Stuck in Space, Robot Skin, & a Triple Play

Adam Rogers
June 27, 2024

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Big Stories

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is still stuck in space.

Originally planned as an eight-day mission, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have been on the International Space Station for almost a month due to technical problems with the spacecraft. The exact return date is unknown, as engineers continue to work on the issues.
The Starliner launched on June 5 despite a small helium leak. More leaks and thruster failures occurred during the mission, causing further delays. However, NASA insists that the astronauts are safe and not stranded.
NASA and Boeing are investigating the root cause of the helium leaks and thruster problems. They need to understand these issues fully to ensure a safe return. If necessary, the astronauts could use SpaceX's Dragon capsule to get home.
The situation adds to Boeing's PR nightmare, which has already taken a hit due to several commercial aircraft problems. But, Boeing insists that its commercial airline and rocket division operate separately.

A top government official warned of a coup attempt in Bolivia on Wednesday.

Armored vehicles crashed into the doors of Bolivia’s government palace and President Luis Arce claimed that there were "irregular" deployments of troops in the capital. Video footage showed Arce confronting Army General Commander Juan José Zúñiga in the palace, demanding the withdrawal of soldiers.
General Zúñiga said the Bolivian government needs change. Although he still recognized Arce as the commander-in-chief, two tanks, and soldiers were seen outside the palace. Former President Evo Morales and other officials, including Minister María Nela Prada, called the situation an attempted coup.
Bolivia, with a population of 12 million, has been facing severe economic decline and increasing protests. There is also a significant political rift within the ruling party, the Movement for Socialism (MAS), between President Arce and former President Morales, as they battle for control ahead of the 2025 elections.

The U.S. Supreme Court will allow the White House to request the removal of misinformation on social media.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Biden administration on Wednesday, reversing a lower court's restrictions on government officials communicating with social media companies about content moderation. The court's 6-3 decision said the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to sue. But, they didn’t specify how the government can communicate with social media companies on such matters.
The case stemmed from the Biden administration's attempts to combat false information on COVID-19 vaccines, election interference, and more. Missouri, Louisiana, and some individuals argued that the government coerced social media platforms into censoring content. However, the Supreme Court found that the plaintiffs did not show that the companies' actions were directly caused by government pressure.
Supporters of the decision believe it allows the government to work with private companies on important public issues, such as preventing voting misinformation. Critics, however, fear that the ruling might lead to unchecked government influence over social media and other private entities.

Japanese scientists at Tokyo University have developed a method to graft living skin onto robot faces, enhancing their ability to display realistic smiles and facial expressions. By mimicking human tissue structures, they hope to create lifelike humanoids capable of self-healing and resilient skin that resists tearing. (More)

The CDC issued a health alert about the rising risk of dengue fever in the U.S. There have been 2,241 cases reported this year, including 1,498 in Puerto Rico, where a health emergency was declared in March. Most U.S. cases are travel-related. Last year, there were 3,036 dengue cases in the U.S. and its territories. (More)

Soccer star Alex Morgan will not play in the Olympic Games in Paris this summer. This is the first time since 2008 that Morgan will miss the Olympics, likely marking the end of her Olympic career. Morgan, who turns 35 in July, has been on three U.S. Olympic teams, including the 2012 gold medal squad. She also played in four World Cups, winning twice. (More)

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was sentenced to 45 years in a U.S. prison and fined $8 million in New York on Wednesday. He was found guilty of conspiring with drug traffickers for more than a decade to transport over 400 tons of cocaine to the United States. (More)

Paris Hilton testified before lawmakers on Wednesday about the abuse she endured in youth facilities for troubled teens. She described being denied basic freedoms, force-fed medications, and subjected to sexual abuse and violent restraints. Hilton spoke of how her parents were deceived regarding her treatment and advocated for better protections for children in these programs. (More)

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