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Did you know that a single strand of spider silk is thinner than human hair but five times stronger than steel?! 

Spider silk is one of the strongest natural materials on Earth, pound for pound stronger than steel. Look out for an article on this topic coming soon!

Earth Sciences

Space-Based Solar Power

Aetherflux, a startup founded by a former financial services executive, is taking a new approach to space-based solar power (SBSP) that aims to be more scalable and affordable than past attempts. On October 9, the company announced plans to create a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit designed to collect solar power and transmit it to Earth via infrared lasers. They plan to test this technology with a small satellite launch scheduled for early 2026.

Unlike previous SBSP concepts that relied on large arrays in geostationary orbit, Aetherflux's model uses smaller, modular satellites that can be developed and improved over time. "Our main observation is that previous designs are all or nothing," said Aetherflux founder and CEO Baiju Bhatt. "They aren't iterative." The first satellite, built on a platform provided by Apex, will be a "kilowatt-class" craft capable of transmitting power with a 10-meter spot size. Future models will aim to produce more power at a lower cost per kilowatt-hour.

This modular approach does come with technical challenges. Unlike stationary geostationary satellites, Aetherflux’s system requires multiple satellites to pass power between them to cover specific areas and will need energy storage for nighttime operations. Initially, the company is targeting defense applications, such as providing energy to remote forward operating bases where fuel supply is challenging. While similar ideas were proposed in a 2007 study by the National Security Space Office, those recommendations went largely ignored.

Aetherflux’s upcoming demonstration satellite is part of a "crawl, walk, run" strategy to develop SBSP technology. Bhatt, who co-founded Robinhood, is self-funding the venture with around $10 million to support the first demonstration.
Interest in SBSP has fluctuated over the years, with a January report from NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy expressing skepticism about the viability of SBSP compared to terrestrial renewable energy sources. While Bhatt acknowledged the report's findings, he emphasized that it primarily addressed large-scale systems rather than the modular model Aetherflux is pursuing.

Could this be a viable energy source in the future? I think only time will tell.

Culture

200-year-old Message in a Bottle

A team of student archaeologists in France made an unexpected discovery while working on a site from Gaulic times.

Led by Guillaume Blondel, director of the municipal archaeological service of Eu, the team uncovered a unique piece of history: a message from the 19th century. The message was found inside a small glass bottle, along with two coins, buried nearly 200 years ago. According to a statement from the service, the note was left by P. J. Féret, and said “P. J. Féret, a native of Dieppe, member of various intellectual societies, carried out excavations here in January 1825. He continues his investigations in this vast area known as the Cité de Limes or Caesar’s Camp.”

Féret’s message was placed in a ceramic pot from an earlier time, ensuring future archaeologists would find it. Blondel told the BBC, “We knew there had been excavations here before, but finding this 200-year-old message was a complete surprise. Time capsules are common in construction, but very rare in archaeology.” Historical records confirm P. J. Féret's presence in the area at the time of the letter. The excavation, funded by the Regional Archaeology Service, aims to preserve endangered archaeological sites along the coastline, where erosion has already claimed part of the Gaulic "oppidum" or fortified camp known as Caesar's Camp.

The Gauls were a collection of tribal societies in central and western Europe during the Roman Republic. Julius Caesar's campaign to conquer Gaul gave rise to the name "Caesar's Camp," bringing regions like Spain, France, and Belgium under Roman control.

Environment

Sea Turtle Nesting Success

From Spain to Cyprus, the Mediterranean has seen a record increase in sea turtle nesting.

In particular, Zakynthos in Greece has become the region’s largest loggerhead turtle nesting site. Since 2023, Greece has documented over 10,000 turtle nests on its beaches, a significant rise from the 21st-century average of around 6,000. “During the 2000s, we saw annual declines of about 6% on Crete, for example,” said Dr. Aliki Panagopoulou, research coordinator for Archelon, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece. The increase reflects decades of conservation efforts aimed at ensuring as many hatchlings as possible reach the sea. Dr. Panagopoulou and other scientists note that the survival rate into adulthood—typically just 1 in 1,000—has also improved.

Tracking shows that some turtles, tagged at birth with radio-wave trackers, are now returning to Zakynthos to nest, sometimes 20-25 years later. On Sekania beach, for instance, nests now occupy nearly every 50 square centimeters of sand. Strict beach monitoring during nesting season, supported by CCTV, has helped protect nests from predators like ghost crabs and seagulls. Similar measures have boosted turtle populations in Florida, where Palm Beach County recorded over 20,000 nests in 2023, a historic high. African nations, including Seychelles and Cape Verde, have also reported major gains. Cape Verde documented 200,000 nests in 2020, a result of aggressive anti-poaching efforts. Seychelles’ nesting numbers have rebounded as well, and Aldabra is now East Africa's second-largest green sea turtle rookery.

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