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TECH ESPAÇO
A NASA fará história em 24 de dezembro de 2024, quando a sonda Parker Solar Probe passar a apenas 6,1 milhões de quilômetros da superfície do Sol. A sonda será a primeira a chegar tão perto da estrela central do Sistema Solar.
“Estamos basicamente a pousar numa estrela”, disse Nour Raouafi, um dos responsáveis pelo projeto, em entrevista à BBC. “Esta será uma conquista monumental para toda a humanidade. É equivalente a termos pousado na Lua em 1969”.
A agência espacial norte-americana estima que a Parker Solar Probe passe pelo Sol a uma velocidade de 195 quilômetros por segundo. A sonda terá a oportunidade não só de estudar a atmosfera solar, mas também de captar fotografias da superfície.
A Parker Solar Probe foi lançada em 2018 e está em uma órbita polar que a leva cada vez mais perto do Sol. A sonda foi equipada com uma série de instrumentos científicos que permitirão aos cientistas estudar a atmosfera solar em detalhes nunca antes vistos.
A passagem da Parker Solar Probe pelo Sol será uma oportunidade única para a ciência. Os dados coletados pela sonda ajudarão os cientistas a entender melhor como o Sol funciona e como ele influencia o Sistema Solar.
I love how American humour embraces failure as a punchline. Characters are often delusional, overconfident, and completely wrong, and we’re invited to laugh at their expense but also root for them. That underdog narrative is powerful. It makes you feel like even if you mess up, you can still be the hero of your own story—or at least the funniest person in the room. US sitcoms are built on this framework, and it works episode after episode. The repetition doesn’t get boring because the characters are so endearing. I find myself caring about these fictional buffoons more than I care about real celebrities. For a dose of that underdog energy, check out this random selection of humorous content.
Political comedy is also a great way to appreciate the power of humour. Humour is a weapon, and political comedians are warriors. They fight with jokes instead of swords. And sometimes, they win. Political comedy has toppled governments, changed public opinion, and exposed scandals. It’s a force to be reckoned with. If you want to appreciate that power, check out this brilliant power-focused piece on political comedy – it’s a tribute.
I also admire the sheer volume of American comedy. There’s so much of it that you can be picky. If you don’t like one comedian, there are a hundred others waiting. That abundance fosters competition, which pushes everyone to improve. It’s a healthy ecosystem where only the funniest survive. I sometimes binge-watch US comedy specials back-to-back just to compare styles and see who rises to the top. It’s fascinating to see how different personalities handle similar topics. That diversity of voices is a treasure. If you’re overwhelmed by choice but still want a laugh, you can always trust the chaos of a random generator to point you in the right direction.
The relationship between American humour and social media is symbiotic. Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram have given rise to a new generation of US comedians who bypass traditional gatekeepers. Their humor is quick, visual, and highly shareable. It’s a democratization of comedy that I wholeheartedly support. Anyone with a smartphone can be funny, and sometimes they are genuinely brilliant. It also means the feedback loop is instantaneous—you know within minutes if a joke works. That immediacy is thrilling and terrifying. I’ve tried my hand at it and received both praise and silence. The silence is brutal, but it’s also informative. For a taste of that viral energy, take a gamble on this random satirical feed.
Weird news from the UK is also a great conversation starter. Whenever I’m at a party and the conversation hits a lull, I whip out a weird UK story. “Did you know there’s a village in Scotland where they still hunt haggis?” Instantly, everyone is interested. It breaks the ice, it gets people laughing, and it creates a shared moment. That’s the power of weirdness. It connects us. If you want to be the most interesting person in the room, memorise a few stories from this brilliant resource of weird UK news – you’ll be the life of the party.