Good news! If we trash this planet we might have an alternative 110 light-years away!

Happening in the World: An out of this world discovery has led scientists to believe that they have found another planet with hints of water raining in its atmosphere! The Hubble Space Telescope recently detected water molecules on exoplanet K2-18b, located around 110 light-years away from Earth. Though scientists had previously found evidence of water molecules in the atmospheres of gas giants, this is one of the first rocky exoplanets to have presented this characteristic. Additionally, K2-18b was deemed to be in its star’s habitable zone-which is the distance at which liquid water and other compounds conducive to life can be sustained. Although this will most likely not be a replacement Earth, this discovery is invaluable to understanding the makeup of our Universe. (Nature)

Happening in the US: Purdue Pharma, the maker of the opioid Oxycontin, has reached a tentative deal which will keep the company from going to trial over lawsuits involving 2,300 local towns across 23 states. The deal is worth billions of dollars, and it is estimated that the Sackler Family, with a fortune estimated at around $13 billion, will pay $3 billion over the course of several years to those impacted by the opioid crisis. However, several lawsuits are still pending, and many critics are hoping that the Sacklers are held more accountable and that victims are given substantial payouts. (NPR)

Happening in NYC: The New York City Council had a hearing on Tuesday to discuss a bill which would make buildings more bird-friendly. According to estimates from the New York City Audobon Society, between 90,000 and 230,000 birds die each year in NYC from colliding with glass buildings. Birdwatchers and concerned constituents testified to show the Council why using ‘bird-friendly’ glass would decrease these incidents. As of yesterday, there has not been a vote on the issue, however, a spokesman for the City Council Speaker assured reporters that the issue was going through the legislative process and was supported by the Speaker. (Gothamist)

Happening on Campus: Tonight, the Barnard Center for Research on Women will be co-sponsoring a talk given by Cherríe Moraga, an activist and writer, where she will be reading excerpts from her new memoir, Native Country of the Heart. The memoir is framed as a love letter to her mother and is a portrait of the U.S.-Mexican diaspora. Her talk will be framed around the idea of cultural amnesia and the recuperation of ancestral memory. The event is being held in the Event Oval in Diana, starting at 6:30 pm. (BCRW)

Documentary of the Week:  Legend of Korra: Book 4. This is solely because I love Kuvira’s character design.

wow look at all that water via Wikimedia Commons