LIGO, False Memories, and Self-Driving Cars: NOVA Next Week in Review

This Week’s NOVA Next Feature

Upgrades to the observatory sharpened its hearing, allowing scientists to detect the waves after just 16 days. NOVA Next contributor Kate Becker reports the story.

In other news:

• Gravitational waves found in 1.3 billion-year-old black hole collision. [Bonus: we thought we found gravitational waves before.]
• Here’s what image overload is doing to your brain.
• What’s the physics behind texting ?
• Studying periods is important for everyone’s health (not just people with a uterus). Watch this special “not gross” edition of Gross Science.
• The bacteria that help bears hibernate could help cancer patients.
• Google’s self-driving car may soon be considered a legal driver.
• Researchers found that one-third of all teachers believe that climate change “is likely due to natural causes.”
• What if you could not only record memories, but replace them , too?
• She’s able to convince people that they committed a crime—even if they didn’t. Read our AMA with Dr. Julia Shaw, memory scientist and criminal psychologist.

What We’re Reading

• LIGO is “a testament to the persistent curiosity and ingenuity of humankind.” [The New York Times]
• The answer to the “final parsec problem” could change our understanding of how the universe became so elaborate . [Nautilus Magazine]
• How did Zika spread so quickly? Check out this interactive map documenting its trajectory. [FRONTLINE]
• Natural history museums are teeming with undiscovered species . [The Atlantic]