Asteroids are less pristine than comets, having often endured heating and the effects of liquid water. But these effects can produce dramatic new organic complexity. For decades, scientists have known that meteorites called chondrites, which originate from asteroids, contain a staggering diversity of organic molecules. The Murchison meteorite, which fell in Australia in 1969, contains more than 96 different amino acids. Life uses just 20 or so. Osiris-Rex and Hayabusa2 have confirmed that the asteroids Bennu and Ryugu are as complex as those meteorites. And at least some of this complexity seems to have arisen before the asteroids themselves: A preliminary analysis of the Bennu sample suggests it retained organic material, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, from the protoplanetary disk.
The Chemistry of Life?
Organic molecules on the early Earth took a new, remarkable step up in complexity. They somehow organized themselves into something alive. Some hypotheses for the origins of life on Earth involve a starter kit of organic material from space. The “PAH world” hypothesis, for instance, posits a stage of the primordial soup that was dominated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Out of this slurry the first genetic molecules emerged.
In general, understanding how complex organics form in space and end up on planets might give us a better idea of whether life has arisen on other worlds, too. If the raw materials of life on Earth formed in the interstellar medium, the stuff of life should be everywhere in the universe.
For now, such ideas remain largely untestable. But because life itself represents a new level of organic complexity, astrobiologists are hunting for complex organics as a possible biosignature, or sign of life, on other worlds in our solar system.
The European Space Agency’s Juice mission is already on its way to study Jupiter and three of its icy moons, and NASA’s Europa Clipper mission launched toward one of those moons, Europa, in October. Both will use onboard instruments to search the atmospheres for organic molecules, as will the future Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon, Titan.
Yet it’s tricky to determine whether a given organic molecule is a biosignature or not. If scientists were to find sufficiently complex organic molecular assemblages, that would be enough to convince at least some researchers that we’ve found life on another world. But as comets and asteroids reveal, the nonliving world is complex in its own right. Compounds thought to be biosignatures have been found on lifeless rocks, like the dimethyl sulfide Hänni’s team recently identified on 67P.
The global diversity of Proterozoic eukaryote fossils is poorly quantified despite its fundamental importance to the understanding of macroevolutionary patterns and dynamics on the early Earth. Here we report a new construction of fossil eukaryote …
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1. Gillian Welch & David Rawlings: Woodland (Acony, August) Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’s return was prompted by the near loss of their life’s work when a hurricane damaged Woodland, the folk duo’s recording studio. That averted destruction was mirrored in these beautifully arranged, woebegone tales of empty freight trains and departed friends.
Charli xcx on Saturday Night Live, November 2024. Photograph: NBC/Will Heath/Getty Images
3. Charli xcx: Brat (Atlantic, June) Pop’s premier left-field auteur finally received her mainstream kudos thanks to this inescapable album-cum-phenomenon. This acid green collection of 15 dancefloor-facing tracks (and its starry remix album) threw out attitude and vulnerability in heroic succession.
4. Shabaka: Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace (Impulse!, April) Flutes have had a resurgence, thanks to erstwhile OutKast rapper Andre 3000 in 2023 and Shabaka Hutchings, whose saxophone has had an outsized impact on the last decade of hip UK jazz. This very personal outing on shakuhachi (Japanese flute) and clarinet indicated that serenity comes from blowing up your USP.
Shabaka Hutchings swaps his sax for the shakuhachi. Photograph: Amit Lennon/the Observer
5. Floating Points: Cascade (Ninja Tune, September) Sam Shepherd’s last opus was 2021’s Promises, featuring the LSO and the last recordings of Pharoah Sanders. Recorded during downtime from scoring a ballet, Cascade marked a return to slapping club music, a gossamer set that reaffirmed this polymath’s dancefloor prowess.
6. Kim Deal: Nobody Loves You More (4AD, November) Pixies bassist, Breeders mainstay, Olivia Rodrigo inspirer and now solo artist Kim Deal took 12 years to make this album, which also featured her ally, late engineer Steve Albini. Few artists can meld pop sweetness and gnarly guitar as sublimely as Deal, whose songs spanned everything from her mother’s Alzheimer’s to disobedience.
Cassie Kinoshi and members of Seed ensemble.
