A Proclivity For Science Is Embedded Deeply Within Us, In All Times, Places And Cultures. It Has Been

Fascinating Scientific American article.

So many consequences for all of us. It will be interesting to see how all of this plays out, for better or for worse.

Need some good reads to throw into your beach bag?

Annalee Newitz, founding editor of io9.com, science fiction editor Ann VanderMeer, Ira, and Science Friday listeners all shared their science fiction suggestions for summer. There are literally dozens more here.

What would you recommend?

Great article on fracking and its link to earthquakes.

You may have seen the exuberant celebrations of David Katoatau, an Olympic weightlifter competing in the 105-kg weight class for the island nation of Kiribati.

NBC titled their video clip, “Weightlifting makes David Katoatau want to dance.”

But there’s another, solemn reason for his joyful performance. Katoatau told Reuters he wants to raise global awareness of the climate change that threatens to destroy his country. 

Video: NBC, Map: Wikimedia

Commentary

A Rallying Cry, A Dirty Word: People Around The World Talk About ‘Feminism’                        

Last week, we asked a question: What does it mean to be a “feminist” in your country? How do your belief systems and cultural traditions shape your view of how a woman should exercise her rights?

Goats and Soda received hundreds of replies with the hashtag #FeminismInMyCountry. Men and women from Portugal to Tanzania not only answered our question but offered their view of how girls and women still suffer from discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping.

The hashtag particularly struck a chord in South Korea, where citizens are reeling from two incidents concerning women: Last month, a woman was out of a job after wearing a T-shirt that said “Girls Do Not Need A Prince.” And in May, a woman was stabbed to death by a man who said he did it because he “hated women for belittling him.”

From the responses, it’s clear that the debate over the meaning of the word “feminism” is a global conversation. And that in many places, as NPR’s Greg Warner discovered in Rwanda, feminism is considered a dirty word.

One woman in South Korea said that people in her country think a “feminist” is an “antisocial, unattractive woman who’s unlovable by men.” And in Tanzania, a woman shared that although “feminist” means “empowerment” to her, the term is a mere “title” that carries little weight in society. Despite being an aircraft mechanic, she said men viewed her as a “weak, attractive being.”

Here’s a selection of responses from Instagram, Twitter, NPR.org and Facebook, edited for length and clarity. See more comments from more countries, here.

Tanzania: “Men still view me as a weak, attractive being”

I am an aircraft mechanic. Being a feminist means empowering women — but in my country, Tanzania, the term doesn’t have meaning to society. It’s merely a title. At work, men still view and treat me as a weak attractive being. So for me, my country has not really embraced the idea of feminism. -Hawa Nzota

United States: “This isn’t that hard”

This isn’t hard, people. Feminism means women have the same agency as men to body autonomy, to equal wages. It means men shouldn’t be called “weak” for expressing emotion. It means women are considered just as capable as men. It means men are allowed to nurture. This isn’t that hard. Why do we act like this is radical? -Jessica Tonn

United States: “I’m raising my sons to be feminists”

I’m from Oregon. Feminism is still a bad word in my country, as it is perceived to mean that we hate men. I’m raising my sons to be feminists, to help break the cycle. -Heather Novickis

United States: “Many stereotypes surround those who consider themselves feminists”

Illustration by Hanna Barczyk

Great article on the continued work in artificial intelligence.

I'm more excited about this than when Star Wars The Force Awakens came out. Biting my nails. Sitting on the edge of my seat. Can't wait to see the real fireworks on the 4th. May Juno Ju-light up the 4th.

Secrets lie deep within Jupiter, shrouded in the solar system’s strongest magnetic field and most lethal radiation belts. On July 4, 2016, our Juno spacecraft will plunge into uncharted territory, entering orbit around the gas giant and passing closer than any spacecraft before. Juno will see Jupiter for what it really is, but first it must pass the trial of orbit insertion. For more information: http://www.nasa.gov/juno and http://missionjuno.swri.edu.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com