Latest news with #Astronaut
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Worst Day Of Someone's Life Shouldn't Be Your Content Strategy
GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 29: Chris Martin of the band Coldplay performs on stage (Photo by Joe ...) 'Everything is content.' It's a mantra well known in the creator economy. Every meal, documented. Every matcha latte, photographed. Even a mundane errand—picking up dry cleaning—can become a backdrop for storytelling. Why? Because the next viral video can come from anything. And virality means followers, and followers mean monetization. But in an era where influencers wield the ability to direct millions of people's attention toward a single moment, how intentional should they be with that power? Yesterday, a controversy surrounding the CEO and an HR executive at startup Astronaut captured viral attention. Videos dissecting the event flooded TikTok and Instagram. Some offered commentary (dripping in schadenfreude), while others leaned into creating memes. Surprisingly, much of the content was posted by official corporate accounts capitalizing on the virality of the moment for marketing their product. To many viewers, it was just drama. But for the individuals involved, it was likely the worst day of their lives, played out for millions, on loop. This kind of content creation raises the question: When is it citizen journalism, and when is it exploitation? Is it engaging in productive dialogue, or is it entertainment at someone else's expense? And yes, I recognize the irony: by writing this, I too am participating in a moment that's already saturated the content cycle (ugh!). But I'm not interested in perpetuating the drama. I'm interested in what it reveals about the ecosystem we've built. One where pain can be packaged for clicks, and where the line between creator and commentator, journalist and entertainer, is more blurred than ever. Creators today hold the kind of influence that used to be reserved for legacy media, and with that influence should come responsibility. The line between commentary and sensationalism is thinner than ever. Doctors have the hippocratic oath. Venture capital firms often develop ethical investing theses: some won't invest in gambling, smoking, or other industries that promote harmful behavior. Creators, too, must develop a personal code of ethics. At the same time, viewers should ask: Am I rewarding content that harms others? In the attention economy, our eyeballs are votes and clicks are dollars. We shape the algorithm that enables creators' livelihood. Not everything needs to be content. And sometimes, the most humane thing a creator can do is choose not to post. If you're a creator, what's your line when it comes to storytelling and virality?A special thanks to Jean Luo for her contributions to this discussion. Follow me on Instagram or LinkedIn. Check out my website.
India Today
11-07-2025
- Science
- India Today
Shux prepping for homecoming: SpaceX readies Dragon for Monday undocking
Astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is all set to return home after his historic two-week mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).The Dragon spacecraft, Grace, will undock with the four astronauts from the Space Station on a well-charted trajectory to splash down on the planet. "Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu 'Shux' Shukla, and Mission Specialists Sawosz 'Suave' Uznaski-Winiewski and Tibor Kapu are making the most of their final days on orbit, pushing forward a wide range of experiments that could shape the future of space exploration and improve life on Earth," Axiom said in a WHEN WILL UNDOCKING HAPPEN? The Dragon spacecraft will undock from the ISS on July 14 at 4:35 pm who has been aboard the ISS for nearly two weeks as the pilot of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), has captured the imagination of millions across journey marks a significant milestone for Indian space exploration and has inspired a new generation of space enthusiasts. FINAL DAYS IN ORBITAhead of the scheduled return, the four astronauts are busy at work as they rush to finsh up experiments after a brief a day off, astronaut Peggy Whitson led the crew through a busy schedule of science aboard the International Space worked on the microalgae experiment, managing samples that could one day provide food, oxygen, and fuel for deep space assisted with the Fruit Fly DNA Repair study, offering insights into how radiation affects genetic health. He also led a fluid dynamics experiment, simulating planetary weather patterns like Saturn's polar hexagon. His journey marks a significant milestone for Indian space exploration. (Photo: Axiom) The crew advanced the Voyager Displays study on eye movement in space and wore VR headsets for the Neuromotion experiment, which tracks how microgravity affects stress, motor skills, and harvested crops from the VITAPRIC plant study, while the ENPERCHAR project explored how astronauts perceive their on cerebral blood flow and radiation levels were also collected. Cognitive tests and brain activity monitoring supported research into neuroadaptive technologies for future missions and Earth-based crew is now preparing to store their experiments and studies in the cargo bay of the Dragon spacecraft to return home with them.- EndsTune InTrending Reel