7. Cassie Kinoshi’s Seed:Gratitude (International Anthem, March) Of all the terrific UK jazz records this year – pace, Nala Sinephro, Ezra Collective and Nubya Garcia – this outing from composer Cassie Kinoshi departed furthest from her Tomorrow’s Warrior peers. Mostly recorded live with her 18-piece ensemble, Seed, plus strings from the London Contemporary Orchestra, Gratitude was a sweeping, old-school orchestral score emphasising self-care.
8. Sophie: Sophie (Transgressive/Future Classic, September) Hyperpop producer Sophie’s third album was almost finished when she tragically fell to her death in 2021. Completed by her brother, Sophie captures an artist working on the cusp of punishing experimentation and out-and-out pop. What Sophie might lack in cohesion it makes up in singular sound design and eclectic self-assurance.
The late Sophie. Photograph: Renata Raksha
9. Kendrick Lamar: GNX (PGLang/Interscope, November) Pulitzer prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar has long struggled with fame and his place in hip-hop’s pantheon. His war of words with Drake this summer seemed to settle the matter, making GNX an erudite flex that leaned hard on bopping productions and retro samples while retaining all the rigour of Lamar’s dense, deep-dive lyricism.
10. Shovel Dance Collective: The Shovel Dance (American Dreams, October) A number of silvery artists have reinvented folk of late; the nine-person British experimental Shovel Dance Collective are another revelation. Traditionals such as The Merry Golden Tree revisited the story of a betrayed cabin boy with tensile emotion and minimal drones while Four Loom Weaver was a portrait of grinding poverty rendered in breathtaking a cappella.
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Every year at Christmas, I love revisiting the story of Jesus’ birth. It’s a story we’ve all read or heard countless times, but each time, I find new lessons in its timeless beauty. This isn’t just a story about angels, shepherds, and a bright star; it’s about faith, obedience, humility, and trust.
This year, I found myself lingering on Mary and Joseph. Their part in the story is often romanticized, but can you imagine the real emotions, struggles, and doubts they faced? Let’s take a closer look at this remarkable story and the faith it took to step into the unknown.
Mary’s Astonishing Encounter
It’s easy to read through the account of Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel and miss just how overwhelming it must have been.
Luke 1:26-38 (NIV) “When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, ‘You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you.’”
Mary was startled and afraid, which feels completely relatable. Yet, after hearing the angel’s message—that she would give birth to the Son of God—she didn’t resist or make excuses. She simply said:
“I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.”
Let that sink in. Mary, a young, engaged virgin, was being asked to step into a role that would change her life forever. The courage and faith it took to say “yes” is astounding.
This whole story, from top to bottom, is amazing. To me, the story leaves out a lot, like what happens next. After the angel leaves, can you imagine what is swirling around in Mary’s mind? Thoughts like, “Did I just see an angel,” “Am I going to be the mother to the son of God,” “How am I going to explain this to Joseph,” “Will Joseph leave me,” or “What is everyone going to think?” These are not insignificant thoughts, and they would have grave consequences, yet Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.”
Joseph’s Role in the Story
Joseph’s reaction to the news is just as important. The Bible tells us that when he learned Mary was pregnant, he planned to quietly divorce her. This decision speaks to Joseph’s character; he was heartbroken, but he didn’t want to shame Mary.
Then, an angel appeared to him in a dream:
Matthew 1:20-21 (NIV) “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
After that, Joseph’s plans changed. He chose to trust the angel’s message and stand by Mary, even though the whispers and judgment of others were inevitable. Together, they walked a path of obedience that must have felt isolating at times.
Faith in the Face of Judgment
Mary and Joseph likely faced ridicule and doubt from their community. Who would believe Mary’s story about a virgin conception? Even today, people question the truth of the Christmas story.
But here’s the powerful part: Mary and Joseph knew the truth. They knew the angel’s message. They knew they were part of God’s incredible plan. And that truth allowed them to hold their heads high, even when others whispered behind their backs.
Scandal and Redemption
The birth of Jesus was surrounded by scandal—an unwed mother, a virgin conception, a child born in a stable. But that wasn’t the end of it. Jesus’ entire life and ministry challenged societal norms, and His death on the cross was the ultimate scandal.
