Mirrors in the night sky?

In 1993, a Russian spacecraft equipped with a giant mirror travelled across Europe for a few hours before burning up in the atmosphere. It created a five-kilometre wide spotlight, and the few people who saw it beyond the clouds reported a bright flash of light.

Why do such a thing? The goal of the Znamya project was ostensibly to extend winter daylight hours in Russia’s polar regions. However, the expensive plan never eventuated.

Now, a US startup called Reflect Orbital is proposing to build a giant mirrored satellite constellation to supply nighttime light to solar farms on the ground. They’ve applied for a test launch next year.

If that’s not raising alarm bells in your head, it should – astronomers warn that even if the mirrors worked as advertised (which is dubious), the consequences would be dire.

Until next week,

Signe Dean

Science + Technology Editor

A US startup plans to deliver ‘sunlight on demand’ after dark. Can it work – and would we want it to?

Michael J. I. Brown, Monash University; Matthew Kenworthy, Leiden University

Satellites beaming sunlight down to Earth sound like science fiction – and they have astronomers very worried.

Unusual red rocks in Australia are rewriting the rules on exceptional fossil sites

Tara Djokic, Australian Museum; UNSW Sydney

Highly detailed fossils are typically found in shale or other fine-grained sedimentary rocks. These ones? They’re made of iron.

For the first time, we linked a new fossil fuel project to hundreds of deaths. Here’s the impact of Woodside’s Scarborough gas project

Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, Australian National University; Andrew King, The University of Melbourne; Nicola Maher, Australian National University; Wesley Morgan, UNSW Sydney

The results challenge claims that the climate risks posed by an individual fossil fuel project are negligible or cannot be quantified.

New research challenges the idea of a ‘vicious cycle’ between psychological distress and conspiracy beliefs

Nick Fox, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University; Matt Williams, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University; Stephen Hill, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

One prominent theory says conspiracy beliefs are triggered by elevated distress. But a new study finds limited evidence to support this claim.

Why do some songs get stuck in our heads so easily? The science of earworms

Emery Schubert, UNSW Sydney

Here’s what happens in your brain when you can’t get a tune out of your head.

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With the warmer weather come more of these fluttering insects – which can be easily confused with each other.
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Sarah Annesley, La Trobe University

Diagnosis for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome currently relies on sometimes controversial diagnostic criteria – and can take years.
AI weapons are dangerous in war. But saying they can’t be held accountable misses the point

Zena Assaad, Australian National University

AI weapons present many challenges – but these ultimately stem back to people.
Since 2020, 4 of Australia’s natural World Heritage properties have deteriorated

Jon C. Day, James Cook University

Globally important natural areas such as Ningaloo and Shark Bay have been hard hit in recent years. But Macquarie Island is recovering.
How do Triple Zero calls actually work? A telecommunications expert explains

Mark A Gregory, RMIT University

While it might seem simple, there are many steps involved between you calling Triple Zero, and paramedics, police or firefighters arriving to help.
Power-hungry data centres threaten Australia’s energy grid. Here are 3 steps to make them more efficient

Johanna Lim, University of Sydney

Australia could be a global champion for sustainable data centre growth.