In The NEWS

The Sun's Rocky Belt
What are asteroids?
More than 1 million asteroids left over from the early formation of our solar system orbit the sun in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter (explore interactive map). Tens of thousands more orbit outside that belt.

They range in size and composition, from bus-length rocky bodies to metal worlds hundreds of miles in diameter. Researchers study asteroids for lessons on the solar system, their role in the development of life, and their small but dramatic potential to wreak havoc on Earth. Events similar to the Mount Everest-sized asteroid impact that pushed the dinosaurs to extinction are unlikely to happen in the next 250 million years.

The study of asteroids that have landed on Earth—dubbed meteorites—has hinted at their capacity to carry life’s raw ingredients. NASA’s NEO Observations Program has detected nearly 40,000 near-Earth asteroids orbiting within 30 million miles of Earth.

... Read our full explainer on asteroids here.

Also, check out ...
> Why NASA crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid. (More)
> Comparing the impact of varying sizes of asteroid. (More)
> Meet the "Celestial Police," the astronomers who sought asteroids. (More)



Female Founders
What is #girlboss?
The term “girlboss” has taken on a variety of meanings since it was first introduced in 2014. At the time, the word girlboss—first used by entrepreneur Sophia Amoruso as the title of her memoir—was used to describe a career woman who controls her life on her own terms.

After the memoir’s publication and 18 weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers list, the term came to represent a woman who used hustle culture tactics to get ahead in the workforce, becoming just as successful as her male counterparts.

The philosophy found a receptive audience in millennial women, who at the time faced a variety of socioeconomic concerns. During the mid-2010s, this group had recently graduated into the Great Recession’s dismal job market, facing limited wage growth and widespread layoffs.

Many of these budding “girlbosses” went on to start companies that they branded as by women, for women. Today, girlboss is used as an ironic insult or joke rather than a compliment.

... Read our full explainer on the phenomenon here.

Also, check out ...
> The rapid rise and fall of Sophia Amoruso, #girlboss extraordinaire. (More)
> What does millennial pink have to do with the girlboss? (More)
> The original girlboss doesn't use the word. (More)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS