Daily Archives: January 5, 2021

Meet PitRanger: Tiny rover designed to probe the lunar underworld – EarthSky

Posted: January 5, 2021 at 2:29 pm

Artists concept of a PitRanger surveying a lunar pit. Image via William Whittaker/ USRA/ Carnegie Mellon University.

Curious about what kind of pristine and peculiar science environments lie below the surface of the moon? Meet PitRanger, a tiny rover currently being designed to explore deep pits below the moons surface.

PitRanger is currently on track to become the key instrument in a short-term moon mission aimed at capturing high-definition 3D images of moon pits, deep, steep-walled holes thought to have been shaped billions of years ago by a once geologically active moon. Funded by the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Program (NIAC), the mini-robot will weigh 33 pounds (15 kg) and be solar-powered, a technological decision that poses many challenges alongside its advantages.

Although no launch dates have been proposed yet, the prototype, built by robotics research scientist William Whittaker and his team at Carnegie Mellon University, has already undergone and passed testing by performing at a sinkhole here on Earth, and is envisioned for launch in either 2021 or 2022.

Whittaker provided an update on his work during a virtual NIAC meeting held in September 2020, noting that significant progress has been made in the development of the lunar mini-rover.

PitRanger, whenever launched, will be a brief mission compared to previous moon rovers because of the length of lunar day and night. A lunar day lasts about 14 Earth days, and because solar-powered PitRanger depends on the sun for energy, the equally long lunar night becomes an opportunity for impending robot death. Whittaker emphasized this by saying:

It only has 12 days, not 12 years, to complete its mission.

PitRanger is also different from previous moon exploration missions because of its autonomy. PitRanger is designed with the strategic decision-making and imaging capabilities required to navigate risky ledges around a pit. Autonomy for quick missions like this one is becoming a necessary technology, since supervision and guidance from controllers on the ground wont be available to such small, solar-powered rovers.

The small lunar rover will roll at a top speed of 1 inch (2.5 cm) per second, and will be outfitted with a telephoto lens and panoramic unit in conjunction with a single solar panel. These features will work together using a panel-tilt mechanism to aim the camera at the pit, taking images at various angles that reach the pits far wall and floor. PitRanger will be accompanied by a lander, and be programmed with the software smarts to prune and process images later transferred to the lander for modeling. The little robot will do this repeatedly, wheeling back to the pit multiple times to acquire thousands of images and measurements. Once that work is done, the end result will be a photogrammetric model of the captured pit, providing an up-close and detailed look at whats inside as well as its shape, size, and other relevant features that provide insight into how the moon behaves. Spacecraft cameras in moon orbit are unable to match this detail. Whittaker said:

The scenario is to rove to a pit with a micro-rover, peer into the pit, acquire images of walls, floors, caverns, and then generate pit models Pit walls offer the only observable pristine geology on the moon. They are unique opportunities to observe volcanology, morphology and much more.

PitRanger may need to make multiple maneuvers to profile a lunar pit, as this illustration depicts. Image via USRA/ Carnegie Mellon.

Its still unclear whether PitRanger will visit a single moon pit or if there will be multiple pits on its agenda. More likely it will visit more than one. There is also no discussion circulating on which pits are currently being targeted. The moons surface is battered by these holes, with more than 200 documented by NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. Pits range in size from roughly 15 feet (5 m) across to more than half a mile (1 km) in diameter. NASA says that most pits were found either in large craters with impact melt ponds areas of lava that formed from the heat of the impact and later solidified or in the lunar maria dark areas on the moon that are extensive solidified lava flows hundreds of miles across. Exploring these pits would reveal valuable details about the voids in which they formed.

Moon pits, caves, and lava tubes formed by flowing magma and covered in tiny crystals are like windows to the moons history both within and below its surface. New technology intended for subsurface lunar exploration has been imagined by engineers in recent years, especially since NASAs plans to return humans to the moon are just over the horizon. Whittaker said that if accessible, these geologic features could be havens from radiation, extreme temperatures, dust storms, and micrometeorite hazards of the moons surface. With this considered, peering into moon pits may not only prove monumental in understanding our natural satellites history, but also in creating a safe habitat on the lunar surface, which could be a jumping-off point for human missions to Mars.

These images from NASAs LRO spacecraft show all of the known mare pits and highland pits. Each image is 728 feet (200 m) wide. Image via NASA/ Goddard Space Flight Center/ Arizona State.

Bottom line: Researchers are building a prototype of a 33-pound (15 kg) lunar mini-robot called PitRanger set to be the key instrument in a future mission aimed at capturing high-definition images of moon pits.

Source: Micro-rover exploration of lunar pits deployable by commercial lander

Via Space.com

Via NASA

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#SpaceWatchGL Opinion: Space world highlights 2020 and outlook 2021 by Prof. Pascale Ehrenfreund – SpaceWatch.Global

Posted: at 2:29 pm

by Prof. Pascale Ehrenfreund

SpaceWatch.Global asked its friends, staff and contributors to review 2020 and provide an outlook into 2021. These personal reviews are being published during the holiday season. This is the review of Prof. Pascale Ehrenfreund, President of International Astronautical Federation.

2020 has been an unprecedented, difficult and challenging year for people all around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the entire world economy. Recent studies and analyses show that the space sector has been more resilient when compared to other industries in terms of activities or private investments. We saw a major development in the domain of access to space with to date more than 110 launches. More than 1000 satellites have been launched by November 2020, over 700 of them belonging to the SpaceX Starlink fleet thatis now in a public beta testing phase. New missions in the domain of Earth observations were launched. We saw also progress in the domain of on-orbit servicing with the Mission Extension VehicleMEV-1(MEV-1) that became the firsttele-robotically operatedspacecraft to service other satellites on-orbit. Space investments remained strong in 2020 where companies such as SpaceXs, Blue Origins, Astroscale, Kymeta, ICEYE, Changguang Satellite or Spire to name a few could secure new investments.

Furthermore in 2020, notable highlights in space exploration dominated the media. 2020 marked SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 crewed mission launched in May, that successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) and returned in August. In November, the first operational SpaceX commercial Crew-1 mission launched four astronauts to the ISS marking the begin of a new era of NASA human spaceflight. In October 2020, the ISS celebrated 20 years of continuous human habitation. More than 3,000 investigations from 108 countries have been conducted over the last decades.

2020 was also the year of Mars. End of July and beginning of August, three robotic missions were launched to Mars from China, the United Arab Emirates and NASA (Tianwen-1, Hope, and Mars2020, respectively). These missions will explore the atmosphere and the surface of our fascinating neighbor planet, and the Mars2020 mission will collect material for a future Mars sample return mission.

Recently, China launched and returned its lunar sample return mission Change 5 which brought 2kg samples from the youngest part of Oceanus Procellarum safely back to Earth, the first Moon samples since 44 years. An amazing success.

JAXAs Hayabusa mission has also returned samples from the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu in December 2020. The capsule touched down safely in Australia and we expect some interesting scientific results soon. NASAs Osirix Rex mission collected samples from carbonaceous asteroid Bennu in October to be returned in 2023. These are just some of the success stories of the vibrant space sector in 2020.

2020 has also been a truly challenging year as well as an incredible journey for the International Astronautical Federation IAF. After the decision to postpone the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2020 in Dubai to 2021 and the IAC 2021 in Paris to 2022, we worked to organize this years 71st IAC, as a CyberSpace Edition that could reach everyone, everywhere. More than 13.600 registered participants from 135 countries have joined the IAC 2020 leaving a remarkable legacy with 1300 recorded talks, thanks to the work of conveners and IAF technical and administrative committees, that also met online. In 2020, 19 new IAF members joined the organization bringing the total number of IAF members to 407 from 71 countries, further enlarging our broad network.

This year we also launched a new initiative: the IAF Space Economic Platform Bringing Space Down to Earth/Bringing Earth Up to Space. Through this platform, the IAF aims to propel and support the new space economy by integrating new space actors, entrepreneurs, non-space industry and organizations through new dedicated activities and events. This new IAF initiative will also allow to monitor the resilience of the space sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic and will give us a clearer picture how to mitigate the long-term effects on production capacity, workforce and the vulnerable situation of start-ups and SMEs.

Another of the most recent IAF initiatives is the launch of theIAF LaunchpadMentorshipProgramme, that aims to facilitate career development and leadership capabilities of the mentee, and provides a platform for enhanced communication between the various generations represented within the IAF community.In the current COVID-19 situation it is more important than ever to reach out to the next generation of space professionals all over the world.

2020 has also seen the launch of the IAF Digital Library providing space knowledge within everybodys reach. The IAF Digital Library is the worlds largest database of full-text articles covering all disciplines related to space. Counting over 50,000 papers, the digital heritage of the IAF Digital Library is an extraordinary source worldwide of resources consulted by researchers, scientists, engineers, academicians, industrials, policy-makers, media, students and young professionals.

We all have hope that in 2021 we will overcome the current COVID-19 crisis and adapt to a new normal. In the next decade the trend of declining prices for launches and satellite manufacturing will likely continue. Constellations, mass production of satellites, advancements in reusability, on-orbit servicing of satellites, debris mitigation and space tourism are just some of the key elements of current NewSpace activities which will be further developed in 2021. The digital revolution will also have a growing impact on the space sector. It has changed how products are designed, manufactured, and sold and will continue to influence the speed of design and production. New satellite applications, products and services, ground systems and antenna designs will be developed. There are numerous new business opportunities in the combined fields of space technologies, artificial intelligence and machine learning for innovators and companies.

More than ever, space will be the key for understanding our Earth system and consequently our socio-economic development and how we can mitigate climate change. The next decade will likely bring humanity to the Moon and prepare for human exploration of Mars. New activities are planned to all destinations such as LEO, Moon, Mars and beyond by many actors: USA, ESA, China, Russia, Japan, India, UAE, etc. In 2021, the Martian missions launched this year will arrive to the Red Planet in February. The first uncrewed test flight for NASAs Artemis programme, Artemis-1, is set to be launched. Furthermore, several robotic missions to explore the Moon are scheduled in the framework of NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services programme, as well as others from India, Japan, Russia and China. Commercial activities and R&D in LEO will continue as well as commercial activities and routes to deep space. The development of the next Chinese Space Station is anticipated. In summary, endeavors to many destinations will be prepared in order to explore the surfaces of Moon and Mars and to build outposts. Furthermore, we will also continue to see the global space economy grow with the development of new space solutions stemming from NewSpace development in Earth orbits.

2021 is a particularly important year for the IAF as it will mark the 70th anniversary of the Federation. For the past seven decades, the IAF has been providing a platform for the global space community to meet, share and connect. With this philosophy, the IAF expanded year after year its memberships and portfolio. The IAFs platinum jubilee makes us extremely proud and grateful to be part of the remarkable space sector that plays an ever-increasing role in our daily lives. Other important events include the Global Space Exploration Conference, GLEX 2021, co-organized with the State Space Corporation Roscosmos, that will be held in St. Petersburg, Russia, from 14 to 18 June 2021. The 72nd International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2021, will be hosted by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center MBRSC, and it will take place in Dubai, UAE, from 25 to 29 October 2021. The United Arab Emirates, will be the first Arab country to host the IAC since its establishment in 1950.

In summary, exploring space provides an opportunity for the entire space sector to work together towards larger goals, irrespectively of nationality, race or gender! During these unprecedented times the IAF is more committed than ever to support the global space dialogue and make the space sector more resilient.

Prof. Pascale Ehrenfreund is currently Research Professor at the Space Policy Institute in Washington DC and has contributed since three decades to many ESA and NASA astronomy and planetary missions, experiments on the International Space Station and served in high-level management & advisory positions in Europe and the United States. Since 2019 she is the President of the International Astronautical Federation.

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The Week of January 4, 2021 – FYI: Science Policy News

Posted: at 2:29 pm

Trump Signs FY21 Spending and Energy R&D Legislation

On Dec. 22, President Trump disrupted plans to enact spending for fiscal year 2021 when he released a video attacking the legislative package Congress had just passed by wide, bipartisan margins. However, he reversed course and signed it into law on Dec. 27. Spending levels are now set for all federal agencies through Sep. 30. Funding will remain at or near current levels for most science agencies, the most notable exception being the National Nuclear Security Administration budget, which will increase 18% to nearly $20 billion to support efforts to modernize the U.S. nuclear stockpile. Also notable, the Defense Departments early-stage Science and Technology accounts are collectively increasing 5% to $16.9 billion, departing from the cuts put forward in the Houses and Senates original proposals. For further details, see the FYI Federal Science Budget Tracker and the explanatory statements accompanying the package.

Alongside its spending provisions, the package incorporates an array of other legislative priorities, including the Energy Act, a major energy policy update reconciling bills the House and Senate advanced earlier in the year. Among many other provisions, the act establishes new R&D and technology demonstration programs in areas such as energy storage, industrial carbon emission reduction, and fusion energy. It also recommends Congress multiply the Department of Energys budgets for carbon management and nuclear energy technologies and includes a provision mandating a phasedown in the use of hydrofluorocarbons, a potent class of greenhouse gases. The overall package also provides the first pandemic-response funding Congress has passed since last spring. The emergency spending includes $23 billion in general relief funding for higher education institutions but none directed toward addressing disruptions to research, as had been proposed in the Research Investment to Secure the Economy (RISE) Act.

