Weekly* Spark, 6/23/23

This week, we read about Quantum computers, rainbow capitalism, and how Reddit has uplifted community discussions for many living within the tight grip of China’s regulated internet. Plus: bees who brew, alien life, and cute murmuration. That and more, in this week’s Spark.

With curiosity,??

The ThinkShout Team

1. Qubits and more.?

“Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said it was his company’s goal ‘to compress the next 250 years of chemistry and materials science into the next 25.’” [The Independent]

2. Digital evidence against war crimes.

As immersive digital evidence is leveraged in international criminal trials, conversations arise around its ethics. [The Intercept]

3. In alien news.

Saturn's moon, Enceladus, might just have all the right ingredients to sustain some form of life. [The Washington Post]

4. Candidate for strangest headline of 2023:

‘Polyester bees’ brew beer-scented baby food in plastic cribs. [Science News]

5. Rainbow capitalism.?

“I can’t trust wavering support. Just like I can’t turn off being a brown man, I can’t turn off being queer. I don’t want to turn off either one! They’re a part of how the world sees me. I can’t step away from being either one like brands can step away from their support of me.” [Be the Future]

6. R/China_irl.??

For many people living in China, Reddit has become a community-moderated refuge for open discussions–even though it’s only accessible in-country through VPNs. [Rest of World]

7. Corner of joy.

Murmuration + hedgehog. [Twitter]