1. No, we haven’t forgotten about you, Pluto.
The dwarf planet was kicked out of our solar system in 2006 (not really, it’s just no longer considered a major planet), but we’ve continued to study it aggressively. In fact, before its planetary title was even revoked, a space probe called New Horizons was launched as a part of NASA’s New Frontiers program with a mission to learn about Pluto and its celestial surroundings.
New Horizons has been en route for nine years studying the path to Pluto, and throughout the journey it has been sending back a steady stream of relevant information to the research team in charge of it. This week will be the mission’s climax, for on July 14 the probe will approach its closest navigational point to the surface of Pluto.
What does all this info mean? Well, thanks to New Horizons, we’ll all get updated, higher definition pictures of Pluto to google. Yay science!
2. From front page of the Internet to front page of the classifieds.
Ellen Pao, interim CEO of the popular news and social networking site, Reddit, has stepped down from her title. Pao received harsh criticism for recently dismissing a well-known employee, Victoria Taylor. This bold move resulted in site shutdowns and a petition for her removal from the Reddit community.
However, even before the firing fiasco, dissatisfaction with her decision-making was growing within the Reddit community. Many of the more controversial groups that had cultivated on the website, such as those involving racist, sexist, or otherwise risqué topics, had been banned or content-censored. Though not all users are advocates for these beliefs, the Reddit community as a whole does believe in the no-rules, no-judgment atmosphere the website advertises. Taking away the right to congregate from select users sent the Reddit community in an uproar.
Pao then decided against finishing her term as interim CEO after her less-than-graceful management of the situation. Lets hope whoever steps in next can take the heat.
3. Use of monkeys in the lab is not letting up.
When you get a shot at the doctor's office, do you ever think of the trials that went into creating that vaccine? Probably not, but that's normal human instinct. There's a giant needle coming at your arm and a cold, gloved hand holding you down. It's natural to experience fear and discomfort in that moment.
It's natural to experience fear and discomfort in many situations, such as when you don't understand your surroundings, if you're being kept in confinement, and when you're sick or in chronic pain.
It should also provoke fear and discomfort to hear that animals are put into situations like these every day for the sake of your own health. Drug experimentation and testing on animals is no secret to the consumer, nor is it a usual concern. Many people have forgotten who suffers when they evade sickness.
It's time to remember who takes the fall*. Monkeys especially are traumatized as test patients in labs to create vaccines "just in case" a biological weapon is released against the U.S. Statistics on animal testing have been recently unveiled and the numbers aren't pretty.
Pharmaceutical research is on the rise, so that means animal testing is too.
Read more about it on Buzzfeed:
*By no means am I suggesting that anyone should stop issuing or receiving vaccinations or to end the advancement of medical research. I am merely asking you, as an educated reader, to be aware of consumerism and of animal rights, especially the rights of those used for trial drugs and medical testing.
4. Williams wins Wimbledon. Again.
Serena Williams is a household name—and for good reason. The 33-year-old professional tennis player won Wimbledon, one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world, in the women’s singles division on July 11. This is a feat in and of itself; however, a Wimbledon win is old news for Williams. In fact, this is the sixth time she has achieved the title since she started her professional career.
Impressive, right? Well, that’s not even the best part.
In addition to the Wimbledon titles, Williams is now the record holder as the oldest woman to ever win a major. AND this championship win means she has completed a “Serena Slam,” a reference to winning four majors in a row, for the second time (her first time was in 2003). AND if she wins the 2015 U.S. Open, she’ll be the fourth woman ever to win a calendar year Grand Slam. AND she’s one major win away from tying with the record number, 22.
Serena’s having a pretty good year, and she’s earned it.
