Starwatch: Spica greets the passing moon

Scientists have developed a breakthrough type of circuit board infused with liquid metal that can heal itself when damaged—just by applying heat. Unlike traditional electronics, these boards can be repaired, recycled, or even reconfigured, potentially slashing e-waste.

Editor’s Note: Electronics are notorious for being fragile and disposable, contributing to a massive e-waste problem. If these self-healing circuit boards scale up, they could mean longer-lasting gadgets, fewer trashed devices, and a big step toward greener tech. Imagine dropping your phone and just heating it up to fix a cracked circuit—that’s the kind of future this could enable.

A sponsored post on Popular Science is pitching a discounted lifetime deal ($79.97) for an all-in-one AI tool designed to help businesses streamline operations. It claims to bundle "today's top AI models" into a single platform, suggesting cost savings and efficiency gains for small businesses or entrepreneurs looking to automate tasks.

Editor’s Note: AI tools are flooding the market, but lifetime deals like this are rare—making it potentially appealing for budget-conscious business owners. However, since it's sponsored content, readers should weigh the hype against real-world performance and long-term support. If the tool delivers, it could be a steal; if not, it’s another app cluttering the digital toolbox.

Emma Beddington, a self-proclaimed orca enthusiast, is having second thoughts after learning about the whales' peculiar skincare habits—specifically, their use of kelp stalks to massage each other. She finds this behavior oddly performative, more akin to the antics of dolphins than the "serious" cetaceans she admired. While she still relates to their boat-sinking tendencies (who hasn’t wanted to shoo humans away from nature?), the kelp spa days are a bridge too far.

Editor’s Note: This playful yet slightly disillusioned take on orca behavior highlights how even our favorite animals can surprise (or weird us out). It’s a reminder that nature doesn’t exist to fit our romanticized ideals—sometimes, it’s just weirdly relatable. Plus, it’s a fun twist on the usual "orca vs. humans" narrative, showing how even niche animal quirks can spark conversation.

NASA’s budget woes could spell trouble for Europe’s Rosalind Franklin rover, a high-stakes Mars mission already plagued by delays and setbacks. The rover, designed to search for signs of past life on Mars, relies on NASA for key tech and funding—and those contributions are now in doubt.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about bureaucratic belt-tightening—it’s a potential gut punch to one of Europe’s most ambitious space projects. If NASA pulls back, the mission could face even more delays or even collapse, leaving a gap in the search for extraterrestrial life. For scientists and space fans, it’s another frustrating hurdle in an already rocky journey to Mars.

Scientists are developing brain implants that could give people with severe disabilities—like those who can't move or speak—a way to communicate and interact with the world again. These devices act as a direct bridge between the brain and computers, translating thoughts into actions or speech. It’s still early, but the potential is huge.

Editor’s Note: For someone who’s lost the ability to speak or move, this isn’t just tech—it’s a lifeline. Imagine being able to type or speak just by thinking. That’s the promise here. While it’s not yet mainstream, advances like this could redefine independence for people with disabilities, and that’s worth paying attention to.