Five Things: Spring 2023

Art and science news you can use.

1

a closeup of a manatee

Manatees are one of the biggest sea herbivores for a reason. Sometimes known as “sea cows,” they can eat up to a whopping 100 pounds of aquatic plants daily. 


2

A view of a large brown planet in space

Is there life beyond Earth? NASA researchers believe they’ve found another habitable planet. Dubbed “Planet TOI 700 e,”  it’s similar in size to Earth and rests within a “Goldilocks Zone,” where it’s neither too hot nor too cold for water to exist. But anyone hoping to visit will have to prepare for a long journey—it’s 100 light years away.


3

a colorful painting of workers in a field
Vincent van Gogh, Red Vineyards at Arles (November 1888). Sold to Anna Boch. Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow

Vincent van Gogh created more than 900 paintings during his lifetime, but he only ever sold one: The Red Vineyard at Arles sold in 1890 for 400 francs (or about $17 at the time). 


4

a group of colorful speech bubbles

Papua New Guinea may be a small country, but it has a lot to say. Its 8 million residents speak more than 840 languages.   


5

a night time view of Pittsburgh

A WalletHub study has ranked Pittsburgh no. 7 in the country for building a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The city earned high marks for its excellent engineering schools, STEM job openings per capita, and quality of life.