Yet, Jesus’ story shows us something extraordinary: We are not defined by how we are born, how we die, or what others think of us. We are defined by who we are in God’s eyes and the purpose He has for our lives.
Remembering the Reason for the Season
As we approach Christmas, let’s take time to reflect on the faith and obedience of Mary and Joseph and the love and grace that Jesus brings to the world. Their story reminds us that God’s plans are often unexpected and may even seem impossible—but with God, nothing is impossible.
A Merry Christmas to You!
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas! May we all take time to remember the reason for the season and celebrate the incredible gift of Jesus.
To God Goes the Glory! Have a Blessed Day!
Let’s End with a Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. As we reflect on the Christmas story, help us to see the faith and obedience of Mary and Joseph as an example for our own lives. Give us the courage to trust Your plans, even when they seem impossible or come with challenges. Remind us that we are defined not by our circumstances but by Your love and purpose for us. May we celebrate this Christmas with hearts full of gratitude for the hope and salvation You’ve given us through Jesus. In His precious name, Amen.
The French press is a humble piece of coffee-making equipment. It doesn’t require electricity, yet experts agree that it can brew a richer and more full-bodied cup of joe in comparison to its more technologically advanced peers. For example, natural oils that would otherwise be filtered out in a drip coffee maker remain fully intact, making the coffee aromatic and robust.
The French press method of making coffee is straightforward, cost-effective, easy to do, and hard to mess up. It also doesn’t take up too much counter space. Once you have your measurements down, it’s a quick process of steeping coarse coffee grounds in near-boiling water. We tested these models using the James Hoffman French press technique, in which he uses 30 grams of coffee to 500 grams of water, waits for four minutes, and stirs through the crust. Whether you choose a French press made from glass or stainless steel, a few factors make a difference based on your personal coffee needs.
Updated December 2024: We’ve added the Espro P3 and P6, Le Creuset, and Bodum Bistro French presses, and ensured links and prices are up to date.
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The questionLast Christmas, my husband left me. He’d been on a few festive nights out with work and I noticed a change in his behaviour. When I asked what was wrong, he told me that a conversation we’d had a couple of months previously, whereby I talked about divorce, had been playing on his mind. I didn’t want a divorce, but I was just trying to get him to see that I felt he was neglecting me with his obsession over losing weight (which he didn’t need to lose) and exercising. Before the exercise obsession started he was my best friend and supporter, so this was such a shock.
He never grieved for his father – a very difficult man – who died earlier in the year. The day after he left he sent an email saying he couldn’t stop thinking of me talking about divorce and he wanted to separate. I was shattered by this. Where had it come from? No amount of apology from me had any affect.
Eventually, he decided to return home. He was almost like my husband, but he lacked empathy and kept telling me “I don’t know” when asked where our relationship was going. I didn’t know where we were going or what I was doing wrong. Then, I learned he had been seeing a woman from work. So I put his stuff in the garage and he left.
I’m now being ghosted by him. It’s as if I don’t exist. I struggle with how this man has changed from a loving husband who would have done anything for me (I was his world and vice versa) to someone who I do not recognise. I’ve not heard from any of his family. Our adult children have also been desperately hurt by his behaviour, and have been great to me throughout all this. I need clarity, closure on why this has happened, but I also accept it’s unlikely I’ll ever know.
Philippa’s answer You may never get the clarity you’re seeking from him. Instead, closure might come from accepting that you did your best in a difficult situation and that now it’s time to focus on your own future. However, it is comforting to have a narrative, so I’ll do some guessing and if it fits and makes you feel better, then there’s no harm in speculation.
Your husband’s sudden and drastic change in behaviour may well be deeply rooted in unresolved grief. The loss of his father could have triggered a wave of emotions and memories that he wasn’t prepared to confront. However, I’m rather suspicious about those drinks out with colleagues. Is that when he got off with his work crush? Was it that fling that confused him?
When you mentioned divorce, it may have hit a vulnerable spot for him, becoming a convenient way to channel all his inner turmoil. By fixating on that conversation, he might have found a way to avoid facing the deeper pain associated with the loss of his father. It’s as if that single word became a lightning rod for all the unresolved issues swirling inside him. But I’m more inclined to believe that he just got hold of your mentioning divorce to make all his behaviour your fault rather than admit he had a crush on another woman.
