2023 in Review: NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission and Job Losses in Tech Industry
As the year 2023 draws to a close, we look back at a series of significant events that have shaped the worlds of science, technology, and employment. From NASA’s ambitious Europa Clipper mission to unexpected job losses in the tech industry, the year has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, achievements and challenges.
NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission: A Message in a Bottle Initiative
NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, scheduled to launch in October 2024, has embarked on an intriguing ‘message in a bottle’ initiative. Participants have been given the opportunity to submit their names, which will be inscribed on microchips and placed alongside a poem by US Poet Laureate Ada Limon on the spacecraft. This mission aims to explore Europa’s potential habitability, as its icy crust is believed to hide an ocean that could support microbial life. By the deadline for name submission on December 31, over 2.4 million people had already participated, showing the public’s keen interest in space exploration.
Turbulence in the Tech Industry: Significant Job Losses
The year 2023 has witnessed a concerning trend in the tech industry with over 240,000 jobs lost in the last 12 months. The transportation industry has been the most affected, followed closely by the cybersecurity sector. This sector, although not the worst hit, has had its fair share of challenges, including data breaches and surveillance issues. The situation was exacerbated when a security researcher recently discovered a data leak on a Bangladeshi government website, exposing citizens’ personal information.
Elon Musk’s Platform Faces Legal Defeat
In a significant development, Elon Musk’s platform, formerly known as Twitter, failed to block a California state law demanding transparency in content moderation practices. This legal defeat comes at a time when the platform has been facing criticism for the spread of misinformation and insensitive content under Musk’s leadership.
Space Exploration Continues: NASA and ISRO’s Achievements
In other space-related news, NASA has redirected its OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which had previously visited asteroid Bennu, to study the asteroid Apophis. This asteroid is expected to come within 32,000 kilometers of Earth in 2029, providing an opportunity for valuable research. Meanwhile, India’s space agency, ISRO, has also had a successful year with missions like Chandrayaan 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. Additionally, scientists discovered nearly 1,000 new species in 2023, including wasps and a legless lizard.
