This Week in Science: Bad Politicians, Electric Sand, and Blowing Off Steam

It’s time for “Nerd News,” covering the most important news for your brain.

Here’s a quick rundown of this week in science . . .

1.  If worrying about the Andromeda Galaxy crashing into us in four billion years keeps you up at night, good news!  A study found there’s only a 50/50 chance it’ll happen.

2.  In other space news:  NASA plans to announce tomorrow how they plan to get the stranded Boeing astronauts back from the Space Station . . . we found a huge, star-sized object zipping through the Milky Way at 1.3 million miles an hour . . . and the Moon was once covered in a sea of molten rock.

3.  In “are you a good listener” news:  A study found we don’t just vent to blow off steam.  We also do it to win people over and turn them against our enemies.

4.  In beach news:  A study found zapping sand with electricity creates a sort of natural cement.  We might be able to use it to prevent coastal erosion.

5.  In “where you from” news:  A study found birds have different accents depending on where they live.  They can even be bilingual.

6.  And in election news:  A study found super-ambitious people might not actually be the best leaders.  (That’s why I’m voting for my nephew, Kevin.)