The first spectacular images taken by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory have been released for the world to peruse: a panoply of iridescent galaxies and shimmering nebulas.

Much has been written about the observatory’s grand promise: to revolutionize our understanding of the cosmos by revealing a once-hidden population of far-flung galaxies, erupting stars, interstellar objects, and elusive planets. And thanks to its unparalleled technical prowess, few doubted its ability to make good on that. But over the past decade, during its lengthy construction period, everything’s been in the abstract.

Today, that promise has become a staggeringly beautiful reality. Read the full story.

—Robin George Andrews

Back in January, we selected the Vera C. Rubin Observatory as one of our 10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2025. Read more about why it’s such a promising tool for enhancing our understanding of the universe.

Why we need to think differently about privacy

Privacy only matters to those with something to hide. So goes one of the more inane and disingenuous justifications for mass government and corporate surveillance. It remains a popular way to rationalize or excuse what’s become standard practice in our digital age: the widespread and invasive collection of vast amounts of personal data.

One common response to this line of reasoning is that everyone, in fact, has something to hide, whether they realize it or not. If you’re unsure of whether this holds true for you, three new books examine the rise of the surveillance state, its infiltration of higher education, and why we need a new framework for thinking about privacy. Read the full story.