Digital Trends
04-07-2025
- Science
- Digital Trends
ISS astronaut shares astonishing shot of a storm-generated sprite
'Just. Wow.' So said NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers as she caught sight of a phenomenon known as a sprite from the International Space Station (ISS) 250 miles above Earth. Ayers shared an image on her X account showing the fleeting phenomenon. You can see the sprite — essentially a large-scale electrical discharge — in the center of the picture as a bluish-white flash on the clouds, with a thin, red, tree-like burst of light shooting upward into the dark sky. Just. Wow. As we went over Mexico and the U.S. this morning, I caught this sprite. Sprites are TLEs or Transient Luminous Events, that happen above the clouds and are triggered by intense electrical activity in the thunderstorms below. We have a great view above the clouds, so… — Nichole 'Vapor' Ayers (@Astro_Ayers) July 3, 2025 'As we went over Mexico and the U.S. this morning, I caught this sprite,' the American astronaut, who arrived in orbit in March, wrote in a post on X. Recommended Videos As she explains, sprites are known as Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) that occur above clouds and are triggered by intense electrical activity in thunderstorms below. Seen from the ISS, the sprite likely lasted for less than a tenth of a second, suggesting that Ayers's image is a frame taken from a video that was monitoring the skies over Earth. 'We have a great view above the clouds, so scientists can use these types of pictures to better understand the formation, characteristics, and relationship of TLEs to thunderstorms,' Ayers wrote in her post. Unlike aurora, which are easily observed from the ground as well as space, it's much harder to observe a sprite from terra firma as it requires special conditions such as clear dark skies, distant large thunderstorms, and minimal light pollution. Visual reports of sprites were first recorded in 1886, but it wasn't until July 4, 1989 — exactly 36 years ago — that the first images were taken, by scientists at the University of Minnesota. For anyone wondering about their effect on aircraft, sprites actually take place way above commercial flight altitudes and therefore pose no direct danger to aircraft. While their electromagnetic pulses could theoretically affect an aircraft's electronics, no incidents have been reported.
Los Angeles Times
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Ryan Gosling reluctantly goes to space in ‘Project Hail Mary' trailer
Ryan Gosling puts the 'not' in 'Astronaut' in the new trailer for 'Project Hail Mary.' The upcoming sci-fi film, based on Andy Weir's novel of the same name, stars Gosling as middle school teacher turned reluctant astronaut Ryland Grace, who's tasked with saving humanity from the effects of a dimming sun. However, when he wakes up from a coma as the sole survivor aboard a spaceship, he must overcome his amnesia to remember where he is and why he was sent there. 'It's an insanely ambitious story that's massive in scope and it seemed really hard to make, and that's kind of our bag,' Gosling said of 'Project Hail Mary' at CinemaCon in April, where he debuted footage from the film, according to Variety. 'This is why we go to the movies. And I'm not just saying it because I'm in it. I'm also saying it because I'm a producer on the film.' The trailer, released Monday by Amazon MGM Studios, opens with Gosling startling awake on the spacecraft, his hair and beard uncharacteristically long. 'I'm several light-years from my apartment,' he proclaims, 'and I'm not an astronaut.' It then jolts back in time to show Grace pre-launch as he learns from Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller) that if he does not journey into space, everything on Earth will go extinct. According to Stratt, who heads the mission, Grace is the only scientist who might understand what is happening to the sun and surrounding stars. The trailer, which progresses through an intense montage set to Harry Styles' 'Sign of the Times,' teases Gosling's signature humor. 'I can't even moonwalk!' the 'Barbie' actor declares at one point. (Gosling portrayed moonwalker Neil Armstrong in another recent space movie, Damien Chazelle's 'First Man.') Everything leads up to Grace meeting an alien, who isn't shown in full — but fans of the book know it plays an integral role in saving planet Earth and beyond. The film, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, marks the second book-to-movie adaptation for Weir, whose novel 'The Martian' became an Oscar-nominated 2015 blockbuster starring Matt Damon. An adaptation for his book 'Artemis' is also in development with the same directing team. 'Project Hail Mary' hits theaters March 20.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Belgian artist of 'Fallen Astronaut' figurine on the moon dies at 99
