Analysis: ‘March Madness’ Tries To Limit Covid (Video)

The NCAA has created a ‘controlled environment’ with an extensive list of protocols aimed at keeping the coronavirus from upending March Madness for a second year. The stakes are high for both the players and the NCAA. Photo: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Views: Blotched Fantail Rays – Great Barrier Reef

A Blotched Fantail’s stinger is located the base of its spine, packed full of venom. If it manages to connect with a vital organ, that venom is capable of killing a human being.

The Blotched Fantail Ray is widespread along the Great Barrier Reef and has a distinctive disc shape, colour pattern and a ventral skin fold on its tail. Although it is not generally aggressive by nature it has been responsible for at least one human fatality.

City Views: ‘Los Angeles – California’ (4K UHD Video)

Los Angeles is a sprawling Southern California city and the center of the nation’s film and television industry. Near its iconic Hollywood sign, studios such as Paramount Pictures, Universal and Warner Brothers offer behind-the-scenes tours. On Hollywood Boulevard, TCL Chinese Theatre displays celebrities’ hand- and footprints, the Walk of Fame honors thousands of luminaries and vendors sell maps to stars’ homes. 

Medicine: Adequate Sleep & Cardiovascular Health

Mayo Clinic Division of Preventive Cardiology will be preparing a series of recordings focusing on Cardiovascular Disease states. This is the Sleep Series and this particular one focuses on what is adequate sleep and does it benefit Cardiovascular Health.

Walking Tour: Holešovice, Prague, Czech Republic

In eclectic Holešovice, traditional pubs and sleek global eateries share the streets with experimental theaters and techno clubs in revamped factories. Stalls at Prague Market (Pražská tržnice) sell everything from regional produce and indie fashion to souvenirs and Asian street food. The Trade Fair Palace exhibits the National Gallery’s modern art collection, while DOX has bold contemporary exhibitions. 

Morning News Podcast: Big Tech CEO’s Testify, North Korea Missile Test

A.M. Edition for March 25. The heads of Facebook, Google and Twitter are set to appear in front of House lawmakers today.

North Korea launches ballistic missiles; WSJ Korea Bureau Chief Timothy W. Martin has the latest. The Olympic torch relay begins in Japan. Marc Stewart hosts.

Science: Optical Atomic Clocks Redefine Time, Astronomer Vera Rubin

A web of three optical atomic clocks show incredibly accurate measurements of time, and the trailblazing astronomer who found hints of dark matter.

In this episode:

00:44 Optical clock network

Optical atomic clocks have the potential to reach new levels of accuracy and redefine how scientists measure time. However, this would require a worldwide system of connected clocks. Now researchers have shown that a network of three optical clocks is possible and confirm high levels of accuracy.

Research Article: BACON collaboration

News and Views: Atomic clocks compared with astounding accuracy

08:55 Research Highlights

The possible downside of high-intensity workouts, and the robot with adaptable legs for rough terrain.

Research Highlight: Can people get too much exercise? Mitochondria hint that the answer is yes

Research Highlight: A motorized leg up: this robot changes its limb length to suit the terrain

11:26 Vera Rubin

Vera Rubin was an astronomer whose observations were among the first to show evidence of dark matter. At the time, female astronomers were a rarity, but Vera blazed the trial for future women in science.

Books Review: Vera Rubin, astronomer extraordinaire — a new biography

18:35 Briefing Chat

We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, carbon cost of bottom trawling, and the fictional French researcher confounding metrics.

The Guardian: Bottom trawling releases as much carbon as air travel, landmark study finds

Science: Who is Camille Noûs, the fictitious French researcher with nearly 200 papers?