On Dec. 23, Trump fulfilled threats he had been making for weeks to veto the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. On Dec. 28, the House voted 322 to 87 to override the veto, and the Senate did the same on Jan. 1 with a vote of 81 to 13, making the legislation law. Congress ability to muster the two-thirds majorities needed to defy Trump stems from the priority congressional leaders ascribe to the annual defense policy update, which has now been successfully enacted 60 years in a row. Among numerous other provisions bearing on science and technology, this years act lays groundwork for future efforts to bolster and secure the national security innovation base, and it establishes major national initiatives in artificial intelligence and microelectronics R&D and production. It also establishes government-wide disclosure requirements for science agency grantees, gives the Defense Department more input into the National Nuclear Security Administrations budget request, and adds new requirements to prepare for climate-related national security threats.

Winding down its activities in the final days of the Trump administration, the National Space Council released a planetary protection strategy last week for preventing potential biological cross-contamination during deep space exploration. The strategy is a step toward implementing an item of the National Space Policy released last month, which calls for developing national and international planetary protection guidelines. The strategy sets out six goals aimed at avoiding forward contamination of other planetary bodies and backward contamination of the Earth, taking into account issues arising from the growth of the commercial space industry. Among its action items, the strategy calls for developing a safe return approval framework for planetary samples within the next year. The National Space Council was established by the Trump administration and its future under the Biden administration remains undetermined. The councils executive secretary Scott Pace stepped down on Jan. 1, returning to his prior role as director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University.

The Snowmass summer study meeting, a key component of the U.S. particle physics communitys strategic planning process, has been postponed by one year to summer 2022. The Snowmass Steering Group announced the decision Dec. 23 after concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the planning process were raised at last months High Energy Physics Advisory Panel meeting. Citing discussions with the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, the steering group states it learned that some important scientific milestones will arrive later than anticipated and concluded a delay would enable the planning process to be fully informed by the anticipated progress in our field as those milestones are met over the coming year. The group also suggests the delay will enable people who have been particularly impacted by the pandemic to participate more fully in the process. A revised schedule for the process is expected to be released by the end of January and DOE has indicated it will push back the next Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel exercise to accommodate the new timeline.

On Jan. 4, the National Institute of Standards and Technology published proposed changes to regulations that implement the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, which grants patent rights to certain institutions for inventions they produce using federal funds. Among the most significant updates, NIST proposes to clarify that the governments authority to override such patents, known as march-in rights, cannot be used solely on the basis of price considerations. Though no agency has exercised the authority, some lawmakers and advocacy groups have periodically called for the National Institutes of Health to use march-in rights to lower the price of prescription drugs developed with NIH support, including former Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), who is President-elect Bidens pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. However, NIH officials and the acts original sponsors, former Sens. Bob Dole (R-KS) and Birch Bayh (D-IN), have argued the authority only permits the government to override patents under specific circumstances, such as when the patent holder has failed to commercialize an invention.

On Dec. 31, President Trump extended through March 2021 two proclamations that together suspend the issuance of new green cards and various nonimmigrant visas. The nonimmigrant visa restrictions, first issued in June 2020, have been widely criticized by universities and businesses, in part for halting the H-1B program, which provides temporary visas to high-skilled workers. Implementation of the original proclamations H-1B visa freeze has been partially blocked by a district court in California since October 2020. President-elect Bidens transition team has not commented on whether he plans to reverse the order before its expiration.

The Department of Energy announced on Dec. 22 that it has selected Battelle Savannah River Alliance (BRSA) to manage Savannah River National Lab. Located at DOEs Savannah River Site in South Carolina, which was heavily contaminated by Cold War nuclear weapons production activities, the lab is overseen by DOEs Office of Environmental Management and focuses on R&D related to environmental remediation, nuclear waste management, nuclear nonproliferation, and renewable energy development. BRSA is a consortium that is led by Battelle, a nonprofit corporation that currently manages seven other DOE laboratories, and includes five university subcontractors: Clemson University, Georgia Tech, South Carolina State University, the University of Georgia, and the University of South Carolina. The five year base contract can be extended up to five years with an estimated value of $3.8 billion for the full period. The lab was previously managed by a consortium of companies under a broader contract covering the entire Savannah River Site.

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Intelliconnect (Europe) Ltd. – Cryogenics and connecting the cold bits – Design Products & Applications

Posted: at 2:28 pm

Author : Roy Phillips, MD, CryoCoax

05 January 2021

Its early origins were in the late nineteenth century when Faraday et al experimented with the liquefaction of various gases and has developed tremendously over the subsequent 140 years or so. (Note: it not to be confused with cryonics, the science of freezing dead bodies!).

Today Cryogenics has become a key part of our scientific and engineering present and is set to become an even bigger part of our future.

A key emerging market for cryogenics in the electronics industry is being created by the immense interest in quantum computing, while other applications include medical, space, defence, aerospace, education, test and measurement, biological research, chemistry and more.

The use of electronics, particularly RF, within cryogenic applications is especially interesting and involves a phenomenon called superconductivity.

Superconductivity occurs within certain materials at ultra-low temperatures when a charge or signal moves through the material without resistance. The obvious benefits of this are a massive increase in capacity, efficiency and the signal integrity of an RF system.

One of the biggest challenges in this market is the very the narrow supply chain for the exotic materials required to manufacture cryogenic products and the new technology required to combine components into a working system or sub-assembly. While not insurmountable, this remains the biggest challenge to successfully create manufacturable products with reliable and repeatable performance.

As conventional soldering is not possible with some cryogenic cable materials Intelliconnect has designed a solderless connector and other low temperature hardware to create assemblies which work to below 2 K (-271.15C) at bandwidths up to 40GHz.

Technical specifications, both electrical and mechanical are significantly different in the cryogenics world and product design engineers will be working with scientists outside of the customary world of electronics, rather than their traditional customer base of RF and electronics engineers, which presents a new set of challenges.

The enormous investment in equipment and stock required was the first major hurdle. Specialised test equipment, self-designed manufacturing equipment, hugely expensive materials and even additional manufacturing space has had to be procured.

Relationships with many seats of learning in UK, USA and elsewhere were essential and Intelliconnect has developed a large network of University partnerships which has helped immeasurably with product development and elevating technical expertise.

In such a specialised vertical market brand recognition becomes extremely important. In an industry where physical and electrical tolerances are very low, quality expectations are incredibly high, and product and supply reliability are paramount, it has been essential to create a new brand which was synonymous with all of these customer requirements. Intelliconnect has created a specialised subsidiary business CryoCoax dedicated to the cryogenics industry.

CryoCoax are members of the British Cryogenics Council, the Cryogenics Society of Europe and the Cryogenics Society of America. An ISO9001 manufacturer CryoCoax is also SC21 accredited to a Silver standard. SC21 is a business quality and improvement qualification designed to provide a continuous improvement programme and assure supply chain performance. Silver Award proves >96% on time delivery and 99.5% quality.

