Control panel and mural at the Byurakan astrophysical observatory, Armenia
The Soviets presented science as a utopian ideal. Thousands of researchers worked in imperfect secrecy on ‘big science’ initiatives, mostly for cold war military objectives. In the 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, many institutions were left destitute and their advanced technology was doomed to extinction.
Reaching for the stars: enduring symbols of Soviet science – in pictures
The photographer Eric Lusito takes us on a scientific journey through space and time in a book on Soviet scientific institutes
A stairwell in the damaged building of the Institute of Radio Astronomy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kharkiv.
@evan thanks
The list of clothes that I am going to make for my minimum viable outfit with my initial estimates on time:
- Full-length tunic dress (1.5 hours)
- Boxers (45 minutes)
- Sports Bra (2 hours)
- Socks (30 Minutes *I have worked out a pattern to sew socks since my usual knitted method takes 15-40 hours per pair. They are not the most comfortable socks, but they'll work in an emergency)
@js that's a great read.
My self-imposed rules to make this challenge more realistic:
1.) I'm only using a basic set of tools (18" straight edge, pins, tape measure, seam ripper, chalk pen, pencil, scissors, and a basic sewing machine since I wouldn't have my extended set of tools available in an emergency
2.) I'm only using natural fiber supplies that I'd be likely to find in an emergency. You can almost always find 100% cotton woven fabric (either quilting cotton or bedsheets), so I'll be using that for most of the clothes. 100% cotton jersey knit fabric is really hard to find in stores, so I'll be using a tee-shirt for the bra and socks. I'll also be using elastic for the boxers (not pictured, oops), but if I can't find that at the store, I can salvage it from the pair of sheets I use for the dress).
New data: Top CDNs used by the 1.9 million new podcast episodes found in April 2026
I believe the Fediverse can connect people in meaningful ways and that so connected we can make a more just, equitable and sustainable world.