Local Group: Earth

Researchers from Duke University studied 14 different masks by measuring filtration of expelled droplets during speech. The researchers offer a "simple optical measurement method" that is both "inexpensive and can be built and operated by non-experts". [READ @ advances.sciencemag.org] Low-Cost Measurement of Face Mask Efficacy for Filtering Expelled Droplets During Speech BEST MASKS Top-Tier: "Fitted N95- 14 " and "Surgical- 1 " 2nd-Tier: "Poly/cotton- 5 " and "PolyProp- 4 " 3rd-Tier: "Cotton5- 13 " and "Cotton2- 7 " WORST MASKS Bottom-Tier: "Neck Gaiter- 11 " 2nd-Bottom-Tier: "None" 3rd-Bottom-Tier: "Bandana- 12 "

"The Local Group is the galaxy group that includes the Milky Way." This is our home. [READ @ wikiwand.com / wikipedia.org] Local Group

"CDC recommends that you wear masks in public settings around people who don’t live in your household and when you can’t stay 6 feet away from others. Masks help stop the spread of COVID-19 to others." [READ @ cdc.gov] How to Select, Wear, and Clean Your Mask

"On 2 September 2020, the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the Virgo Collaboration announced the discovery of GW190521, the most massive gravitational wave binary observed to date. The two inspiralling black holes had masses of about 85 and 66 solar masses, and resulted in the formation of a black hole remnant of 142 solar masses. This remnant provides the first clear detection of an 'intermediate-mass' black hole..." [READ @ ligo.org] GW190521

"Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life." This is our home. [READ @ wikiwand.com / wikipedia.org] Earth - [WATCH @ youtube.com] Time-Lapse Earth Flyover from NASA Astronaut in Space

"Artificial intelligence has defeated chess grandmasters, Go champions, professional poker players, and, now, world-class human experts in the online strategy games Dota 2 and StarCraft II. No AI currently exists, however, that can outduel a human strapped into a fighter jet in a high-speed, high-G dogfight. As modern warfare evolves to incorporate more human-machine teaming, DARPA seeks to automate air-to-air combat, enabling reaction times at machine speeds and freeing pilots to concentrate on the larger air battle." [READ @ darpa.mil] Training AI to Win a Dogfight - [READ @ darpa.mil] AlphaDogfight Trials Foreshadow Future of Human-Machine Symbiosis - [WATCH @ youtube.com] EpiSci: AlphaDogfight Trials Playlist - [WATCH @ youtube.com] DARPAtv: AlphaDogfight Trials Final Event -

"Prepared according to Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Reporting Standards, the first public CERN Environment Report details the current status of CERN's environmental footprint, along with objectives for the coming years..." [READ @ home.cern] CERN Publishes Its First Public Environment Report - "Among the 626 hectares of forests, meadows, agricultural and recreational land under CERN's sterwardship are 211 hectares devoted to fundamental research. This makes CERN an integral part of its environment: a responsibility we take very seriously, both within the spaces we manage and beyond..." [READ @ hse.cern] Environment Report: Covering The Period 2017-2018