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ISS astronauts ate space-grown radishes for the first time – The Burn-In

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Astronauts will need reliable methods of growing their own food to support long-distance space travel and extra-planetary colonization. Research in this area has been ongoing for some time. Due to the unique effects of microgravity, growing produce in space is a significant challenge.

In the closing moments of 2020, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) were able to enjoy some of their research. They not only grew radishes in microgravity for the first time but also went on to eat some of the small harvest, Digital Trends reports. The rest of the radishes were sent back to Earth so scientists can examine their growth.

Of all the experiments being done aboard the ISS, those involving fresh produce have to be the most exciting for astronauts. After all, eating preserved food for months on end gets old. The taste of a fresh vegetable is a massive reward for weeks of experiments and space farming.

NASA astronaut Kate Rubins had the privilege of harvesting the first batch of space-grown radishes. It included 20 plants and took 27 days to fully mature. The astronauts living aboard the orbiting lab were then able to eat some of the radishes before sending the remaining plants back to Earth. A new batch was also planted.

Its worth noting that the radishes arent the first crops grown and eaten aboard the ISS. Astronauts have previously cultivated things like lettuce, cress, and a variety of other leafy green veggies. That being said, radishes are arguably the most substantial plant grown in space to date.

The ISS crew tended to the radishes in a special chamber designed by a company called Techshot, Digital Trends reports. The companys CEO, Dave Reed, said in a statement, The radishes looked great. We harvested 19, and nine were offered to the crew to eat. The other 10 radishes were frozen for return to Earth and for post-flight analysis.

To eliminate concerns about microorganisms, the radishes were grown in clay balls. The unique growing chamber features sensors to monitor things like water levels, fertilizer usage, and light. Lead researcher Karl Hasenstein says, The radishes grown on the space station are cleaner than anything youd buy at the store.

Over the course of the next decade, humanity has its sights set on several lofty goals. For instance, NASA aims to send humans back to the moonincluding the first womanwith its Artemis program.

These endeavors wont require astronauts to grow their own food. In the future, however, missions to Mars and the establishment of a base on the moon will require sustainable food sources. It will be impossible to ship food to those living on Mars and inefficient to do so for anyone stationed on the moon for a prolonged period.

Fortunately, scientists are getting better at growing foods in microgravity. As the ISSs recent crop of radishes demonstrates, the future of space food isnt limited to leafy greens. With the right growing environment, it may be possible to cultivate more nutritious and complex produce.

Fortunately, there is still time to find these solutions. In the coming decades, this will be an important area of study for the spaceflight industry.

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Documentary on the Villages shows it is not a utopia for everyone – Tampa Bay Times

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THE VILLAGES The documentary Some Kind of Heaven provides two life lessons: one on screen for the viewers and another behind the scenes for young filmmakers.

The movie about the imperfect life in the Villages retirement community premieres in theaters on Jan. 8 and at home through Video On Demand starting Jan. 15.

It is 24-year-old director and producer Lance Oppenheims feature documentary debut, but was co-produced by the New York Times and filmmaker Darren Aronofsky of Pi and The Wrestler fame.

You have to make your own luck, said Oppenheim, a native of Fort Lauderdale, about what his success can teach those looking to follow in his footsteps.

On screen, Oppenheim said, viewers will learn about people who move to a place like the Villages to hide from the things in life that will eventually get to you. Things dont necessarily go that way. The only way to really deal with them in a concrete way is to address them and get the help you need.

The documentary begins by detailing the activities and luxuries available to those residing in the Villages.

Some describe it as utopia. But the 83-minute story pivots to another point of view on what is billed as the nations largest retirement community. The Villages spans Lake, Sumter and Marion counties and is home to 120,000.

No matter how perfect the layout, the Villages cannot provide shelter from lifes imperfections.

The film invests in the dreams and desires of a small group of Villages residents, reads a news release, who are unable to find happiness within the communitys pre-packaged paradise.

Those residents include Reggie Kincer, who turns to drugs in search of a spiritual breakthrough, and his wife, Anne, who questions whether they should remain married following her husbands arrest for cocaine possession.

There is also Dennis Dean, described in the documentary as former handyman to the stars. He lives in his van while seeking a woman for financial security.

We actually lived in the Villages on and off for about 18 months of actual shooting that wrapped in the summer of 2019, Oppenheim said of his filmmaking team. And I spent a few more months there before shooting, living without a camera to get access to the personal lives of residents.

How he got to that point is a story of persistence.

When other kids were trading baseball cards and comic books, Oppenheim said, I was obsessed with documentaries, specifically the stuff the New York Times was doing.

The newspapers website features Op-Docs, short documentaries made by independent filmmakers.

I made it my mission to get in touch with them. I submitted all kinds of crappy short documentaries in high school and college, said Oppenheim, a graduate of Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale and Harvard University. He then added with a laugh, Finally, I just wore them down.

His first Op-Doc was Long Term Parking. It premiered online in 2016 and told of a Los Angeles International Airport parking lot used as a motor home park for pilots, flight attendants and plane mechanics.

In 2018, Oppenheim produced the Op-Doc Happiest Man in the World about a man living on the same cruise ship for two decades.

Some Kind of Heaven was supposed to be a short Op-Doc doubling as Oppenheims college thesis. But after spending 15 days in the Villages, he realized this story needed to be a feature documentary. The New York Times agreed.

It was this organic kind of natural progression, he said.

Oppenheim brought Aronofsky into the mix in the same way he did the New York Times.

I badgered him, he said.

Aronofsky has a fascination with aging. The Wrestler and The Fountain deal with the topic.

Both those films were huge to me, Oppenheim said. I was obsessed.

Oppenheim began sending emails to Aronofskys office while still in college.

They mostly said how much I appreciated his work and would love advice, he said. I sent those for five years.

Once the New York Times agreed to produce Some Kind of Heaven, Oppenheim sent Aronofsky a more substantive email that detailed the project.

To my surprise, he wanted to get together, Oppenheim said. I was pinching myself.

Aronofskys advice on notes on five edits of the movie, Oppenheim said, was critical to its success.

The film hes made is a timeless look at love and fulfillment in ones later years, Aronofsky said via a news release. I believe it will resonate with people across all stages of life.

The Villages, Oppenheim said, is known for being skeptical of outside reporters and artists because that can generate negative attention.

So how did he get access?

Again he asked.

He asked to rent a couples Airbnb room in their house.

I hung around with them and they introduced me to people and showed me around, Oppenheim said. I just started showing up to places, sometimes uninvited, and would introduce myself. And that was how it started.

The documentary is not an indictment on the Villages, Oppenheim said. The unhappiness and uncertainty the subjects face occur everywhere. But the Villages is the perfect backdrop to prove that even the coziest of surroundings cannot stave off personal demons.

