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The Conversation USA

The Conversation USA

Solar eclipses result from a fantastic celestial coincidence of scale and distance

  • Written by Christopher Palma, Teaching Professor, Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Penn State
imageSolar eclipses happen because of a few factors, including the Moon's size and distance from the Sun. AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley

On April 8, 2024, millions across the U.S. will have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to view a total solar eclipse. Cities including Austin, Texas; Buffalo, New York; and Cleveland, Ohio, will have a direct view of this rare...

Read more: Solar eclipses result from a fantastic celestial coincidence of scale and distance

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  1. Total solar eclipses, while stunning, can damage your eyes if viewed without the right protection
  2. Climate change matters to more and more people – and could be a deciding factor in the 2024 election
  3. Pennsylvania overhauled its sentencing guidelines to be more fair and consistent − but racial disparities may not disappear so soon
  4. 3 things to watch for in Russia’s presidential election – other than Putin’s win, that is
  5. Solar power occupies a lot of space – here’s how to make it more ecologically beneficial to the land it sits on
  6. Growing secrecy limits government accountability
  7. Yes, sexism among Republican voters helped sink Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign
  8. What is the Japanese ‘wabi-sabi’ aesthetic actually about? ‘Miserable tea’ and loneliness, for starters
  9. Salty foods are making people sick − in part by poisoning their microbiomes
  10. NASA’s search for life on Mars: a rocky road for its rovers, a long slog for scientists – and back on Earth, a battle of the budget
  11. National parks teach students about environmental issues in this course
  12. US attempt to ‘revitalize’ Palestinian Authority risks making the PA less legitimate, more unpopular
  13. In Kyrgyzstan, creeping authoritarianism rubs up against proud tradition of people power
  14. Chinese migration to US is nothing new – but the reasons for recent surge at Southern border are
  15. Vaccine-skeptical mothers say bad health care experiences made them distrust the medical system
  16. Are private conversations truly private? A cybersecurity expert explains how end-to-end encryption protects you
  17. Should people suffering from mental illness be eligible for medically assisted death? Canada plans to legalize that in 2027 – a philosopher explains the core questions
  18. Why do trees need sunlight? An environmental scientist explains photosynthesis
  19. Ancient Rome successfully fought against voter intimidation − a political story told on a coin that resonates today
  20. Ramadan will be difficult for those in Gaza or other war zones – what does fasting mean for those who might be already starving?
  21. I’m a political scientist, and the Alabama Supreme Court’s IVF ruling turned me into a reproductive-rights refugee
  22. Is the National Guard a solution to school violence?
  23. How ‘hometown associations’ help immigrants support their communities in the US and back in their homelands
  24. The failures of ‘Oppenheimer’ and the ascent of the foreign film – 6 essential reads for the Oscars
  25. Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill, will be on shelves soon − here are some key things to know
  26. April’s eclipse will mean interruptions in solar power generation, which could strain electrical grids
  27. Teenagers often know when their parents are having money problems − and that knowledge is linked to mental health challenges, new research finds
  28. Asthma meds have become shockingly unaffordable − but relief may be on the way
  29. Immune cells can adapt to invading pathogens, deciding whether to fight now or prepare for the next battle
  30. What families need to know about how to safely store firearms at home
  31. UAW’s Southern strategy: Union revs up drive to get workers employed by foreign automakers to join its ranks
  32. Rare access to hammerhead shark embryos reveals secrets of its unique head development
  33. Centuries after Christine de Pizan wrote a book railing against misogyny, Taylor Swift is building her own ‘City of Ladies’
  34. Despite its big night at the Oscars, ‘Oppenheimer’ is a disappointment and a lost opportunity
  35. Biden defends immigration policy during State of the Union, blaming Republicans in Congress for refusing to act
  36. Detroiters more likely to support local solar power development if they think it reduces energy prices for their community
  37. Femicide in Italy: A modern phenomenon deeply rooted in country’s cultural past
  38. What is a frozen embryo worth? Alabama’s IVF case reflects bigger questions over grieving and wrongful death laws
  39. A Barbie dollhouse and a field trip led me to become an architect − now I lead a program that teaches architecture to mostly young women in South Central Los Angeles
  40. I watched Hungary’s democracy dissolve into authoritarianism as a member of parliament − and I see troubling parallels in Trumpism and its appeal to workers
  41. Titanosaurs were the biggest land animals Earth’s ever seen − these plant-powered dinos combined reptile and mammal traits
  42. High-energy laser weapons: A defense expert explains how they work and what they are used for
  43. Cherry blossoms – celebrated in Japan for centuries and gifted to Americans – are an appreciation of impermanence and spring
  44. How Florida’s home insurance market became so dysfunctional, so fast
  45. SEC approves first US climate disclosure rules: Why the requirements are much weaker than planned and what they mean for companies
  46. Sharks, turtles and other sea creatures face greater risk from industrial fishing than previously thought − we estimated added pressure from ‘dark’ fishing vessels
  47. Emotion-tracking AI on the job: Workers fear being watched – and misunderstood
  48. Oppenheimer feared nuclear annihilation – and only a chance pause by a Soviet submariner kept it from happening in 1962
  49. The Black history knowledge gap is widening – and GOP politicians are making it worse
  50. President Yoon is lauded in West for embracing Japan − in South Korea it fits a conservative agenda that is proving less popular