Category Archives: Blog

The Utah Senate voted to approve SB 16, a bill amending current state law to ban gender-affirming surgeries for transgender youth and halt access to forms of hormonal therapy. The state would be the first to do so in 2023, should the bill be signed into law, continuing a year of continued assault against transgender rights.

Despite overwhelming medical evidence that access to gender-affirming procedures is a life-saving resource, state politicians are still debating the efficacy of such health services — it’s a not-so-subtle attack on trans acceptance and an extension of nationwide attacks on bodily autonomy.

Utah governor Spencer Cox told local press that he didn’t have any plans to veto the legislation if it came across his desk, even though he had decried similar legislative moves in the past and was one of two republican legislators to veto a 2022 bill barring young trans athletes from competing in girls’ sports. State senator Daniel Thatcher did speak out against a previous version of the bill, however, noting that “every credible medical organization on the planet says that that is the safest, best, and most appropriate care to save those lives.” 

Earlier this month, the Utah Senate also passed SB 93, a bill barring government officials from issuing gender-amended birth certificates for minors.

With SB 16, these specific forms of surgical and hormonal care are banned only for transgender youth. The provisions would apply to minors who receive a professional medical diagnosis after the bill’s effective date of May 3, 2023. Young people diagnosed prior to that date may still be able to receive gender-affirming care if they meet a list of requirements established by the state, and legislators provide exemptions for minors who are intersex, have experienced early puberty, and are deemed to need treatment for “medically necessary” reasons.

In 2021, Arkansas became the first state to pass a ban on health care for transgender youth, followed by similar legislative moves by more than 20 other states. In 2023, some states have moved to extend their already restrictive laws to non-minor patients, as well. Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Virginia introduced bills that would ban state healthcare providers from treating patients under 21. A second Oklahoma bill, known as the Millstone Act, proposes a ban on gender-affirming care for anyone under 26 years of age — the most restrictive yet.

Nationwide, activists, allies, and other progressive state legislatures are working to codify LGBTQ protections and provide life-saving resources to those most at risk. In the meantime, transgender and gender non-conforming youth must navigate these legislative invasions of their privacy, in an increasingly fraught political environment.

TL;DR: Through Feb. 5, you can get the 2 Million Dollar Puzzle from MSCHF for just $19.99 instead of $30 — that’s a limited-time discount of 34%.

When it comes to fitness, one thing you have to keep in mind is it’s not always just physical. The big hunk of muscle inside your head, a.k.a your brain, needs exercising, too. In fact, it needs regular exercise to work well. In between your nightly doom-scrolling, Netflix binges, and other brain-rotting activities, you should make an effort to keep your mental faculties in check.

Playing Wordle every day is a great start, but a more exciting way to challenge your mind is through completing puzzles. In time for National Puzzle Day, you can score the 2 Million Dollar Puzzle on sale, which not only exercises the brain, but gives you a chance to become an overnight millionaire, too. You can get it for less than Amazon pricing at just $19.99 now through February 5.

The premise of the 2 Million Dollar Puzzle is simple. You receive a jigsaw puzzle composed of 500 pieces, which you can complete on your own or with your friends (you may have to split the prize money with this option, though). The finished puzzle is a technicolored QR code, which you then scan to find out whether you’re an instant millionaire or not.

Two puzzles containing the $1 million grand prize are in circulation, hence the name, but if you don’t end up winning it, you’re still considered a winner. Why? Each puzzle contains a prize between $1 and $1 million. One puzzle has a $500,000 prize, two have $250,000, five have $100,000, 20 have $10,000, 50 have $2,500, 200 have $1,000, 2000 have $100, and the rest have a dollar. You either win, or you win.

Normally, the 2 Million Dollar Puzzle retails for $30, but for a limited time, you can get it on sale for only $19.99. Our celebration of National Puzzle Day ends on February 5, so act fast.

Prices subject to change.

TL;DR: As of Jan. 29, you can get the Toybox 3D Printer Deluxe Bundle for only $299.99 rather than the full price of $469 — that’s a savings of 36%.

