Astronomers rethink the structure of the universe | September 26, 2024

Summary

In today's CNN 10, we cover the US's plan to send billions in aid to Ukraine, where the war against Russia continues. Instagram is updating its platform for teen safety, making accounts private by default and requiring parental supervision for certain settings. Astronomers have discovered massive black hole jets, prompting new theories on the universe's structure. Octopuses are found to collaborate with fish in hunting, using physical punishment to enforce cooperation. Lastly, a 12-year-old girl in Utah redesigned a local playground, turning her vision into reality.

Takeaways

• 📱 The US is preparing to send billions in aid to Ukraine to support its ongoing war against Russia, with the Biden Administration looking to commit the remaining funds before the authority expires.
• 📱🏾 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged continued support from the US and other nations, emphasizing the need to uphold the UN Charter and address war crimes.
• 📱🏿 Instagram, owned by Meta, is implementing new safety updates for teen accounts, including making all under-18 accounts private by default and introducing parental supervision features.
• 📱🏻 Teens aged 16 and 17 can change their account settings back, but those aged 13 to 15 require parental consent to alter restrictions, addressing concerns about who can contact them, the content they see, and the time they spend online.
• 📱🏼 The new teen account features on Instagram also include sleep mode, which silences notifications from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and a daily usage limit that requires parental approval to change.
• 📱🏽 The nearest black hole to Earth, Gaia BH1, is approximately 1,000 light years away, and a recent discovery of enormous black hole jets is prompting astronomers to reconsider the structure of the universe.
• 📱🏾 The discovery of massive black hole jets, which are as wide as 140 Milky Way galaxies, could hold answers to questions about the universe's evolution and structure.
• 📱🏿 Octopuses, known for their intelligence and solitary nature, have been observed cooperating with other fish species in hunting groups, even using physical punishment to enforce group dynamics.
• 📱🏻 A 12-year-old from Utah, dissatisfied with a local playground design, took initiative to create her own plans, leading to a community project that resulted in a playground she and her sisters could enjoy.
• 📱🏼 The story of Rosalie Olsen demonstrates the impact one person can have when they take action instead of just complaining, showing that fighting City Hall can sometimes lead to victory.

Q & A

What is the current status of the US aid to Ukraine?

The US is expected to send billions of dollars in aid to support Ukraine's war against Russia. The Biden Administration has nearly $6 billion worth of arms and equipment left to deliver.

What is the deadline for the US administration to commit the remaining aid funds to Ukraine?

The authority to commit the remaining aid funds expires next Monday.

What has been the impact of US funding and equipment on Ukraine's military efforts?

Ukraine has made some offensive gains over the summer largely thanks to the US funding and equipment.

What is the stance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the ongoing conflict?

President Zelensky is calling on the US and other countries to continue supporting Ukraine with aid. He addressed the UN General Assembly, emphasizing the need to uphold the UN Charter and guarantee Ukraine's right to territorial integrity and sovereignty.

What is the plan for the meeting between President Zelensky and President Biden?

President Zelensky is scheduled to meet with President Biden at the White House to discuss his plan for victory, which is likely to include a request for more weapons from the United States.

What changes are coming to teenagers' Instagram accounts according to Meta?

Meta is rolling out a new Teen accounts experience that includes making all teen accounts private by default, among other safety updates.

How will the new Teen Instagram experience affect the account settings for users under 18?

Teens under 18 will have their accounts set to private by default, and those aged 13 to 15 will need parental supervision to make their Instagram settings less restrictive.

What are the three top concerns parents have regarding teens' online safety on Instagram?

Parents' top concerns are who can contact their teens, the content that they're seeing, and the time spent on the platform.

What is the significance of the discovery of the massive black hole jets?

The discovery of enormous black hole jets is causing astronomers to rethink the structure of the universe. These jets are so large that our entire Milky Way galaxy would appear as a tiny dot within them.

What new behavior has been observed in octopuses according to recent research?

Octopuses, typically considered solitary, have been found to seek the company of other fish and even work together with them to hunt. They have also been observed using their tentacles to 'punish' cooperative fish that do not follow the group's hunting strategy.

What did Rosalie Olsen do when she didn't like the design of a local playground?

Rosalie Olsen, a 12-year-old from Utah, sketched out her own designs for a playground that she and her younger sisters would enjoy. She took her concerns and plans to the city, which resulted in a new playground being built according to her vision.

What was the outcome of Rosalie Olsen's initiative to change the playground design?

Rosalie's initiative led to the creation of a new playground that was a collaborative effort between her and the city. The result was a playground that was more suitable and enjoyable for children of various ages.