The film looks at how some seniors exist in an environment where everyone is so constantly engaged in revelry and fun and optimism of the place, and yet they dont fit in, Oppenheim said.

For that reason, he said, his subjects should be heralded.

Its incredibly brave what they did, he said, by letting outsider young filmmakers come in and bear witness to the stuff they were going through.

The following Tampa Bay area theaters will screen the movie beginning Jan. 8: CMX Cinebistro at Hyde Park in Tampa, Tyrone Luxury 10 in St. Petersburg, Countryside 12 in Clearwater, Xscape in Riverview, Lakeside Village 18 in Lakeland, Studio Movie Grill in Seminole and Touchstar Cinema Spring Hill 8 in Spring Hill.

For Video On Demand streaming options, visit somekindofheaven.com.

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Opinion | Are We the Cows of the Future? – The New York Times

Posted: at 2:27 pm

Nature, in truth, is not just something external on which we work, but also within us. We too are nature. My tears well up, wrote the German Romantic poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Earth, I am returning to you. Adorno took our overawed sensations when confronted with the magnitude of untamed nature as a signal of an awareness of our natural essence. The sublime whether encountered in the world or in art provokes in us tears, shudders and overwhelming feeling. Our ego is reminded of its affinities with the natural realm. In our collapses into blubbering wrecks, eyes wide and wet, we become simultaneously most human and most natural.

For someone associated with the abstruseness of avant-garde music and critical theory, Adorno was surprisingly sentimental when it came to animals for which he felt a powerful affinity. It is with them that he finds something worthy of the name Utopia. He imagines a properly human existence of doing nothing, like a beast, resting, cloud gazing, mindlessly and placidly chewing cud.

To dream, as so many Utopians do, of boundless production of goods, of busy activity in the ideal society reflects, Adorno claimed, an ingrained mentality of production as an end in itself. To detach from our historical form adapted solely to production, to work against work itself, to do nothing in a true society in which we embrace nature and ourselves as natural might deliver us to freedom.

Rejecting the notion of nature as something that would protect us, give us solace, reveals us to be inextricably within and of nature. From there, we might begin to save ourselves along with everything else.

Esther Leslie is a professor of political aesthetics at Birkbeck College, University of London, and the author, most recently, of Liquid Crystals: The Science and Art of a Liquid Form.

Now in print: Modern Ethics in 77 Arguments, and The Stone Reader: Modern Philosophy in 133 Arguments, with essays from the series, edited by Peter Catapano and Simon Critchley, published by Liveright Books.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com.

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Health and fitness essentials to help you tackle your New Year’s resolution – CNN

Posted: at 2:27 pm

(CNN)

At one point or another, most of us have resolved around January 1 to exercise more, eat better or focus on our health somehow. Though its a tricky resolution to start and even more challenging to keep up some preparation and the right tools can help set you up for a year of healthy exercise.

Whether youre looking to start exercising or to take your routine to the next level, you need the right at-home workout gear to motivate you to move frequently and consistently. If you need some extra motivation to head to the gym, treat yourself to some new sweatproof Bluetooth headphones like the AirPods Pro. And if youre trying to improve your diet? Kitchen gadgets like a Vitamix blender make meal prep quicker and easier, and the results yummier.

To help determine the best products to invest in heading into 2021, weve chatted with health and fitness experts to uncover their secrets. After all, if the professionals swear by them, you know theyre good. Below, find our favorite picks to meet whatever wellness goal youre focusing on for the next lap around the sun.

Trx All-in-One Suspension Training: Body Weight Resistance System ($149.95; amazon.com)

Trx All-in-One Suspension Training: Body Weight Resistance System

PHOTO: Amazon

If you dont have a ton of space but want to work up a major sweat, personal trainer Miriam Fried recommends this TRX suspension training kit. As she explains, you can easily work out your entire body without building out an entire gym. Win-win!

Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike ($228.33; amazon.com)

Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike

Building out a home gym or investing in substantial at-home fitness equipment doesnt have to cost an arm and a leg either. If youre looking for a super-solid bike option that wont take up too much space, this editor-favorite option has 14,000 reviews on Amazon.

Ativafit Yoga Wheel ($45.99; amazon.com)

Ativafit Yoga Wheel

PHOTO: Amazon

Regardless of whether or not youre a yogi, this wheel will increase your flexibility and range of motion and release minor aches and pains, according to Dani Schenone, a holistic wellness expert for Mindbody.

What I love most about it is the support it offers in spinal extensions, giving my heart center all the expansion it needs, she explains. However, its not just for the spine. The yoga wheel is excellent for developing better balance, improving inversions or amplifying any pose too. I pull out my yoga wheel weekly, and it has transformed my yoga practice, she says.

Everlast Pro Style Training Gloves (starting at $27.04; amazon.com)

Everlast Pro Style Training Gloves

PHOTO: Amazon

Sometimes say, every week of 2020 you just feel the need to punch something. If you have a boxing bag at home, you need gloves that allow you to cross, hook, jab and uppercut your stress away. Travel and fitness guru Cacinda Maloney recommends these lightweight training gloves. They wick moisture, so your hands wont feel sticky and you can keep moving.

Bala Bangles ($49; dickssportinggoods.com)

Bala Bangles

PHOTO: Amazon

Youll be impressed by how adding a little more resistance to your daily workouts or chores can shape your stamina and overall fitness level. Danielle Cote, the director of training operations at Pure Barre, recommends these functional and fashionable bangles that fit snug on your wrists or ankles.

Whether you are wearing them during your favorite sweat session, while youre out for a walk or cleaning around the house, these 1-pound or 2-pound weights pack in a sneaky punch to your day, she says.

Gaiam Yoga Mat ($23.98, originally $29.98; amazon.com)

Gaiam Yoga Mat

PHOTO: Amazon

For yogi and founder of Sequential Body Emilie Perz, theres no better yoga mat than this pick from Gaiam.

My favorite features include the cushioned rubber backing for joint support and stability, the dry-wicking surface that absorbs moisture and prevents yogis from falling during a mega sweat sesh, and the thick backing that adheres to the floor so that the mat doesnt crinkle, curl or move across the room while flowing, she explains.

Plus, its made with natural rubber, so it wont peel like a synthetic mat.

TriggerPoint Grid Foam Roller ($44.96, originally $59.99; amazon.com)

TriggerPoint Grid Foam Roller

Foam rollers are a real game changer when it comes to post-workout recovery. They work to loosen up muscles and act as a massage after a trying session, plus youll be able to work on your quads, calves, lats, back and much more with this top-rated option.

BalanceFrom Neoprene-Coated Dumbbell Set ($45.24; amazon.com)

BalanceFrom Neoprene-Coated Dumbbell Set

PHOTO: Amazon

This set of classic dumbbells is available in two weight levels, a 32-pound set with weights of 3, 5 and 8 pounds or a 50-pound set with weights of 5, 8 and 12 pounds. Each set features six weights coated with neoprene (which prevents slipping) and a convenient storage stand.

