By week's end: Pluto, cephalopods and a rescue mission
This week we visit with a probe, crafted by machines and by human hands, that will visit Pluto.
Then: We dive from the dark recesses of deep space to the unknown depths of the ocean to follow the journeys of a giant squid.
And: Find out what it takes to rescue migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea, and explore cooking as a craft.
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Almost to Pluto
The New Horizons probe is nearly there.
On July 14, the spacecraft will have its up-close and personal flyby of the dwarf planet.
How far away is Pluto? Adam Frank explores how long it would take for us to drive there. 'Are we there yet?' doesn't even begin to cover it.
The voyage of a giant squid
The American Museum of Natural History created the Shelf|Life series to explore its vast collection of more than 33 million artifacts and specimens.
While the entire series is well worth watching, the latest episode tracks the voyage of the giant squid.
Turns out, getting a giant squid from New Zealand to New York is no easy feat.
For more on our cephalopod friends, MPR News' Molly Bloom talks cuttlefish on the latest episode of Brains On.
A little more Star Wars in your phone
Feeling a little Sith-like as the week winds down? Or perhaps there's just not enough Star Wars in your life. Now you, too, can Vader up your phone with the official Star Wars app.
(Hat tip to The Verge for the heads-up. Undoubtedly, more Star Wars news will filter out during Comic Con.)
This week's long reads:
The millionaire who rescues migrants at sea by Giles Tremlett | The Guardian
Appalled by migrant deaths in the Mediterranean, Chris Catrambone bought a boat and launched his own rescue mission.
But, as he discovered, there are pitfalls to going it alone.
A question of vision in Marfa by Mark Lamster | Dallas Morning News
An old military hospital was demolished to make room for an art installation in tiny Marfa, Texas. The move highlights fissures in the idiosyncratic town, where Donald Judd moved from New York and set the stage for Marfa to become "an essential destination for art pilgrims."
The Craft of Cooking by Jessica Gross | Longreads
The interview with "America's Test Kitchen" founder Christopher Kimball explores the question of cooking as art or craft: How cooking is like woodworking, the business model behind "Cooks Illustrated," and the awesome powers of baking soda and gelatin.
Weekend events around Minnesota
The Prairie Island Indian Community hosts the annual Dakota Singing and Dancing Championship Wacipi Celebration
• Friday, Saturday and Sunday (July 10-12) | Free and open to all
Wacipi (pronounced wah-CHEE-pee), also known as a powwow, is an annual celebration of pageantry and heritage, this one located on the Treasure Island Casino grounds. Last year, it rained.
Karl Oskar Days in Lindström
• Through Monday (July 8-13) | Free and open to all
Karl Oskar Days celebrate the Swedish-American heritage of the Lindström. Activities include a full schedule of arts and crafts, food, tours of Karl Oskar house and more.
AirExpo 2015
• Saturday and Sunday (July 11-12)
An air show featuring over 50 vintage aircraft and aerial displays. Located at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie.
Weather forecast
Hot this weekend with highs in the mid-80s, a Sunday high in the 90s, and a strong chance for rain Saturday through Sunday.
And, in space: Clear — no aurora expected