Toys aren’t just for the kiddos anymore. Especially in 2023, when Kidults are on the rise. This new consumer group is comprised of adults who enjoy toys as well, and they’re on to something. We could also use a little more fun in our lives, and reconnecting with our inner child with some good old-fashioned playtime works wonders. 

Thanks to technology, you can now just print the toys of your dreams at home with 3D printers. The Toybox 3D Printer, featured on Shark Tank, currently offers a Deluxe Bundle that’s on sale for $299.99, 36% off the usual $469 price tag now through January 30, and there’s no coupon code required.

Make the toys of your childhood dreams right in the comfort of your home with the Toybox 3D Printer. This game-changing invention is easy-to-use and geared toward kids and adults alike. There are two ways to make toys — the first option is to use the companion app and select from a continuously expanding toy catalog. That catalog includes toys from DC Comics, Cartoon Network, Looney Tunes, shows like Friends, Seinfeld, and more. 

The second option for toy-making is designing your very own toy. All you have to do is tap into your imagination, create and upload a design, which means the possibilities are endless. Simple one-touch functionality makes toy creation a breeze, and there’s no knife required to remove prints like in other 3D printers. This bundle also includes eight different colors of non-toxic, biodegradable printer food that can be used to make anywhere from 100 to 300 toys. 

Become your very own toy maker with the Toybox 3D Printer Deluxe Bundle. It’s on sale for $299.99, $170 off the usual price through January 30. 

Prices subject to change.

TL;DR: As of Jan. 29, you can get a lifetime subscription to Stone River eLearning — which gives you access to more than 800 online courses — for just $89.

The recent bout of layoffs at tech companies has rattled a lot of us. Even the biggest companies that seem untouchable, like Google, Microsoft, Netflix, and Spotify, have had to cut jobs after their hiring sprees at the beginning of the pandemic. Per Layoffs.fyi, there were roughly 154,000 layoffs from over 1,000 tech companies last year, and at the start of 2023, more than 55,000 layoffs have been documented. No company is safe, apparently, if even the big guns are doing some shedding on their employees.

Instead of cowering in fear, the best thing you can do for now is to make yourself indispensable at your job, while learning new qualifications and knowledge that could help with your next one, and the easiest way you can do that is by acquiring new skills. A subscription to Stone River can help you with that, and for a limited time, you can get it for just $89.

Learning should never stop, even if you’re way past the schooling age. Through an unlimited lifetime subscription to Stone River, you get full and immediate access to more than 800 courses and 4,800 hours of online learning, all of which cover today’s most in-demand skills, including iOS mobile development, web and mobile programming, web design, game app creation, 3D animation, graphic design, and more

On top of classes, you also get to enjoy VIP perks, including unlimited e-books, personal guidance on what to learn depending on what industry you belong to, and for an added fee, you even get to receive certification exams on the courses you’ve taken. 

A lifetime subscription to Stone River empowers you to beef up your skill set and advance in your career without breaking the bank. Take advantage of this sale and get it for only $89 for a limited time.

Prices subject to change.

TL;DR: As of Jan. 29, the WonderCube Pro All-in-One Mobile Keyring is on sale for $39.95 — that’s a 42% discount from its usual $70 MSRP.

The person who said that good things come in small packages has a point. A piece of chocolate, a snowflake, your tiny baby kitten. All these things are the epitome of cuteness and goodness, that’s why we learn to grow fond of them. Apparently, the human brain was designed to recognize tiny things as objects that bring happiness.

Another happiness-inducing thing? The WonderCube Pro. This tiny but mighty device may look like a futuristic piece of dice, but it’s actually a smart all-in-one solution that performs eight separate functions. For a limited time, you can get it on sale for 42% off.

The WonderCube Pro ends your perpetual dilemma of having to carry dongles and other mobile accessories when you’re out and about. Sure, it’s small, but it features a one-inch foldout flexible USB cord that extends to three inches, as well as a built-in gold-plated connector that delivers a quick charge. Compatible with all Android and Apple devices, it can pretty much charge any smartphone.