It’s possible your husband was going through some kind of crisis, where the weight of everything he’d been avoiding finally became too much for him to bear. His attempt to gain control through excessively exercising might have been a coping mechanism, a way to avoid feeling powerless in the face of his own emotions. Or it could be that he was trying to be attractive for the new girlfriend.
The man who eventually returned to you was physically present, but emotionally distant, as if a part of him had shut down to protect himself from further pain – but I suspect it was merely that he did not want to confess his secret life to you, because he didn’t want to be the bad guy. He was trying to make you into the bad guy instead.
Give yourself permission to grieve, not just for the end of your marriage, but also for the man you thought you knew and the life you thought you had. This book may help: The Abandonment Recovery Handbook: Embracing the Five Stages of Healing from Abandonment, Loss and Heartbreak for Emotional Resilience and Grief Recovery by Cher Hampton.
This is a time for you to reclaim your life and your sense of self, to start building a future that’s based on your own needs and desires. I’m so glad you’ve got great adult children, to help. From now on, stop trying to work out his behaviour, and certainly erase from your mind that it was anything to do with what you did or said. Concentrate on you.
Every week Philippa Perry addresses a personal problem sent in by a reader. If you would like advice from Philippa, please send your problem to askphilippa@guardian.co.uk. Submissions are subject to our terms and conditions
AirLight is compatible with iOS 13.0 and above (including iPads), Android 8.0 Oreo and above, and Bluetooth 5.0. It offers 12 presets tailored for four different modes: Standard, Sleek, Curly, and Coily. Each preset is adjustable and can be saved for future use, so once you lock in your settings, they’re always ready. There’s also a fully customizable mode. Another teeny but welcome feature is the app’s usage tracker, which logs how long you’ve used the dryer. It sounds trivial, but knowing when to clean the filter can extend the product’s lifespan (more on this later).
The app is clearly in its early stages, but it works well and leaves plenty of room for updates. I can’t help but imagine how much better it could be with features like heat-styling tips from pros, quick video tutorials, or even curated inspiration boards for different hairstyles. L’Oréal has laid the groundwork here, and I’m curious to see how they build on it in the future.
Hair shown after blow-dry with concentrator finish (no brush)
In an industry where many gadgets are destined for the landfill, the AirLight Pro is an outlier. L’Oréal claims the AirLight Pro engine is built for the long haul, with a lifespan that can extend up to 10 years of professional-level use—that’s about two hours a day, five days a week. For anyone who’s dealt with cheap hair dryers that barely last a season, this alone is a promising proposition.
What really sets the AirLight Pro apart, though, is its repairability. L’Oréal is making spare parts available starting in early 2025. The AirLight Pro also has built-in filter cleaning alerts for when cleaning is required. The frequency varies depending on air quality, everyday dust, and other particles (i.e., hairspray). If the filter reaches critical condition, the dryer shuts off until you clean it to avoid motor damage. I haven’t hit that point yet, so I can’t vouch for how well it works, but I appreciate the idea of a blow-dryer looking out for its longevity.
At $475, the AirLight Pro isn’t cheap. But it’s only $45 more than the viral Dyson SuperSonic and has a lot of advantages—it’s quieter than the Dyson, faster at drying my hair, and more customizable with the app. And most important, you can repair it if it gets busted after the warranty runs out. If I’m going to spend almost $500 on a hair dryer, I want to make sure I’m only doing it once. The AirLight Pro’s tailored experience is worth it.
A NASA spacecraft is about to make the closest approach to the sun. The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 to get a close-up look at the sun. On Tuesday, Parker will pass within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles of the sun’s surface. That’s nearly seven times closer to the sun than previous spacecraft. Scientists won’t hear from Parker until a few days after the flyby. It’ll continue circling the sun at this distance until at least September. Scientists hope to better understand what drives the solar wind and why the corona is so much hotter than the sun’s surface.
Honda has long been a leader in sustainability in the global automotive industry. The carmaker introduced the CVCC engine in the early 1970s to cut smog-forming emissions, and it produced the first battery-electric vehicles in the 1990s and hydrogen fuel cell-electric vehicles in the early 2000s, both of which used innovative technologies to reduce or eliminate tailpipe emissions of vehicles in use.