Buddy Lee Aero Speed Hyperformance Jump Rope ($39.95; amazon.com)

Buddy Lee Aero Speed Hyperformance Jump Rope

PHOTO: Amazon

Jump rope: It may be one of the simplest workouts, but its an effective one. Fitness and wellness coach Gideon Akande says this is an ideal product for anyone who wants to turn up their cardio speed. Thanks to the weight of the rope, the ergonomics and comfort of the handle and the swivel-bearing technology, he says youll have a perfect turn each time you hop.

This high-quality rope takes a beating and lasts! This is a must-have in any home gym or fitness travelers luggage, he says.

Dynamax Soft-Shell Medicine Ball Standard (starting at $85; amazon.com)

Dynamax Soft-Shell Medicine Ball Standard

PHOTO: Amazon

If youre looking for a medicine ball, Akande says to look no further. Its perfect for core work and sport-specific training, he explains. These medicine balls are impact-absorbing, built to handle high velocity. Plus, theyre just fun to toss around.

AmazonBasics Medicine Ball ($34.99; amazon.com)

AmazonBasics Medicine Ball

This cheaper medicine ball option is a classic, featuring a textured finish thats easy to grip and a rubber build so you can bounce the ball off hard surfaces.

Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Mini Exercise Bike ($116.90, originally $155; amazon.com)

Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Mini Exercise Bike

PHOTO: Amazon

As a podiatrist who frequently works with athletes, Dr. Velimir Petkov knows what aids a workout routine and what can cause injury. If youre a fan of indoor cycling but dont have the space for a Peloton, he says to try out this at-home bike.

It is relatively light and portable but also sturdy enough to stay in one place while being used, he continues. It does have a digital monitor and various levels of resistance in order to make even the most passionate exercise aficionados happy.

Ab Roller Wheel ($21.97, originally $24.97; amazon.com)

The ultimate tool for building up ab strength, this roller is well loved on Amazon for its high quality and low price point. It comes with a knee pad and two bonus e-books that cover everything from ideal diets to different types of ab workouts.

Hyperice Hypersphere Mini ($99; amazon.com)

Hyperice Hypersphere Mini

PHOTO: Amazon

Since you only have one body, its vital to protect and nurture it, which is why a vibrating massage ball like this one is so important. As fitness manager for Red Mountain Resort, Kim Watters says using this before a workout can help prepare muscles and soft tissue around the joints, and after a workout it helps in the recovery process.

It fits easily around/close to joints like in the pocket between the chest and the shoulder joint or in the hip crease. Its also handy in those hard-to-reach areas like around the shoulder blades or SI joints, she explains.

Gruper Thick Yoga Mat (starting at $33.99; amazon.com)

Gruper Thick Yoga Mat

PHOTO: Amazon

Whether youre going through a vinyasa yoga flow or doing a 10-minute core series, you need a sturdy mat to keep you in place and focused on movement not slipping. Thats why Jeremiah Maestre, a certified personal trainer for Performix House, recommends this thick mat. Not only can you use it indoors, but its suitable for outdoor workouts too!

NutriBullet 1,200-Watt Full-Size Blender ($99.99; nutribullet.com)

NutriBullet 1,200-Watt Full-Size Blender

PHOTO: NutriBullet

Tommy Duquette, the co-founder of FightCamp and a former USA National Boxing Team member, reminds us that nutrition is one of the essential components of a healthy lifestyle. In fact, you could work out all day, every day, but if you dont focus on a balanced meal plan, you wont see the results youre hoping to achieve. For those times when you dont have the time or energy to dedicate to meal prep and cooking, Duquette recommends this blender.

If I know that I have a full day of meetings after filming my workouts, I will blend up organic fruits and vegetables, coconut water and protein powder for an easy-to-drink smoothie, he explains. This NutriBullet is big, so I put it in the office fridge and keep refilling my glass until I can get a full meal.

Spiralizer 5-Blade Vegetable Slicer ($25.97, originally $27.99; amazon.com)

Spiralizer 5-Blade Vegetable Slicer

Healthier eating resolutions often call for few to no carbs. The Spiralizer vegetable slicer enables you to turn vegetables into noodles for your next spaghetti dinner and stay true to that keto or paleo diet. The Spiralizers revamped blades are even stronger than before and can cut through hard root vegetables like sweet potatoes and turnips for unlimited vegetable-noodle possibilities. Check out our full review.

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker ($16.99, originally $19.99; amazon.com)

For the egg lovers out there, theres no easier way to scramble, hard boil, soft boil or poach eggs than with this Dash egg cooker. It has an auto shutoff function, so your eggs will never overcook and you wont have to babysit them if youre short on time. Whether its for a quick breakfast or a protein-packed snack, cooking eggs has never been this over easy.

Cosori Air Fryer ($119.99; amazon.com)

Cosori Air Fryer

PHOTO: Amazon

There are plenty of rave reviews for air fryers and many loyal fans of the devices, like Cote. In fact, she says she uses this for everything: frozen food, fresh produce, creative recipes or go-to basics. It provides a necessary crunch to healthy food while using little oil, ultimately resulting in 85% less fat than deep-fried food.

Until I bought this, I had never considered all of the things that you could use it for, she says.

Utopia Kitchen Glass Food Storage Container Set ($32.99; amazon.com)

Utopia Kitchen Glass Food Storage Container Set

PHOTO: Amazon

When it comes to food prep, storage sets like this option from Utopia Kitchen are a must-have.

Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison (starting at $14.99; amazon.com)

'Anti-Diet' by Christy Harrison

PHOTO: Amazon

Schenone says this one read changed not only her understanding of health and wellness but her life. If youre someone who has struggled with body image, yo-yo dieting and weight loss, this can provide the fundamental shift you need.

It provides a historical look at the diet industry and uses scientific research to combat common beliefs about the body and health, she explains. It also offers usable strategies to reclaim your life and find true personal health and wellness.

Vitamix E310 Explorian Professional Grade ($349.95; amazon.com)

Vitamix E310 Explorian Professional Grade

PHOTO: Amazon

Hands down, Schenone says, a Vitamix is the best kitchen investment shes given herself. I love being able to make myself a nutritious smoothie in the morning, some nut butter on sourdough toast for lunch and a hot, hearty vegetable soup for dinner all with the same appliance, she says.

Besides coming with a plethora of recipes and active Facebook groups you can follow for advice and secrets, itll also allow you to easily cook good-for-you meals. And it self-cleans, so you can spend less time scrubbing and more time focusing on your health.

