**How accurate is the science in Project Hail Mary?**

"In Project Hail Mary, light-eating alien microbes sap the sun's energy, threatening life on Earth with extinction. To find a solution, an unlikely hero — a middle school teacher played by Ryan Gosling — is sent on a one-way mission to the star Tau Ceti and encounters an otherworldly sidekick nicknamed Rocky along the way. The premise is fantastical, but the concepts that inspired the story are real — and not as implausible as you might think."

Scientific American »

An iPhone loophole just appeared

Buying a new iPhone usually involves a sad understanding that your bank account is about to take a massive hit — because they get more expensive with each model. But now the iPhone 17e is… wait… $299.99? Doesn't sound right, but it is. Buy the iPhone 17e for $299.99 and activate the Total 5G+ Unlimited plan from Total Wireless, and you'll receive $25 in service credits applied to your bill every month for 12 months. For once, the "should I upgrade?" conversation is a lot shorter and way easier to say yes to. [Ad]

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6-million-year-old meteorite strike created a massive field of natural glass in Brazil

"Scientists uncovered a vast field of tektites in Brazil — a rare type of natural glass forged in the aftermath of meteorite impacts. The field stretches across 560 miles and dates back to a massive impact that took place around 6.3 million years ago. An international team of researchers collected around 500 of the newly discovered specimens, which were named geraisites after the state of Minas Gerais, where they were first found. Prior to this discovery, there were only a handful of known tektite fields on Earth."

Gizmodo »

12-sided skyscraper sets record for most floors in North America

"The ambitious Pinnacle SkyTower has reached a major milestone. The under-construction supertall skyscraper has topped out at 106 floors and now holds the record for the most floors of any residential building in North America. Developed by Pinnacle International and designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the Pinnacle SkyTower is located in Toronto and boasts bragging rights as Canada's tallest building, with a height of 1,154 ft. However, the matter of skyscraper heights is rarely as straightforward as you'd think."

New Atlas »

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Ditch the recurring — and rising — 365 fees

How long have rising subscription fees been draining your wallet? Moreover, what if you could ditch the recurring payments and still get all the modern tools you need? Enter Microsoft Office 2024: It's packed with a lot of the same modern and AI features that 365 is now upcharging for, but for a singular payment instead of a never-ending subscription model. It's true. Only $100, and you even get to download it to your Mac or PC for Internet- and cloud-free access. Sometimes, paying for "the best" isn't all it's cracked up to be — especially when it keeps cracking open your wallet. Price drop ends this weekend! [Ad]

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The science is in: No one likes your cockapoo

"One of humans' most outstanding traits is our ability to change our surroundings to our liking. That includes our dogs. In a recent fervor for customized breeds, people have been buying up cavapoos, labradoodles, and cockapoos. But a study … shows that, if we're looking for well-behaved dogs, these 'designer crossbreeds' aren't the best choice."

Nautilus »