SPoW_Oct16_2017 Gallery
01This galaxy, dubbed NGC 2623, might not look like your average galaxy. And it’s not: This oddly-shaped object is actually *two* galaxies that have been forced together by gravity. When they collided, the impact sent clouds of dust careening out into space, forming these individual arms, each extending outwards some 50,000 light years.
02This week the sun was especially active. The dark region seen at the top of this false color image, filtered for the extreme UV spectrum, is a massive coronal hole. These dark areas are actually cooler than their surroundings, and while it’s not visible in this image, these holes spent the entire week spitting out highly charged particles into space. Many of those particles end up colliding with Earth—resulting in auroras at the northern and southern poles.
03At the center of this diffuse, glowing bubble is galaxy NGC 4993—but that bright, shiny object isn’t what’s grabbing attention this week. Take a look at that speck of light to the upper left, the one the arrow’s pointing to. That’s first ever seen merger of two neutron stars, an event called a kilonova. The collision took place 130 million light years from Earth, and sent gravitational waves rippling through space until scientists detected them on August 17th at the LIGO facilities in Washington and Louisiana.
04This series of images model what scientist think may once have been an atmosphere around the moon. A new NASA paper has evidence that the moon was once cloaked with a thin atmosphere made of water, carbon monoxide, and sulfur—nowhere near as thick as the Earth’s, but just enough to hold materials on the surface. While the model suggests the atmosphere may have only lasted around 70 million years (yeah, that counts as short in galactic time), it could account for the water that’s been detected in craters on the moon.
05Kilonova, it’s time for your close up. This second image zooms into the galaxy where the fateful neutron star merger occurred. The bright dot to the upper left of the red vertical spiral is the mark of the kilonova. Not only was this the first gravitational wave detection of two merging neutron stars, but the first time a photo captured the remnants of the impact.
06It’s a trap! This glaring orange donut-shaped object, captured by the ALMA radio observatory in Chile, is V1247 Orionis, a hot star surrounded by a ring of dust called a circumstellar disc. Over time, that dust gives in to the force of gravity, glomming into balls that eventually turn into planets—one of which, scientists think, carved out that dark region surrounding the star. While the baby planet orbits around its star, it creates a pressure system that might be trapping dust particles, allowing other areas around the star go undisturbed. And *that* might eventually create a new solar system.
A Lot of Shops Won't Fix Electric Bikes. Here's Why
Bike shop mechanics have lost fingers and their shirts while repairing ebikes of dubious origins. Make sure yours is repairable and third-party certified.
Stephanie Pearson
The Audacity Is the Broligarchy Takedown You Were Waiting For
AMC’s new black comedy about a manchild tech titan spinning out of control is a skewering Silicon Valley’s billionaire class deserves.
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It’s a Tablet! It’s a Laptop! After Testing the Best 2-in-1s, Here’s What I Recommend
Whether you want a detachable tablet or a laptop screen that spins, these 2-in-1 devices manage to balance being both a tablet and a laptop.
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There’s a Secret Ingredient to Making Luxury Ice at Home
Nice ice is big business, but you can get perfectly clear cubes at home without freezing your assets.
Jeremy White
The Screenmaxxers Who Spend Every Waking Hour on Their Phones
As debates over social media addiction rage, people with extreme screen times tell WIRED they have no plans to cut back.
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Mammotion’s Spino E1 Pool Cleaner Isn’t Bad for the Price—It's Just Not That Good
This compact pool robot keeps its price down, but its performance doesn’t match that of more capable cleaners.
Christopher Null
The Best Coffee Mug Warmers Are Smart. But They Don’t Need an App
The first rule of coffee is that it must stay hot. After weeks or even years of testing, these are the three coffee warmers that will best keep it that way.
Matthew Korfhage
Crimson Desert Is a Cat Dad Simulator
Step into the shoes of the strongest, goodest boy in a game that is beautiful, baffling, and impossible to put down.
This At-Home Hair Color Printer Raised My Blood Pressure
This hair dye printer promises hundreds of shades. It couldn't even manage two.
Louryn Strampe
I Tested the MacBook Neo and the MacBook Air. Here's Which One You Should Buy
After conducting long-term testing on both the MacBook Neo and MacBook Air, I have a good idea who should buy which laptop.
Luke Larsen
The Best Electric Cargo Bikes for Carrying This and That Everywhere
You don't need a car to tote around kids and cup holders. I rode cargo ebikes for miles to find the best one for your buck.
Adrienne So
Your Push Notifications Aren’t Safe From the FBI
Plus: Iran’s internet blackout hits the 1,000-hour mark, cryptocurrency scams result in a record amount of money stolen from Americans, and more.
Matt Burgess