In about 10 billion years, our sun is likely to turn into a white dwarf — a shrunken, extremely dense star whose nuclear core has burned out and gotten rid of its outer layers.
A new study published Wednesday in the journal Nature claims to reveal the first evidence that white dwarf stars form solid, crystal cores containing metallic oxygen and carbon. The oldest white dwarfs, the study finds, are likely to be almost fully comprised of crystals.
SpaceX is laying off more than 600 people — about 10% of its workforce, the Los Angeles Times first reported and Axios has confirmed.
Why it matters: The layoffs come soon after SpaceX moved to raise $500 million at a reported $30.5 billion valuation in order to fund its ambitious plan for satellite-based broadband services. The company has received FCC approval for launching more than 4,000 satellites into low-Earth orbit as part of this constellation, which it calls Starlink.
Humans have a greater influence on the world's landscape than previously thought, according to a comprehensive new high-resolution analysis of human modification of the planet. The map, published in the journal Global Change Biology, is meant to guide conservation strategy in the coming years.
Why it matters: The new study finds that just 5% of the Earth’s land surface is currently unaffected by humans, far lower than a previous estimate of 19%.