SodaStream Jet Sparkling Water Maker ($79.99; amazon.com)

SodaStream Jet Sparkling Water Maker

PHOTO: Amazon

Though we all know how vital it is to drink plenty of water, sometimes good old-fashioned H2O gets boring. To spice it up and still remain hydrated, Perz recommends this sparkling water maker. You can add natural flavors or fresh fruit to create yummy and healthy beverages.

Also, you can feel good buying this because by creating sparkling water with this product youll be limiting plastic waste, she adds.

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The Future Is Bright. These Five Books Show Why – Forbes

Posted: at 2:27 pm

Woman reading book in hammock

The future is bright? Hard to believe perhaps, especially since we are still in the middle of the worst recession ever and face a global pandemic that just doesnt want to stop. But the fact is that, despite what we feel and despite how we believe things are, the world, we, and the future are in much better shape than it seems. The only problem: hardly anyone believes this because it sounds to good to be true. But true it is.

Of course there are problems, and they are major. There is the Covid-19 pandemic, there is climate change, there is inequality, there is global unrest, and so on. However, historically, we live in the best time everdespite the problems. And what is more, things are not getting worse, they are getting better.

The evidence is overwhelming. It is not just one study or a handful of studies showing this. It is hundreds, or even thousands of studies providing fact after fact showing how well things are going. And they dont just show that the world is doing well and getting better. They also show that we, as human species are doing well. As it turns out, we arent quite the selfish profit-maximizing homo economicus that our self-fulling theories and management tools assume. We are much more social and kinder than that. We care. And that gives all reason to be hopeful and optimistic about the future.

The results of these numerous studies have been put together in five masterful, hopeful books that everyone on this planet should read. They are already bestsellers, and they are praised by some of the worlds most influential persons, including Barack Obama and Bill Gates. Individually, they are convincing in and of themselves. But together, they tell a truly important story that corrects much of what we believe and gives all reason to be optimistic.

The first, and oldest book of the five is Progress by Johan Norberg. It is the most fact-based and straightforward book. Page after page, it provides overwhelming and astonishing data showing how the world has made more progress in the last 100 years than in the 100,000 years beforeand regarding virtually every aspect of live that matters: food, sanitation, life expectancy, poverty, violence, the environment, literacy, freedom, equality, and the next generation.

The main message: let the data speak for itself and base your worldview on the facts, not on incorrect beliefs.

A very similar book to Progress, but based on more than a decade of new data, and written in a more eloquent style providing a deeper analysis of why things have become so much better. It adds additional aspects of life that have dramatically improved on top of the ten from Norberg, including quality of life, knowledge, democracy, and happiness. Next to that, its main addition is a profound analysis of what has caused this astonishing improvement: reason, science, humanism and progress as key values of the Enlightenment. The main message: we should use our faculties of reason and sympathy in moving forward.

Once again a fact-based book, written by the founders of the Gapminder Foundationan initiative aimed at fighting devastating ignorance with a fact-based worldview. Like the first two books, it is full of facts, data, and figures showing how things have become much better over time, all over the globe. What it adds is an analysis of why we have such a hard time believing all the facts. It is not only ignorancethe fact that we dont know the facts. There are no less then ten important human biases (instincts) at play that hinder us: the gap instinct, the negativity instinct, the straight line instinct, the fear instinct, the size instinct, the generalization instinct, the destiny instinct, the single perspective instinct, the blame instinct, and the urgency instinct. The main message: we should control these distorting instincts and rely on the facts instead.

While the first three books focus on correcting our beliefs about the state of the world, Humankind focuses on correcting our beliefs about ourselves. As Bregman shows very convincingly in this book, we are not the selfish species we think we are and civilization is not a thin layer of veneer that will crack as soon as put to the test. On the contrary, when analyzing the true story of the famous Standford Prison Experiment and many other stories, it turns out that we are a social and decent species. Like a puppy, it is our friendliness, playfulness, trust, cooperation and compassion that have made us so successful. The main message: it is time for a new realism based on believing the fact that humans are good.

The last book in the list is also by Bregman and written before Humankind. The previous books all look backward to correct our view about the world and ourselves based on facts. Utopia for Realists is an equally hopeful, but more forward looking book. Based on the same realism as the other books promote, it takes a remarkable perspective. Bregmans main claim in this book is: compared to any time before, we live in paradise and our main problem is that we dont have any concrete dreams anymore about how things could even be better. In other words, because we live in Utopia, we have no reason to get out of bed anymore. Largely focusing on how we could better spend our wealth, it explores a number of fresh and simple but evidence-based ideas for improvement. The main message: dare to dream again and have the guts to trust the facts in making the world a better place.

The future is bright? According to these five books, and the overwhelming evidence they provide, it is. With close to 2000 pages altogether, they are quite a read. But there is no better start of the new year to correct our worldview by a fact-based, optimistic realism about the great world we live in and our ability to make it even better.

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The 41 Most Anticipated Albums of 2021: Kendrick, Rihanna, Adele, and More – Pitchfork

Posted: at 2:27 pm

Preorder: Bandcamp

TBD

About six months after she told fans that the death of her dog Pearl had disrupted the timeline for a new album, Lorde returned with brighter news in May, sharing that shed been working on new material with Jack Antonoff. Although the COVID-19 pandemic further scuppered their plans to collaborate, she promised fans, The work is so fucking good, my friend, in her newsletter, adding, I am truly jazzed for you to hear it. The singer-songwriter instead released a photo book documenting her 2019 trip to Antarctica to tide fans over in the meantime. Allison Hussey

January

Old friends Otis Jackson Jr. and Kieran Hebden decided to rejoin forces over dinner one night. Hebden, aka Four Tet, had floated the idea of a Madlib solo album of tracks that could all flow together, rather than beats for rappers. Whether or not he was volunteering himself, Hebden was deemed perfect for the job, and Jackson proceeded to send him hundreds of unfinished tracks to arrange, edit, manipulate, and combine into a full-length. The result, preceded by the fiendishly addictive Road of the Lonely Ones, will be the first extensive collaboration between the pair, and follows Four Tets 2005 EP of Madvillainy remixes. Jazz Monroe

Temporary Residence / Rock Action Records

February 19

Mogwai have been a band for 25 years, but the process of making their tenth studio album, As the Love Continues, presented the Scottish group with a new set of challenges. Separated from producer Dave Fridmann by the COVID-19 pandemic, the band holed up in Worcestershire, England to record the followup to 2017s Every Countrys Sun. Guests on the album include saxophonist Colin Stetson and Nine Inch Nails Atticus Ross. With live shows on hold for the foreseeable future, the bands Stuart Braithwaite hopes the album can be transforming, unless you are somewhere really amazing and then why are you listening to some weird music like this?, as he says in a press release. Quinn Moreland

