This Week in Science: There's a Solar Eclipse Tomorrow!

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Here’s a quick rundown of this week in science . . .

1. If you haven’t heard, there’s a big solar eclipse tomorrow. People from Oregon to Texas will get the full thing. Everyone else in the U.S. will get a partial eclipse. Here’s a map, and a list of when to watch in all 50 states. For us, the partial eclipse will start around 10:30 a.m. and end around 1:30. Now, the weather doesn’t look like it’s going to cooperate though, with clouds and rain forecasted for much of the day.
The full shadow will pass over the coast of Oregon around 9:15 AM Pacific . . . move southeast through Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas . . . and then pass into the Gulf of Mexico around noon Central. Here’s a cool video giving you an idea.
It’s an “annular” eclipse. That means the Moon is so far away right now, it’s only slightly smaller than the sun. It’s why it’s also called a “Ring of Fire” eclipse. No matter where you are, don’t look directly at it. It can damage your eyes.

2. In other space news: The Parker space probe set a new record for fastest object humans have ever made . . . just under 395,000 miles per hour. And a study found we might be able to make roads and landing pads on the Moon by blasting moon dust with giant lasers.

3. In ‘Grammable news: A study found we look thinner in selfies than we do in normal photos. But not more attractive for some reason.

4. In nature news: A study found female frogs play dead to avoid sexual advances from male frogs.

5. In Matrix news: A physicist in the U.K. thinks we’re all living in a virtual reality simulation.

6. And finally, good news for gingers: A study found you’re not weird at all. Scientists discovered the same pigment in fossilized frogs. They say it proves gingers have been found in nature for at least 10 million years.