With a micro-suction cup, you can attach or detach it on the phone’s back panel for the best viewing angle, so you can also use it as a stand. It also comes with a built-in microSD card reader that supports up to 128GB of memory. 

But wait, there’s more. The Wondercube Pro packs an LED torch, so it doubles as a backup flashlight in case your phone’s light runs kaput. Run out of battery? Simply grab a 9V battery to deliver a significant boost to your phone and enjoy up to 2 to 3 hours of talk time.

Good things come in small packages, indeed. The WonderCube Pro All-in-One Mobile Keyring normally retails for $70, but for a limited time, you can grab this nifty device for only $39.95.

Prices subject to change.

You made it! It’s Sunday, it’s Wordle time, and that means we’re here to help, as always.

The bottom of this article features January 29’s Wordle solution. If that’s not why you’re here, scroll down and see what’s on offer here, from clues, to strategies. You’ll find what you need.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans have even sprung up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the Wordle answer for January 28.

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

The goal of Wordle is to have fun, and there’s no right way to have fun. Just choose whatever starting word feels right to you, and don’t let anyone shame you for it. However, if you want to take a more strategic approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that will spark joy. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordles used to be available for anyone to play in glorious days gone by. Unfortunately it has since been taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It may feel as though Wordle is getting harder, but we can assure you it isn’t. Conversely, if you’re finding it too easy, you can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode.

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

Occasionally the Wordle gods will accept two different answers on a single day, defying the accepted norm of one correct solution per day. This anomaly is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.

The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it’s a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.

Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:

Something’s…not quite right.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

Not today.

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that ends with…

Today’s Wordle ends with the letter Y.

What’s the answer to Wordle today?

If you want to guess today’s Wordle yourself, now’s the time to do so! 

Is your answer locked in?

The solution to Wordle #589 is…

FISHY.

Don’t be sad if you didn’t get it this time — we still have many more Wordle puzzles ahead of us. Come back tomorrow for more helpful clues and hints!

As the video of the brutal police beating of Tyre Nichols by Memphis police continues to circulate online, many are feeling a range of emotions, from anger and sadness to frustration and fear. The tragic incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice, with protests breaking out in major cities across America in the aftermath of bodycam and surveillance footage being released to the public by the Memphis Police Department.

While it is important to stay informed, and engage with issues of police brutality and racial injustice, it is also crucial to take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from the emotional stress that can come from consuming too much news and social media.

Nichols, 29, was brutally beaten by five Memphis police officers during a traffic stop on Jan. 7, just minutes away from his home where he stayed with his mother and step-father. Nichols would pass away three days later after succumbing to his injuries. The officers responsible for Nichols’ death have been fired and indicted on charges that include second-degree murder, kidnapping, and assault.

Video from the bodycam footage taken by Memphis police on Jan. 29 may seem unavoidable online, and the surrounding discussion both justifying and condemning the actions of the police officers may be ubiquitous as well. While some may feel duty-bound to be updated about the protests and discourse online revolving around Nichols’ death, psychologists say that the best approach for one’s mental health might involve setting limits and possibly just…not watching the video at all.

Social media limits

To be quite honest, the discussion about Nichols’ death is enough to make one physically sick. Whether due to gut-wrenching testimonials by those closest to Nichols, a loving father of a 4-year-old boy, or hot takes from conservative news pundits victim-blaming a dead man for his own murder, this story is making Twitter and other social media apps really toxic right now.

In an article for Healthline, E. Alison Holman, a professor at the Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing at the University of California, Irvine, says that “being too wrapped up in bad news can be problematic because it’s associated with a greater chance of reporting acute stress symptoms.”

To keep balance in one’s social media scrolling, Holman recommends limiting news consumption to once or twice a day from reputable sources or turning off the news altogether. Consider setting a specific time each day to check for updates, rather than constantly scrolling through your feeds. Sites like Twitter and Instagram allow users to mute or unfollow accounts that are causing them stress. Better yet, you can mute posts by keywords so nothing can slip past the filter.

