Aliens ‘use stars to communicate’
And other stories from the stranger side of life
Aliens might be using the stars to send secret signals to each other, according to a scientist at Imperial College London. In a paper entitled “Perhaps they are everywhere”, he says aliens might have evolved to use quantum physics differently from us. He speculates that aliens may use physics to “hide their photonic entanglement” from us, which would explain why we have never discovered them.
Tourists warned off dildo sign
Tourists who plan to pose for dangerous selfies at a “Dildo” town sign have been asked to stay away. The small township of Dildo, on the Canadian island of Newfoundland, has has an imitation Hollywood sign erected on a hillside overlooking the town. It has become a tourist attraction but locals are begging visitors not to get close to the monument and local authorities say it could be dangerous to snap yourself near it.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Barbie makes doll of vaccine creator
Barbie maker Mattel has created a doll of the scientist who created the Oxford coronavirus vaccine. Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert admitted that she found the creation “very strange” at first but said: “My wish is that my doll will show children careers they may not be aware of, like a vaccinologist.” Her Barbie is one of five to honour women working in science, technology, engineering and maths. Sales of Barbie dolls rose to a six-year high last year.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Ryanair/SpaceX: could Musk really buy the airline?Talking Point Irish budget carrier has become embroiled in unlikely feud with the world’s wealthiest man
-
Claudette Colvin: teenage activist who paved the way for Rosa ParksIn The Spotlight Inspired by the example of 19th century abolitionists, 15-year-old Colvin refused to give up her seat on an Alabama bus
-
5 contentious cartoons about Donald Trump at DavosCartoons Artists take on weaponized tariffs, a cheeky offering, and more
-
Panama and Canada are negotiating over a crucial copper mineIn the Spotlight Panama is set to make a final decision on the mine this summer
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military
-
How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned