What you’re looking at here is Apep, a trio of stars with distinct shells of dust swirling around them. This image was taken by our James Webb Space Telescope, and is the crispest view we have of the star system to date.
Named for the Egyptian god of chaos, the stars in this system are anything but peaceful and tranquil. Two of the three stars are part of a rare class of massive, evolved, luminous stars. That pair creates the shells as they orbit each other, flinging out dust at up to 2,000 miles per second. The third star is a massive supergiant with a much wider orbit, and the shock of its solar wind slices holes in these shells.
Before now, scientists had only been able to see one shell around Apep, despite hypothesizing the presence of more. But with the help of Webb’s keen eye, we have confirmed that Apep is layered like a cosmic onion, with four distinct shells now visible.
Learn more about Apep and see an animated visualization of the shells here.
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The Mascots in the Running to Fly around the Moon!
Earlier this year, the Moon Mascot design contest challenged people of all ages from all over the world to contribute ideas for the zero gravity indicator for the Artemis II mission. This plush item serves a very important purpose — it indicates when the astronauts have reached space by floating around the spacecraft! The zero gravity indicator also reminds the astronauts of Earth when they are far from home.
The Moon Mascot design contest received thousands of entries from over 50 countries — but only 25 are entering the finalist round.
“Rise” | Lucas Ye from Mountain View, California
“Rise” has a soft round body that resembles the Moon and wears a baseball cap that represents Earth. This design is inspired by the “Earthrise” photo captured in 1968 by the Apollo 8 crew.
“Zappy Zebra” | Kenan Ziyan from Canyon, Texas
“Zappy Zebra” is a zebra wearing a spacesuit. This design is inspired by the long and dangerous migratory patterns of zebras. Just as zebras work together as a herd to navigate difficult terrain, the Artemis II crew will work together as a team to explore around the Moon.
“Luna the Space Polar Bear” | Royal School from Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada
“Luna the Space Polar Bear” is a polar bear wearing a spacesuit and an astronaut helmet. This design is inspired by how polar bears adapt to extreme cold environments, similarly to how spacesuits protect astronauts from the extreme environment of space.
“Team GarCo” | Garden County Schools from Oshkosh, Nebraska
“Team GarCo” is a mixture between an amphibious creature and a dog, demonstrating that the unknown does not have to be scary. This design is inspired by the ocean, which many people have to overcome fear to experience.
“Parsec — The Bird That Flew to the Moon” | Richellea Quinn Wijaya from Singapore
“Parsec — The Bird That Flew to the Moon” is a bird that has built himself mechanical wings for the purpose of exploring space and the Moon. This design is inspired by the challenge of lunar exploration, which can be overcome by the power of invention.
“Big Steps of Little Octopus” | Anzhelika Iudakova from Finland
“Big Steps of Little Octopus” is an Earth-colored octopus wearing an astronaut helmet and holding the Moon and the planets of our solar system. This design is inspired by the intelligence and dexterity of the octopus, operating as one sole creature despite having many tentacles.
“Astra-Jelly” | Congressional School from Falls Church, Virginia
“Astra-Jelly” is a jellyfish with stars on the end of each tentacle. The Sun and the Moon can be seen on the hood. This design is inspired by the awe felt by astronauts who observe the Moon, the Sun, and the stars.
“Harper, Chloe, and Mateo’s ZGI” | Congressional School from Falls Church, Virginia
“Harper, Chloe, and Mateo’s ZGI” is a deer decorated with constellations and phases of the Moon. This design is inspired by the Greek goddess Artemis. The moon phases and stars represent space exploration.
“Artemis” | Alexa Pacholyk from Madison, Connecticut
“Artemis” is a plush depiction of the Greek goddess — and mission’s namesake — Artemis. This design is inspired by humanity’s curiosity, a love for mythology, and the continued quest for discovery.
“Beeatrice” | Leila Fleury from Rancho Palos Verdes, California
“Beeatrice” is a bee wearing a spacesuit with openings for her wings. This design is inspired by how bees work together as a hive and the positivity of space travel. Beeatrice symbolizes hard work, the intricacies of space, and the delicate nature of exploration.
“Lepus the Moon Rabbit” | Oakville Trafalgar School from Oakville, Canada
“Lepus the Moon Rabbit” is a bunny with markings that look like the Moon’s craters. This design is inspired by humanity’s shared fascination with the Moon across time and cultures. Lepus’ balloon symbolizes how precious Earth is in the vastness of space.
“Sal the Salmon” | Avon High School from Avon, Connecticut
“Sal the Salmon” is a salmon that is detailed to imitate parts of a spaceship. This design is inspired by the cyclical journey of the salmon traveling to and from saltwater and freshwater environments.
“Corey the Explorer” | Daniela Colina from Lima, Peru
“Corey the Explorer” is a plush characterization of human DNA. This design is inspired by all people on Earth and our shared origins with the stars. Corey represents humanity’s curiosity, courage, and connections through our similar makeup with the cosmos.
“Flying squirrel ready for its take off to space!” | Caroline Goyer-Desrosiers from St. Eustache, Canada
“Flying squirrel ready for its take off to space!” is a squirrel wearing an astronaut helmet and decorated with a design intended to symbolize the trajectory of the Artemis II mission. This design is a tribute to the designer’s grandmother and inspired by how space exploration brings together different generations.
