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Explore Two Distinct Takes on Robots in New Sci-Fi Novels: ‘Luminous’ by Sylvia Park and ‘The Half-Broken Aether’ by Suzanne Parker

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Detailed view of a cyborg woman's face in a dark environment. Exploring the intersection of AI and storytelling.

Would we connect more with narratives featuring robots with faces and bodies?

Carlos Castile/Alamy

Ode to the Half-Broken
Suzanne Palmer, Daw Books

Bright
Sylvia Park, Magpie

For over a century, writers have explored the complex relationships between humans and robots, delving into themes of empathy and existential threats.

In our reality, the dangers posed by robots manifest through misinformation and the militarization of AI, particularly in warfare. Conversely, literature often highlights individual robots, inviting readers to relate to beings that possess physical forms and emotions.

Imaginary robots elicit various responses: they can be humorous, cool, or even menacing. They often question our humanity and provoke thoughts about ownership akin to that of pets or livestock. Notably, “Murderbot,” created by Martha Wells, encapsulates these diverse aspects of robotics.

This month, I delved into two contrasting novels centered around robots. Both were insightful and eloquently expressed the inner worlds of their characters, yet differed vastly in tone and themes.

In Ode to the Half-Broken, Suzanne Palmer introduces us to an aged robot that emerges from isolation after suffering a loss that signifies much more than just a missing leg. This unlikely trio—a half-dog, half-robot companion and a human mechanic—embarks on a quest that reveals threats to a world seemingly on the path to recovery from post-apocalyptic remnants.

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In Bright, the robots are all abused, and while you empathize with them, some are inherently dangerous.
“

As the gang searches for the lost leg, they uncover larger threats. In Palmer’s vision of the future, robots find autonomy and are respected, creating a narrative that blends adventure and optimism, making it suitable for younger readers.

Conversely, Sylvia Park’s Bright delves into a darker reality, where robots are exploited as substitutes for deceased children and as domestic laborers. Set two decades after the Korean unification, this poignant tale explores the moral complexity of robot-human relationships amidst societal decay.

Jun, a key human protagonist, grapples with robot crimes, especially theft. Her sister Morgan, a robotics expert, struggles to nurture her creations while dealing with profound loss.

Park’s characters are vividly portrayed, eliciting both sympathy and scrutiny. Stephen, a notable character, sparks curiosity, suggesting potential for future stories in this dystopian landscape.

I also recommend:

TV Series:
Battlestar Galactica
(2003-2009) Ronald D. Moore, Prime Video

This reimagining features Cylons that blend seamlessly into human society. Witness the thrilling mysteries and drama unfold as the story reveals human-Cylon identities progressively.

Emily H. Wilson: Author of the Sumerian series (Inanna, Gilgamesh, and Ninchevar, all published by Titan), currently crafting her debut sci-fi novel. A former editor at New Scientist, follow her on Instagram @emilyhwilson1.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Discovers 3I/ATLAS Comet: Key Findings and Insights

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Scientists utilized the WISPR (Wide Field Imager for Solar Exploration) instrument on NASA’s Parker Solar Probe to capture stunning images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS between October 18 and November 5, 2025.

WISPR captures the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Image credit: NRL / NASA / JHUAPL / Guillermo Stenborg, JHUAPL.

Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the NASA-funded ATLAS survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, 3I/ATLAS, also known as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and A11pl3Z, originated from the constellation Sagittarius.

This remarkable interstellar comet approached Mars on October 3 at a distance of just 0.194 AU and reached its perihelion, the closest point to the Sun, on October 30.

On December 19, 3I/ATLAS made its nearest pass to Earth, coming within 270 million kilometers (168 million miles) of our planet.

The spectacular images of 3I/ATLAS were obtained by the WISPR instrument aboard NASA’s Parker Solar Probe during a critical observation window from October 18 to November 5.

“The Parker Solar Probe captured around 10 images of the comet daily,” stated WISPR team members.

“During this observation period, the spacecraft accelerated away from the Sun following its 25th solar flyby on September 15.”

“These initial images are currently undergoing calibration and processing, revealing the comet’s movement behind the Sun from Parker’s vantage point.”

“At that time, the comet was located about 209 million kilometers (130 million miles) from the Sun, just beyond Mars’ orbit.”

“These images offer a rare opportunity to study the comet when it was too close to the Sun for ground-based observations.”

The WISPR team is diligently working to finalize the data by eliminating stray light and adjusting for varying exposure times between images, enhancing the comet’s visibility.

“The final images will significantly advance our understanding of this intriguing interstellar visitor,” researchers concluded.

Source: www.sci.news

Parker Solar Probe successfully completes record-breaking closest approach to the sun

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On December 24, 2024, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will soar just 6.1 million km (3.8 million miles) above the surface of our home planet and hurtle through the solar atmosphere at 692,000 km (430,000 miles) per hour. I did. This is the fastest speed the spacecraft has ever achieved. An object made by humans. A signal received two days later confirmed that the spacecraft had safely passed the encounter and was operating normally.

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe approaches the Sun. Image credit: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

Near the Sun, the Parker Solar Probe relies on a carbon foam shield to protect the probe from the extreme heat in the upper part of the Sun’s atmosphere, called the corona, which can exceed 500,000 degrees Celsius (1 million degrees Fahrenheit).

The shield is designed to reach temperatures of 1,427 degrees Celsius (2,600 degrees Fahrenheit) while keeping the instruments behind it shaded at a comfortable room temperature.

In the hot but low-density corona, the spacecraft’s shield is expected to warm up to 982 degrees Celsius (1,800 degrees Fahrenheit).

“Flying this close to the Sun is a historic moment in humanity’s first mission to the stars,” said Dr. Nikki Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.

“Studying the Sun up close will allow us to better understand its impact on the entire solar system, including the technologies we use every day on Earth and in space, and will also help us understand the workings of stars throughout the universe. We can learn about and help us explore habitable worlds beyond our home planet.

“Parker Solar Probe will venture into one of the most extreme environments in the universe,” said Dr. Noor Rawafi, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and project scientist for the Parker Solar Probe. It has exceeded all expectations.”

“This mission ushered in a new golden age of space exploration and brings us closer than ever to solving the sun’s deepest and most enduring mysteries.”

Parker Solar Probe’s record-breaking distance of 6.1 million kilometers (3.8 million miles) may seem far away, but on a cosmic scale it’s incredibly close. Image credit: NASA/APL.

“Being able to get a spacecraft this close to the sun is monumental,” said John Wurtzberger, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and Parker Solar Probe mission systems engineer. .

“This is a challenge the space science community has wanted to address since 1958, and we’ve spent decades advancing technology to make it possible.”

The Parker Solar Probe will fly through the solar corona to help scientists better understand how the region gets hot, track the origins of the solar wind, and discover how energetic particles We can make measurements that will help us discover how it accelerates to half the speed of light.

“This data is extremely important to the scientific community because it gives us new advantages,” said Dr. Kelly Kolek, a program scientist at NASA Headquarters.

“Parker Solar Probe revolutionizes our understanding of the Sun by providing first-hand knowledge of what is happening in the Sun’s atmosphere.”

So far, the rover is only transmitting that it is safe, but it will soon arrive at a location where it can downlink the data it collects on this latest solar pass.

“The data coming down from the spacecraft will provide fresh information about places we humans have never been before. This is an amazing accomplishment,” said Joe, director of NASA’s Heliophysics Division. Dr. Westlake said.

The spacecraft’s next planned solar approaches will take place on March 22, 2025 and June 19, 2025.

Source: www.sci.news