James Webb Space Telescope Finds Salty Surprise on ‘Pink Planet’

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James Webb Space Telescope Finds Salty Surprise on ‘Pink Planet’ (Maria)

The author writes, “Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered that the well-known ‘Pink Planet’ harbors a salty surprise and an exotic atmospheric chemistry. The discovery marks an advancement in the study of cold objects beyond the solar system.”

ICE Appears to Be Buying Immigrants’ Tax Identifiers From a Data Broker (Dana)

From 404 Media: “A $10 million procurement reviewed by 404 Media indicates ICE is buying records related to immigrants’ tax identifiers. ‘It looks for all the world like Trump is trying to skirt the law and a court order to fuel his mass-deportation campaign,’ Senator Ron Wyden said.” 

The Social Security Trust Fund Will Run Dry in 2032 — What That Means for Retirees and Workers Who Hope To Retire (Sean)

The author writes, “Every year, the panel overseeing the trust fund for Social Security and Medicare publishes its annual financial report. And every year, its members make clear that the programs’ reserves will be exhausted by the time Gen X retires — meaning they will no longer be able to pay full scheduled benefits by the mid-2030s. While many media outlets cover this news as a one-day story, this year’s report should be seen as a much more ominous warning. The latest projection, released on June 9, 2026, is that the Social Security trust fund will be depleted by 2032, at which point incoming revenue can pay only about 78% of scheduled benefits. For the 1 in 5 Americans who receive Social Security, that means a potential across-the-board benefit cut of roughly 22% unless Congress acts.”

Big Tech Is a Thief and Liar, Says NYT Publisher (DonkeyHotey)

The author writes, “The publisher of The New York Times recently made an extraordinary speech about AI, journalism, and the public square that’s received surprisingly little public reaction. What makes A.G. Sulzberger’s speech extraordinary is that it was unabashedly crusading, and crusading is a stance New York Times publishers have rarely if ever adopted over the newspaper’s 175-year history. What makes the scant reaction surprising is that the speech’s audience — fellow leaders of some of the world’s most powerful news organizations — have a commercial self-interest in the crusade Sulzberger is advocating for. What’s more, the accusations Sulzberger made, the plainspoken language he used, the alleged villains he called out by name — Google, Meta, OpenAI — are the stuff of high drama.” 

‘Sounds Like a Mutiny.’ Secret Recording Exposes Claims of Toxic Leadership After a Marine’s Suicide (Al)

From The War Horse: “A War Horse investigation points to systemic failures before and after the death of Cpl. Drew Mobley, whose suicide was the third in two years at the airfield at Marine Corps Base Quantico.” 

Seattle’s Extremely Low Tides Unveil a World of Sea Life (Reader Steve)

From The Seattle Times: “As raucous spectators gathered at Seattle Stadium and around screens on [last] Monday to watch the city’s first ever FIFA World Cup match, others gathered on Puget Sound’s beaches to take in a much quieter scene, lively in its own right. Low tide in Seattle dipped below 4 feet [that] Monday morning — a low not previously seen by the city’s shores in four years — unveiling a world that’s normally underwater. For visitors and locals alike, the week offers a chance to get up close and personal with clambering crabs, dazzling sea stars and dawdling moon snails.”