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Tonya C. Hansel, a doctorate of social work program director at Tulane University agrees with Holman in the Healthline article, suggesting that one should avoid consuming news before bed as it can cause anxiety, thus giving rise to sleep problems that will make your stress and anxiety even worse. Hansel also recommends avoiding news with sensational headlines and being diligent with headlines to find news that’s important to read rather than just consuming any and everything you can find.

Avoiding racial trauma

For Black Americans, the killing of Nichols is a tragic reminder of a systemic police brutality problem in the country. As the footage continues to circulate online, experts urge Black Americans to take care of their emotional well-being in the wake of the tragedy and the ongoing protests around the nation. More specifically that it’s OK to not watch the video at all.

Dr. Monnica Williams, a clinical psychologist and expert on racial trauma, law enforcement, and community trauma, spoke with CNN stating that the Black community is outraged enough without having to sear graphic images into their minds.

“We can read a description of the events. We live in a violent culture, and serving around these clips as entertainment only really makes us more violent,” Williams told CNN. “You have to think about the toll that this takes on your humanity. I really discourage it, because I don’t think that this really gives dignity to the person who is deceased.”

Yolo Akili Robinson, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Black Emotional And Mental Health Collective, spoke with Mashable in 2021 in the aftermath of the Daunte Wright police killing, of the restless nights and anger he observed in his friends and colleagues. “Police killings create a culture of shame, trauma and anxiety,” Robinson said.

He added that “murals and memorials dedicated to those victims become an everyday reminder that those deaths ‘were never deemed worthy of justice.'”

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The American Psychological Association states that the “experiences of racism against people of color build on each other and over time, can chip away at one’s emotional, physical, and spiritual resources.” As Mashable’s Rebecca Ruiz writes, “The concept of racial trauma, or race-based stress, is decades old but has emerged as a mainstream idea […] since George Floyd’s death.” Symptoms are similar to post-traumatic stress disorder, causing many to suffer from hyper-vigilance, increased heart rate, higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, disrupted sleep, and irritable bowel syndrome.

It’s important to note, that Black Americans (myself included) have the right to feel the full range of emotions in response to racial trauma and police brutality, and you should not be made to feel guilty or ashamed for feeling the way you do.

“To learn about and name racial trauma at this moment in American history is to understand that countless people of color have long been denied their basic dignity and human rights and have paid, at the very least, with their mental health,” Ruiz writes.

And while the solution to combatting racial trauma is a complex and arduous task, there are things we can do in the here and now, to protect ourselves as we deal with the fallout of the death of another innocent Black man. It can start in small ways in your own personal life by limiting social media and news consumption as stated earlier or by reaching out for support from a loved one or a licensed professional.

It’s important that we take the time to process our emotions, support our own emotional health, and come together as a community to support each other. The family of Tyre Nichols has created a GoFundMe to raise funds for his memorial services. Additionally, the funds provide mental health assistance to the Nichols family as they deal with the aftermath of losing their loved one. As of this writing, the fundraiser has surpassed its original $500,000 goal, and donations continue to pour in.

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If you’re feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988; the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860; or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text “START” to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don’t like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a list of international resources.

Just a few years after awarding Best Picture to the wrong movie, we might see a surprise nomination get revoked before the Oscars air on March 12.

When the Academy Awards nominations were announced last week, one of the more shocking revelations was that Andrea Riseborough had been nominated for her role in To Leslie. If you haven’t heard of To Leslie, don’t worry; the film garnered less than $30,000 at the box office. It’s a small independent production about a single mother who wins the lottery, and many big Hollywood names like Edward Norton and Kate Winslet publicly endorsed the film in a grassroots campaign during the Oscars voting period.

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That’s all well and good, right? After all, box office success has nothing to do with the quality of a film or the performances therein. However, according to the Academy, something might be awry about the whole situation. Per Deadline, the organization released a statement announcing a review of the nomination process on Friday. It didn’t name Riseborough or To Leslie directly, but everyone seems to agree that’s what the statement is about:

It is the Academy’s goal to ensure that the Awards competition is conducted in a fair and ethical manner, and we are committed to ensuring an inclusive awards process.

