Link Tank: Bizarrely Hot Exoplanet Potentially Rains Iron

An exoplanet that rains iron, updates on the COVID-19 coronavirus, platonic male affections in First Cow, and more in today's Link Tank!

Illustration of iron rain on an exoplanet
Photo: ESO/M. Kornmesser

Scientists has discovered an exoplanet about 640 light years from Earth with conditions that produce liquid iron rain.

“In the quest to discover an exoplanet that could potentially support life, we have encountered some pretty odd planets. Scientists have observed ocean worlds, planets with more than one Sun, and a coal black planet. But a recent discovery by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) may reign, or rather rain, supreme as the most bizarre, extreme exoplanet ever observed.”

Read more at Inverse.

As the Studio Ghibli movies move to streaming platforms around the world, we now learn that Hayao Miyazaki, one of the greatest film animators alive, apparently doesn’t know what streaming services are.

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“Considering there’s now approximately 70 billion streaming services, I think not knowing about them is the thing I would like to most share in common with Hayao Miyazaki right now, instead of the, you know, incredible artistic and storytelling talent.”

Read more at Gizmodo.

The portrayal of platonic male affection in the Kelly Reichardt film First Cow is a thing to be celebrated.

First Cow opens with lovely poetry from William Blake: “The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship.” The line precedes the film’s opening sequence, where an unnamed woman (Alia Shawkat) and her dog (because what would a Kelly Reichardt production be without a dog?) stumble upon and unearth a pair of human skeletons buried a stone’s throw from a rivershore in modern day Oregon. Blake’s words take on dual meaning: Friendship might be home and hearth for man, but it’s also his tomb.”

Read more at The Week.

The COVID-19 coronavirus is only the latest in a number of deadly viruses. Here are eight other historically terrifying diseases humanity has survived.

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“It seems like a new virus that’s trying to kill us pops up somewhere in the world every other day. While the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other health organizations monitor the new coronavirus, officials continue to announce the rapid spread of new COVID-19 infections and deaths around the world.”

Read more at Mental Floss.

Despite both movies being riddled with plot holes, Avengers: Endgame enjoyed a great reception while Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker didn’t.

“While both Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker were released in 2019, they are both still present topics of conversation in online and fandom spaces. As both of these films and their respective franchises were hugely successful at the box office and have millions of fans, their dramatic climaxes brought up a lot of intense emotions, as well as some controversies.”

Read more at The Mary Sue.

If your business has an active online presence, Google wants you to keep updating it with the latest and most accurate information regarding how you’re adjusting to the coronavirus.

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“In light of the coronavirus outbreak, Google wants businesses to update their Maps profiles to reflect any changes that may impact customers. On a new Support page, Google requests businesses update their opening hours to let customers know vital information, such as whether or not the company is closing early, so they can better plan ahead.”

Read more at PCMag.