A Planetary Nebula with Cosmic Buckyballs
Image Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/J. Cami (Western University); Image Processing: K. Beecroft
Text: Jan Cami (Western University) & Cecilia Chirenti (NASA GSFC, UMCP, CRESST II)

Explanation: What is happening inside this unusual nebula? Planetary nebula Tc 1, captured here in exquisite detail by the James Webb Space Telescope, is the celestial site where buckyballs were first identified in 2010. Buckminsterfullerene — as buckyballs are officially called — is a molecule with 60 carbon atoms (C60) arranged in the shape of a soccer ball. The molecule is named for architect Buckminster Fuller because of its resemblance to the geodesic dome he helped popularize. Webb’s new data reveal where the C60 molecules live in this nebula, and the geometry is striking: they populate a thin spherical shell around the central star, visible here as the bright edge of the nebula’s glowing orange central region. Look closely near the nebula’s heart and a more perplexing feature emerges: a delicate structure shaped uncannily like an upside-down question mark, fitting punctuation for the many questions this nebula still poses.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260604.html #apod

Of course Niantic used Pokemon Go for location training on autonomous weapons, but we weren't worried because it was just a fun game that got people outside.

Of course Snapchat and Instagram used filters to train facial recognition, but we weren't worried because it made our selfies look better and that puppy tongue was so cute.

Of course 23&Me was building a blood quantum database, but we weren't worried because we were curious about our background and it was just harmless fun.

We've been training a surveillance apparatus beyond the wildest dreams of any dictator this whole time.

We weren't worried because it's not like a bigoted authoritarian regime would rise and start abusing it, right?

...right?

https://www.techspot.com/news/112344-michigan-residents-voted-down-16-billion-stargate-ai.html

#openai #oracleaidatabase #ai #aidatacenters #nobillionaires #nobillionairesshouldexist #GuillotinesWork #hellplanet #michigannews #taxes

Threads of underground fungal networks are long enough to reach beyond the Solar System

Researchers have quantified the length and mass of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal networks globally.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/06/threads-of-underground-fungal-networks-are-long-enough-to-reach-beyond-the-solar-system/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Rodeo lagoon was foggy and cool this morning, and a young river #otter popped up to see what me and the pups were up to

#sfbayarea