Preorder: Bandcamp

TBD

The follow-up to Room 25 feels long-awaited, even if its predecessor came out just over two years ago. This might be because its fate has hung in the balance: Over the past two years, the beloved rapper has shied from the spotlight after amassing a giant following as both an artist and public figure, launching her own book club and using her Twitter feed to patiently highlight the ills of modern capitalism. Her latest transmission lasts just 70 seconds, but Song 33swells with the sort of understated wisdom and world-weariness that most legacy rappers would gape (or balk) at. Jazz Monroe

January 22

Art-punk trio Palberta recorded their fifth album Palberta5000 in Peekskill, New York. The follow-up to 2018s Roach Goin Down is, at least partly, pop-inspired, with Lily Konigsberg telling Stereogum, I kind of only listen to pop music. Ani Ivry-Block added, The way we play and our production will always be weirder than mainstream pop allows. Allison Hussey

TBD

It had seemed as though the Frenchmen of Phoenix were stirring again with the August release of Identical, a new song recorded for Sofia Coppolas comedy On the Rocks. The track even came with a video directed by Roman Coppola. But despite scoring the film, Phoenix have otherwise kept quiet on their plans for more music. The bands most recent record was 2017s Ti Amo, and, in 2019, they released a book about their development titled Phoenix: Libert, galit, Phoenix!. Allison Hussey

TBD

Rihanna gave us a crumb of fresh material in March, joining PARTYNEXTDOOR on his PARTYMOBILE track BELIEVE IT. Otherwise, its been a long few years without any new music from the singer, who issued ANTI in 2016 and has focused her attention on her lingerie and makeup enterprises of late. In 2018, she insisted that she was working on a reggae album that would arrive the following year; she has yet to update the public on her progress. Allison Hussey

January 15

Drunk Tank Pink is the second record from the English rock band Shame, who made their debut in 2018 with Songs of Praise. The James Fordproduced album includes Alphabet and Water in the Well. Frontman Charlie Steen wrote much of Drunk Tank Pink in a small pink room that he called the womb. Allison Hussey

February 5

UK rapper slowthais 2019 album Nothing Great About Britain was nominated for a Mercury Prize, resulting in a spectacle where the grime rapper hoisted an effigy of Boris Johnsons severed head at the awards ceremony. In February, hes back with more rabble-rousing on TYRON, which includes nhs and feel away, featuring James Blake and Mount Kimbie. Skepta, A$AP Rocky, Denzel Curry, Deb Never, and Dominic Fike all make guest appearances elsewhere on the double-disc record. Allison Hussey

TBD

The last time we heard new music from St. Vincent, she delivered a pair of radically different albums. There was 2017s MASSEDUCTION, which found Annie Clark teaming with Jack Antonoff for the most immediate and danceable music of her career. And then there was the companion album, 2018s MassEducation, which reimagined those songs in stark, solo piano arrangements. Her as-yet-untitled follow-up appears to be another reinvention, with Clark citing Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, and Martin Scorseses 1976 classic Taxi Driver as influences. Cant wait for you to hear it, she teased. The feeling is mutual. Sam Sodomsky

TBD

Since releasing her breakout Ctrl in 2017, SZA has kept to collaboration, working with a roster thats included Kendrick Lamar, Justin Timberlake, the Weeknd, Post Malone, DJ Khaled, and more. But, in September, she returned with Hit Different, a Neptunes-produced track featuring Ty Dolla $ign, along with a video she directed herself. The video teased another new song, which turned out to be Good Days, released on Christmas. Although the singer had tweeted and deleted posts about having a tense relationship with her label Top Dawg Entertainment, it seems like more music will get released, one way or the other. Allison Hussey

March 5

The first album in five years from Teenage Fanclub is also their first without bassist and vocalist Gerard Love. In his place, the group recruited Euros Childs of the Welsh band Gorkys Zygotic Mynci. The whole process of making this album was very invigorating, guitarist and vocalist Norman Blake said in a press release. After a 2018 vinyl reissue series put many of their iconic albums back in print, Endless Arcade looks to be another welcome reintroduction to Scotlands power-pop giants. Sam Sodomsky

TBD

Having completed 2019 with his JACKBOYS label compilation, Travis Scott spent 2020 collaborating with just about everybody: Kanye West, Big Sean, Kid Cudi, Rosala, Christopher Nolan, LeBron James, PlayStation, McDonalds. By fall, Scott had teased that his fourth studio album was on the way. Likely titled Utopia, with a to-be-determined release date, it could include his singles HIGHEST IN THE ROOM and FRANCHISE, which features M.I.A. and Young Thug. Allison Hussey

January 8

Stockholm six-piece Viagra Boys look to cement their reputation as the raucous post-punks du jour with Januarys Welfare Jazz. After the slightly calmer Common Sense EP, recent single Aint Nice (about a long-term relationship, taking drugs every day, and being an asshole, according to lead grunter Sebastian Murphy) doubles down on the snark and rascalry of their debut, Street Worms, using gags to conceal a reputed social consciousness. In the singles videoa send-up of the bewigged bourgeoisie and Swedish polite societya scootering Murphy is engulfed in flames, and a shopping cart mysteriously sinks into a giant swimming pool. What does it all mean? Stay tuned for answers, maybe. Jazz Monroe

February 5

After she finished touring in support of 2017s The Weather Station, singer-songwriter Tamara Lindeman engaged in local climate-change activism, which led to a new set of songs that address the turmoil of reckoning with environmental devastation. The result, Ignorance, is her fifth full-length as the Weather Station and her first on Fat Possum. Lindeman composed most of the songs on piano rather than her usual guitar, once again writing string arrangements, too. She also self-directed the videos for the first two singles, Robber and Tried to Tell You. Allison Hussey

TBD

The only thing we know for sure about Weyes Blood LP5 is that its on the way. Natalie Mering recently revealed that shes been locked away the past few months in a new studio, taking psychedelics and working on the follow-up to Titanic Rising. Last years Fear of Death, her collaborative album with comedian Tim Heidecker, tapped into the 70s singer-songwriter vibe for which Mering has become known. And given that shes been listening to everything from King Crimson to Lionel Richie while in isolation, we should expect some surprises on her next solo record. Noah Yoo

February 19

Wild Pinks sophomore album, 2018s Yolk in the Fur, cemented their reputation for contemplative lyrics in the style of early Death Cab for Cutie melded with the surrealistic highway anthems of the War on Drugs. The New York bands follow-up, A Billion Little Lights, enlists producer David Greenbaumwhos won Grammys for his work on two Beck albumsas well as a host of guest musicians. Julia Steiner of Chicagos Ratboys lends a lilting vocal harmony to breakup strummer You Can Have It Back, while The Shining But Tropical has a trippy majesty, like if Tame Impala remixed a vintage E Street Band outtake. Fittingly, frontman John Ross has said, I wanted to have something very lush and just bigger than anything that Id done before. Marc Hogan

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The 41 Most Anticipated Albums of 2021: Kendrick, Rihanna, Adele, and More - Pitchfork

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