“Art & The Giant” | Giulia Bona from Berlin, Germany
“Art & The Giant” is an astronaut sitting on the shoulder of a mythological giant named Orion. This design is inspired by the phrase “standing on the shoulders of giants” and the mythology of Artemis and Orion.
“Lunar Crust-acean" | Tabitha Ramsey from Frederick, Maryland
“Lunar Crust-acean" is a crab with markings on its carapace in the shape of the craters on the Moon. This design is inspired by crabs and what they symbolize in different cultures, including rebirth, protection, and hope.
“Celestial Griffin” | Gabriela Hadas from Plano, Texas
“Celestial Griffin” is a griffin (a half-eagle and half-lion creature) with various characteristics relating to the stars and the Moon. This design is inspired by the bravery, valor, and strength of the Artemis II astronauts.
“Soluna Flier” | Savon Blanchard from Pearland, Texas
“Soluna Flier” is a moth-butterfly hybrid: luna moth on one side and a monarch butterfly on the other side. This design is inspired by the Apollo and Artemis missions and their namesakes: Apollo, god of the Sun, and Artemis, goddess of the Moon.
“MORU: A Cloud Aglow with Moonlight and Hope” | Ayako Moriyama from Kyoto, Japan
“MORU: A Cloud Aglow with Moonlight and Hope” is a cloud fairy. This design is inspired by humanity’s collective hopes and endless drive to explore. MORU stands for “Morph + More of You.”
“Creation Mythos” | Johanna Beck from McPherson, Kansas
“Creation Mythos” is a turtle with an Earth design on its top shell and a Moon design on its bottom shell. This design is inspired by creation myths about Earth riding on the back of a turtle and celebrates both Earth and the Moon.
“Space Mola-mola (aka Moon Fish)” | Guillaume Truong from Toulouse, France
“Space Mola-mola (aka Moon Fish) plushie” is a moonfish decorated with the Orion and Scorpius constellations. This design is inspired by humanity’s bond with Earth’s oceans and space.
“Terra the Titanosaurus” | Arianna Robins from Rockledge, Florida
“Terra the Titanosaurus” is an herbivorous dinosaur wearing a spacesuit and a “Moonpack” to collect Moon rocks. Terra’s spacesuit is inspired by the Artemis II astronauts’ spacesuits. The colors of the “air sacs” on Terra’s neck represent Earth, the Moon, and Mars.
“MISI: Guardian of the Journey” | Sandy Moya from Madrid, Colombia
“MISI: Guardian of the Journey” is a humanoid character with a butterfly shaped jacket. This design is inspired by the hope and care behind humanity’s missions to space. Misi’s feminine features are a tribute to the Greek goddess Artemis.
“Mona the Moon Moth” | Bekah Crowmer from Mooresville, Indiana
“Mona the Moon Moth” is a luna moth hugging a Moon. This design is inspired by the connection between the Earth and the Moon.
“Past, Present, and Future” | Courtney John from Llanelli, Wales
“Past, Present, and Future” consists of three humanoid plushies holding hands in a circle. This design is inspired by the past, present, and future crewed missions to the Moon. The three plushies are joined together to represent unity.
The Artemis II astronauts will select a flight design from the finalists. Then, the zero gravity indicator will be fabricated by the Thermal Blanket Lab and prepared for its mission around the Moon!
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Siriraj x MIT Hacking Medicine is a regional health innovation hackathon bringing together doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, and designers
⚠️This article contains content in English and Thai. บทความนี้มีเนื้อหาเป็นภาษาอังกฤษและภาษาไทย
[EN/TH] American Business Ownership in Thailand: Navigating the Treaty of Amity and 2025 Foreign Business Act Reforms
Looking to set up a business in Thailand as an American? You might have heard about the U.S.-Thai Treaty of Amity, which allows for 100% ownership.
It's a powerful tool, but true success lies in understanding the finer details beyond the legal framework.
I recently put together a comprehensive guide on this topic. Here are some of the critical points I explored:
- Beyond Legal Ownership: While the treaty grants 100% ownership, it does not exempt you from Thai tax, labor, or social security laws. Operational compliance is non-negotiable.
- Strategic Partnerships Matter: Legal ownership is one thing, but local insights are invaluable. Many successful foreign entrepreneurs still collaborate with local advisors to navigate the market effectively.
- Planning is Everything: The Certificate of Recognition process is not instant. It requires thorough due diligence and can take several months, so proactive planning is essential.
This is a great starting point, but every business is unique. I highly recommend consulting with a qualified legal professional in Thailand to ensure your venture is structured for success.
What has been your experience with foreign business ownership in Thailand or elsewhere?
India offers a rare convergence of digital infrastructure, youthful innovation, and powerful policy momentum — a fertile ground for Thai startups seeking global impact.
"Ling Cage 2"EP9：Fallen Embers【Original/Fight/Science Fiction | Made By ...
This episode is a masterclass in power dynamics. A hero confronts the commander who betrayed him, but the final choice isn't about vengeance—it’s about a surprising, mature resolution. A must-watch for a new perspective on leadership and conflict.
How did you go bankrupt?” Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.” Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises Every disruptive technology since the fire and the wheel have forced leaders to adapt or di…
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