But what about the environmental impact of products at the end of their useful life?
As part of its ambitious goal of achieving zero environmental impact of its products and operations by 2050, Honda is pursuing resource circulation, working to recapture products at the end of their life and recycle or reuse 100% of the materials to create new products.
Creating a circular society supports the company’s goals of achieving carbon neutrality, 100% clean energy use, and 100% resource circulation.
Achieving resource circulation requires major innovations in the design and end-of-life recovery of its products and in the procurement of parts, goods, and services to reduce its environmental impact.
Design for Resource Circulation
At the heart of Honda’s resource circulation efforts is product design.
Here, the company views sustainability holistically, selecting materials and creating design elements that prioritize longevity and recyclability. This is especially critical, as the initial design phase determines 80% of a product’s environmental impact.
“Honda’s commitment to sustainable materials isn’t just about using recycled plastics and other reusable materials; it’s about rethinking the entire product life cycle,” says Mathew Daniel, indirect procurement department lead at Honda. “By designing for disassembly and maintainability [ease of maintenance], we envision everything we purchase, from parts for our vehicles to forklifts used in our factories, being reused or recycled, reducing our environmental footprint and generating new business value.”
Maximizing Useful Life
Honda is exploring the entire scope of its corporate purchasing to maximize the useful life of the goods it buys while avoiding unnecessary purchases.
The process begins with the simplest of questions, Daniel says. “Do we even need to purchase this good in the first place? If we do, can we buy less of it? If not, can we purchase it in a different composition that is more sustainable? Those three questions enable us to develop specifications that will help us achieve the rest of our strategy,” he says. “This includes maximizing useful life, hopefully yielding a second or third life before having to reclaim the raw materials.”
Honda has collaborated with GEP, a leading global provider of procurement and supply chain solutions, to implement and accelerate its sustainability goals. “The approach Honda is taking toward sustainability focuses on integrating the right strategies into every aspect of the business, particularly procurement and supply chain,” says Vengat Narayanasamy, vice president of consulting at GEP.
“Honda’s comprehensive view of resource circulation—from design to end-of-life management—ensures that it is not just meeting its environmental goals but also setting new standards for the industry,” Narayanasamy says. “Additionally, its focus on creating and purchasing durable, repairable products ensures that what it purchases and produces stays in service longer, reducing the need for new resources and cutting down on waste.”
By minimizing the extraction of virgin resources, Honda is helping preserve natural ecosystems and biodiversity. At the same time, reducing waste through circular practices is helping mitigate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Transforming Procurement Processes
Honda focuses on more than the sustainability of its direct materials. The company spends billions of dollars annually on indirect goods and services and is looking at resource circulation in this space as well. Extending the life of purchased goods such as IT hardware, equipment, and office furnishings can reduce overall capital expenditure.
However, purchasing sustainable goods may initially increase capex, so the success of such resource circulation initiatives is in finding solutions that maximize sustainability and protect profitability.
“From an operational perspective, our goal is to keep the indirect goods that we purchase in service as long as possible, at their highest possible value, and then recover them for reuse,” Daniel says.
Honda is taking steps to create a resource circulation center with three key functions.
The first is a control tower that will set policies, track effectiveness, and streamline corporate activities.
The second is a physical operation focused on dismantling end-of-life assets and recycling essential raw materials like steel, aluminum, and copper.
The third function, the “second-life lab,” will explore new ways to repurpose used indirect goods. A prime example of this initiative is Honda’s current practice of converting old factory-worker uniforms into insulation for use in vehicle assembly.
“By integrating sustainability into every facet of its operations, Honda is not only achieving its goals but also setting a new standard for what’s possible in the realm of sustainable practices,” Narayanasamy says.
Blueprint for a Sustainable Future
The journey Honda is taking toward resource circulation is more than just a commitment to sustainability—it’s a bold step toward reshaping the future of the automotive industry.
With the expertise of partners like GEP, Honda is pioneering new standards in sustainability.
It’s a clear message to the industry: embracing resource circulation is a necessity for driving meaningful change.
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