We are conducting a review of the campaign procedures around this year’s nominees, to ensure that no guidelines were violated, and to inform us whether changes to the guidelines may be needed in a new era of social media and digital communication.

We have confidence in the integrity of our nomination and voting procedures, and support genuine grassroots campaigns for outstanding performances.

It’s unclear what, if any, rules have been broken here. The Academy has a long list of guidelines for the nomination process, but that doesn’t provide a smoking gun. Per Vanity Fair, some Academy voters were contacted with the suggestion that they watch the movie and support it online, which could theoretically breach the Academy’s lobbying rules.

For reference, Academy Awards nominations can be revoked, but it’s rare. The handful of times it’s happened have usually involved something like the film premiering on TV before it was in theaters, or a film coming out in the wrong year. Most relevant to To Leslie‘s case is that a Best Original Song nomination was revoked in 2014 because songwriter Bruce Broughton had emailed Academy members during the voting period.

The Academy will meet on Tuesday, but Vanity Fair also reported that a rescinded nomination is unlikely.

Aside from the surprising nature by which To Leslie found its way into Oscars history, there are other angles to the controversy. As pointed out in the Vanity Fair report, Riseborough (who is white) got nominated while Black actresses in higher-profile roles like Viola Davis in The Woman King or Danielle Deadwyler in Till were left out. For an institution with a notable history of snubbing Black women in particular, it’s easy to see why some would not be happy about Riseborough’s nomination from that perspective.

Some people could also feel that To Leslie is being unfairly punished for the crime of not being mainstream enough. It’s receiving a level of scrutiny that bigger films haven’t had to worry about, even though there’s a long, well-reported history of movie studios engaging in backroom politicking during awards season.

Regardless of where you land on To Leslie‘s nomination, at least those who care more about Oscars drama than the actual awards have something to care about again this year.

Well, that’s one way to do things.

According to a report from The Information, Apple’s upcoming mixed reality headset could have a truly funky method for designing user-created apps. Put simply, users may be able to speak animated AR objects (like animals) and other elements into existence using Siri. This apparently might also include the ability to scan 3D objects using an iPhone to turn them into AR models.

The Information also reported that users may be able to upload their created apps to the App Store. This would, obviously, negate or at least substantially reduce the need for someone to know how to code in order to make something for Apple’s long-rumored headset. It’d be a pretty significant leap forward for XR development, in theory, but its actual implementation could end up being simplistic or restrictive compared to real coding.

That said, it’d give people who buy the headset (said to be priced at around $3,000) something to do with it. The device, which has been dubbed “Reality Pro” in previous reporting, may be aimed more at developers than the common consumer. Apple is said to be working on a second, cheaper headset for a later release, but that one could still ring up a $1,500 price tag whenever it comes out.

Regardless, it may be fun to ask Siri to generate a giant dog or something, if this ever comes to pass.

Our solar system is teeming with space rocks.

Fortunately, NASA and other agencies closely track asteroids passing through Earth’s cosmic neighborhood, discover hundreds more each year, and haven’t found any that might potentially threaten our planet in the next 100 years or so.

On Jan. 26, a small asteroid (“about the size of a box truck,” NASA said) passed just 2,200 miles from Earth. Because it’s so small, the rock, dubbed “2023 BU,” was only found by an amateur astronomer on Jan. 21, when it journeyed nearby. It was never a threat. Even if it hit Earth, it would “largely disintegrate harmlessly in the atmosphere,” NASA explained.

Here’s what you need to know about Asteroid 2023 BU (which passed over the southern tip of South America) and other near-Earth asteroids:

1. NASA did not issue a warning about Asteroid 2023 BU

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which runs the agency’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies, keeps track of the asteroids that pass relatively close to Earth, though many of these rocks pass millions of miles away, because space is vast. Technically, a near-Earth object (NEO) is one that passes within some 30 million miles of our planet’s orbit around the sun.

