Old Apollo Rocks Shed New Light On Moon’s Historic Magnetic Field

Listen To This Story

Old Apollo Rocks Shed New Light On Moon’s Historic Magnetic Field (Maria)

The author writes, “Lunar rocks collected by Apollo astronauts more than half a century ago are providing a fresh take on the moon’s magnetic field, scientists reported Wednesday. … The study by University of Oxford researchers in England suggests that while the moon’s magnetic field has been weak for most of its existence, it exceeded Earth’s magnetic activity billions of years ago. With the golden anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s feat fast approaching, the moon is red-hot again.”

Epstein Files Are Missing Records About Woman Who Made Claim Against Trump (Sean)

The authors write, “The vast trove of documents released by the Justice Department from its investigations into the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein failed to include some key materials related to a woman who made an accusation against President Trump, according to a review by The New York Times. The materials are FBI memos summarizing interviews the bureau did in connection to claims made in 2019 by a woman who came forward after Mr. Epstein’s arrest to say she had been sexually assaulted by both Mr. Trump and the financier decades earlier, when she was a minor. The existence of the memos was revealed in an index listing the investigative materials related to her account, which was publicly released. According to that index, the FBI conducted four interviews in connection with her claims and wrote summaries about each one. But only one of the summaries, which describes her accusations against Mr. Epstein, was released by the Justice Department. The other three are missing.”

Trump’s So-Called ‘Board of Peace’ Wants to Put Gaza on the Blockchain (Siobhán)

From Gizmodo: “Last week, President Donald Trump held the inaugural meeting of what he calls the ‘Board of Peace,’ a group ostensibly tasked with rebuilding Gaza after years of bombardment by Israel. One of the things this new board is supposed to undertake is restoring some sense of normalcy to how everyday Gazans pay for things, which may include a new stablecoin for the territory, according to a report from the Financial Times. The potential stablecoin is still in a ‘preliminary stage’ according to the Financial Times, and it’s not clear whether the cryptocurrency will be something that already exists or a new coin dedicated to the region. It follows news late last year that Trump’s government was thinking about building ‘AI-powered, smart cities’ in Gaza that might include the transfer of a ‘digital token’ to Palestinians for development of their land.”

Gas-Guzzler Revival Risks Dead-End Future for US Automakers (Reader Steve)

The authors write, “Detroit under Donald Trump has rediscovered its love of the big, roaring engine. By gutting climate regulations, the president has freed US automakers to sell as many gas-burning trucks and SUVs as they can. Muscle cars powered by rumbling V-8s and Hemi engines are back, with beasts like the Dodge Charger and Ford’s Mustang Dark Horse laying down rubber at this year’s Detroit Auto Show. Electric vehicles, pushed by years of federal policy, are now purely optional. The sudden switch promises a new era of fat profits for the companies. They’ve always made their best margins on large vehicles with monster engines. Ford Motor Co.’s top executive even hailed the change as a ‘multibillion-dollar opportunity.’ Long-term, it risks sending American automakers off a cliff.”

It’s Correct and Moral to Use the Olympics to Speak Out About Politics  (Laura)

From The Intercept: “At the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, competing under the American banner has put some athletes at odds with their own government, transforming them — in a handful of candid remarks — from cereal-box patriots into political liabilities swiftly pilloried by the conservative establishment. When reporters asked American freestyle skier Hunter Hess how it felt to wear the US flag in front of the world in this moment, he said it ‘brings up mixed emotions.’ Hess drew a clear line between the country he competes for and the policies coming out of Washington, saying, ‘Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US.’ Hess’s plain, honest answer triggered one of the most striking political crosscurrents of these Games: President Donald Trump logged on to Truth Social to call Hess ‘a real loser’ who shouldn’t have tried out for the Olympic team at all.” 

After 144 Years, World’s Tallest Church Finally Finishes Exterior (Dana)

From Popular Science: “After over 140 years, construction on the world’s tallest (and arguably strangest) church is finally finished…sort of. On February 20th, workers secured the nearly 15-foot upper arm of a cross atop the Tower of Jesus Christ on top of the Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain. The monumental apex now puts the basilica and UNESCO World Heritage Site at 566 feet tall — surpassing Germany’s Ulm Minster by roughly the length of a school bus. However, the work is far from over.”