
  • Astronomers are freaking out over the launch of the James Webb telescope. (Slate)
  • NASA refuses to rename James Webb Space Telescope (NPR)
  • NASA Sets Coverage, Invites Public to View Webb Telescope Launch (NASA)
  • Witches of Scotland: Bill to be brought forward to pardon women and others convicted of witchcraft (The Scotsman)
  • Women executed 300 years ago as witches in Scotland set to receive pardons (The Guardian)
  • UN adopts landmark resolution condemning witchcraft accusations (Humanists International)
  • March episode about witches & ale wives (Kottke Ride Home)
  • To Beat Winter, Cities Fight Back, With Beets (Bloomberg)
  • Kottke.Org
  • Jackson Bird on Twitter
  • See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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