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Belgian artist Paul Van Hoeydonck (right) presents Apollo astronaut Michael Collins, director of the National Air and Space Museum, with a replica of the "Fallen Astronaut" figure in 1972. . | Credit: Smithsonian A Belgian sculptor credited with the "Fallen Astronaut" figurine left on the surface of the moon in 1971 has now fallen himself. Artist Paul Van Hoeydonck died on Saturday (May 3) at his home in Wijnegem, Antwerp in Belgium, according to a statement released by his family. He was 99. "Paul went home peacefully this afternoon," read the note on his Facebook page. A close-up view of the "Fallen Astronaut" figurine and plaque left on the moon in memory of 14 astronauts and cosmonauts. | Credit: NASA On Aug. 2, 1971, as NASA's Apollo 15 astronauts wrapped up their third of three excursions out onto the lunar surface, the mission's commander David Scott placed a small aluminum figure and its accompanying plaque near where he had parked their lunar rover for the last time. Although Scott did not make mention of it while he was on the moon, he revealed the "Fallen Astronaut" statuette once he and his crewmates, Jim Irwin and Al Worden, were back on Earth. "We left a small memorial on the moon about 20 feet north of [the lunar rover] in a small, subtle crater," said Scott. "There's a simple plaque with 14 names, and those are the names, in alphabetical order, of all of the astronauts and cosmonauts who have died in the pursuit of the exploration of space." "Near it is a small figure representing a fallen astronaut," he added. Three years earlier, Van Hoeydonck came up with the idea of the mini monument to celebrate "humanity rising into space." After making adjustments to the sculpture to meet NASA requirements and its purpose being recast as a tribute to the space explorers who made the ultimate sacrifice, Van Hoeydonck met with the Apollo 15 astronauts to hand over his creation a month before their launch. Related stories: — The Apollo Program: How NASA sent astronauts to the moon — Apollo 15: The moon buggy debuts — NASA honors fallen astronauts with 'Day of Remembrance' ceremony "I didn't think it would ever happen. Of course I was interested in all this, but being an artist, who would have thought it possible of having one of my statuettes put on the moon?" said van Hoeydonck in a 2015 interview with the British Interplanetary Society's Spaceflight magazine. Complying with NASA's requirement that the statue not be commercialized, Scott did not disclose the name of the artist. It was not until a replica of the "Fallen Astronaut" was requested and put on display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. that Van Hoeydonck's role in the tribute first became public. Van Hoeydonck's plans to sell replicas of his statuette were deferred after Scott and NASA expressed concerns over the exploitation of the memorial. (Van Hoeydonck, in partnership with the Breckner Gallery in Düsseldorf, Germany, recreated the artist's original 1969 idea for the statue and marketed a limited run of 1,971 signed and numbered pieces in 2019.) In 2021, Scott rebuked Van Hoeydonck's involvement, writing in a memorandum that the "Fallen Astronaut" figurine that he left on the moon had been "fabricated by NASA personnel." He said that the design "was based on standard 'stick-figures' that had been universally accepted in the late 1960s as location symbols for bathrooms." Scott wrote that before the mission there was "absolutely no contact or knowledge outside these limited NASA personnel regarding this project." Whether of not Van Hoeydonck is properly credited with the "Fallen Astronaut" on the moon, his other space sculptures have been exhibited in Milan, Tokyo and at the Guggenheim in New York City. He was also the focus of the 2020 documentary "The Fallen Astronaut," about "a sculpture that died on its way to the moon." Born on Oct. 8, 1925 in Antwerp, Belgium, Van Hoeydonck studied at the Institute of Art History in his home town and at the Institute of Art History and Archaeology in Brussels. Follow on Facebook and on X at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