2023 BU, then, easily qualifies as a near-Earth object. But because it wasn’t ever a threat — it had no chance of hitting Earth and was too small to be a danger — NASA and other U.S. agencies didn’t issue a warning about it. You may have read sensational headlines claiming “NASA warns asteroid will pass close to Earth,” but that’s simply wrong. A warning would be a serious escalation, implying a threat.

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“We have never actually issued a warning,” NASA’s Planetary Defense Officer, Lindley Johnson, told Mashable in 2021. If it turns out a rock larger than 30 feet wide has greater than a one percent chance of hitting Earth, NASA will give an official warning to the White House and other government leaders, who will then assess the situation and inform the public about any potential strike.

In this case, NASA released some brief information on 2023 BE and how it was detected. Indeed, it’s an interesting little event. “In fact, this is one of the closest approaches by a known near-Earth object ever recorded,” NASA engineer Davide Farnocchia said in a statement.

2. Asteroids aren’t often a threat to Earth

Generally, the bigger the asteroid, the larger the threat it poses to Earth.

The rock that likely wiped out the dinosaurs is in the biggest class of asteroids, meaning over 0.6 miles wide. The dino rock was a roughly six-mile-wide behemoth. But these are exceedingly rare visitors. As Mashable reported last year:

• No known asteroid over 460 feet across will threaten Earth in the next century or so (a rock some 460 feet across is an asteroid big enough to cause substantial devastation).

• Impacts by objects around 460 feet in diameter occur every 10,000 to 20,000 years.

• “Dinosaur-killing” impacts from rocks perhaps a half-mile across or larger happen on 100-million-year timescales.

Importantly, asteroids smaller than 460 feet can still be a huge threat. Even an asteroid some 100 to 170 feet across could destroy a place like Kansas City, home to half a million people. So the surveys for rocks large and “small” are vital.

A NASA graphic showing known asteroids (blue dots) in our solar system.
Credit: NASA

3. Astronomers watch for potentially dangerous asteroids

Large, specialized telescopes are devoted to finding new near-Earth asteroids. Taxpayer money is involved in this: NASA has a congressionally-directed mandate to find 90 percent of all space rocks 460 feet wide or larger.

• Pan-STARRS: The Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System atop Maui is comprised of two telescopes peering up at the sky and looking for unusual movement. With its keen eyesight, Pan-STARRS found 253 of the 456 near-Earth asteroids larger than 460 feet wide discovered in 2021, and has been a leader in these detections for the past decade.

• Catalina Sky Survey: This survey’s three telescopes are located in Arizona’s Santa Catalina Mountains. While Pan-STARRS tends to find more NEOs larger than 460 feet wide (or 140 meters), Catalina tends to find a bit more NEOs overall. That’s good, because something under 140 meters is still quite capable of devastation.

• ATLAS: The Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System acts like a huge floodlight looking closely around Earth. It’s comprised of three telescopes: one in Hawaii, one in Chile, and one in South Africa that can scan the entire sky each night. They can spot something around 65 feet across a few days out.

So far, astronomers have found about 40 percent of the rocks 460 feet across or bigger, with hundreds more being found each year. Meanwhile, they’ve identified an estimated 95 percent of the largest “planet-killer” asteroids.

A chart showing how many near-Earth asteroids have been discovered, so far.
Credit: NASA

Importantly, some smaller asteroids will inevitably slip through the survey cracks. That’s why other astronomical sleuths are so valuable. The amateur astronomer Gennadiy Borisov found 2023 BU, informed other astronomers, and it was reported to an international organization that tracks such objects, called the Minor Planet Center. A few days later, NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies confirmed the asteroid and its trajectory.

So when you hear about an asteroid “heading towards Earth,” remember that it’s likely not a threat (asteroids regularly come within millions of miles of Earth), experts are vigilantly watching the skies, and if something big should actually threaten Earth, space agencies like NASA will be around to provide coherent information about where it’s going (likely the expansive ocean) and what you need to do (usually nothing).

Enjoy the skies. Yes, have a healthy respect for the big space rocks orbiting the sun. But if you see a warning on the internet about an incoming asteroid, carry a strong dose of skepticism.

This story has been updated with addition information about Asteroid 2023 BU.