Stretched Too Thin by Social Media

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January 10, 2020

Dear Reader, This week, SpaceX launched 60 Starlink satellites, including a prototype with black coating. The probe is testing an approach to dim the brightness of "megaconstellations," which can interfere with astronomical observations. In Nepal, conservationists are trying to better understand the motivation of poachers. Their findings could lead to more effective deterrent strategies. And today's featured story explores how social media affects our behavior and relationships, are we better or worse off because of it?

Sunya Bhutta, Senior Editor, Audience Engagement @sunyaaa

Behavior & Society Stretched Too Thin by Social Media Beware its power to reshape your web of relationships

Space SpaceX Tests Black Satellite to Reduce "Megaconstellation'"Threat to Astronomy Latest launch includes "DarkSat" prototype to minimize reflection from fleets of broadband Internet satellites By Alexandra Witze,Nature magazine

Conservation To Stop Wildlife Crime, Conservationists Ask Why People Poach A novel study in Nepal shines light on why people commit wildlife crime and how others might be dissuaded from doing so in the future By Rachel Nuwer

EARTH Frozen in Dwindling Ice, an Historic Expedition Finds a "New Arctic" Over the first leg of the trip, scientists say they are already learning how much humans have altered the polar region By Chelsea Harvey,E&E News

Biology Brittle Stars Can "See" without Eyes The starfish relatives can recognize patterns using photoreceptors on their arms—and their color-changing abilities could have something to do with it. Christopher Intagliata reports. By Christopher Intagliata | 02:44

Natural Disasters Puerto Rico, Devastated by Earthquakes, Needs Our Help A life is lost, homes are damaged and destroyed, and an iconic Puerto Rican landform is no more. Here are what happened and how you can help By Dana Hunter

FROM THE STORE Ask the Experts: The Environment The fourth eBook in our Ask the Experts series, The Environment tackles questions about the world around us. In these pages, our experts field queries on the weather, natural disasters, natural resources, climate change and unusual phenomena.

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FROM THE ARCHIVE Only 150 of Your Facebook Contacts Are Real Friends Even with social media, we max out at 150 real relationships By Mark Fischetti,Jen Christiansen | September 2018

QUOTE OF THE DAY "Important relationships might be sacrificed at the social media altar as people seek affirmation and attention from much weaker, less meaningful, but more plentiful ties." Brett Frischmann, Scientific American

WHAT WE'RE READING Evidence of Recycling From 3,000 Years Ago Discovered at Site of Ancient Civilization in Middle East By Newsweek Dark Matter Can Form Tiny, Cold 'Clumps.' Scientists Have Found the Smallest Ones Yet By Space.com The inside story of how scientists across three continents produced an Ebola vaccine By STAT

SPONSORED CONTENT Influenza: A Serious Threat For Adults With Chronic Health Conditions The medical community is joining forces to protect adults with certain chronic health conditions from the serious complications of influenza.

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