麻豆传媒

Feedback is 麻豆传媒鈥檚 popular sideways look at the latest science and technology news. You can submit items you believe may amuse readers to Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com

More male than male

In common, we suspect, with most readers, Feedback is casting around for explanations of how the world got into its current position. So we were intrigued by journalist Michael Hobbes鈥檚 , highlighting a 2013 paper in the American Journal of Sociology called

The hypothesis is that, when men鈥檚 maleness is threatened, they overcompensate with 鈥渆xtreme demonstrations of masculinity鈥�. For example, when men were told they were feminine, they responded by expressing more support for 鈥渄ominance hierarchies鈥�, and said they wanted more personal power. They also became more supportive of war and homophobia.

But the bit that got Hobbes鈥檚 attention, because it鈥檚 so utterly ridiculous, is that they expressed interest in buying a sports utility vehicle (SUV).

Reading all this, Feedback was to be found staring into space while the faces of prominent people flashed past. We remembered when singer James Blunt was interviewed on Jessie Ware鈥檚 podcast Table Manners. He admitted that during college days he went on a 鈥� only to be diagnosed with scurvy.

We remembered the many instances of right-wing US men confessing on social media that they did not believe in the existence of the female orgasm because they had never seen a woman experience one.

We remembered Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg trash-talking each other over a proposed cage fight for a year. And we thought those sociologists might have a point.

Ready and not ready

While we are all still trying to adapt to the rise of artificial intelligence, the next technology revolution is on its way: quantum computers. Regular readers will know this already, thanks to issue 3530. But what about all the poor souls that didn鈥檛 pick that up?

Fortunately, computing giant and Netscape-killer Microsoft has the solution: a .

What is on offer? Why, teaching that will help leaders create 鈥渁 clear and comprehensive quantum-ready strategy for durable, competitive differentiation鈥�. Quantum computing, we are promised, 鈥渨ill soon solve meaningful problems and unlock business value in various areas鈥�. Steady with the hype, Microsoft.

As a result of all this coming quantum computing power, leaders must 鈥渦nderstand the organizational change required to lead in the quantum era through a structured approach to business transformation aligned with your organization objectives鈥�. They should 鈥渁ssess quantum鈥檚 impact鈥� on their companies, and 鈥渆xecute a quantum application roadmap鈥�. In other words: do some research, make a plan and carry it out. Truly, you can鈥檛 put a monetary value on advice that combines quality and originality to that extent.

Of course, the problem is that we don鈥檛 know if/when quantum computers will become useful, or exactly what they will be useful for. So a company might spend a lot of time preparing for the quantum future, only to find that a startlingly different quantum future actually occurs.

In a very real sense, even if a company is quantum-ready, it isn鈥檛 quantum-ready. If only there was a thought experiment that could illustrate such a situation.

How to leave the planet

Given the aforementioned state of things, Feedback occasionally wonders if we might depart planet Earth for pastures new. Admittedly, space travel is fraught with perils like meteorite strikes, intense radiation and the sheer mind-boggling scale of interstellar distances that make your death inevitable long before your craft reaches another star system.

But on the other hand, maybe the grass is greener. In idle moments, we fantasise that the approaching asteroid 2024 YR4 is a disguised flying saucer, and we might be able to cadge a lift to Alpha Centauri.

So you can imagine our surprise when we learned, via sustainability consultant Niki Rust on job posting on . A company called Black Book Resourcing Ltd was seeking a Responsibilities include: 鈥渆stablish and maintain life-support systems鈥�, 鈥済enerate power and manage resources for long-term survival鈥� and (just a little bit of understatement here) 鈥渨ork as a team under extreme conditions鈥�.

The rather long 鈥渆ssential requirements鈥� list includes 鈥減eak physical and mental endurance鈥� and a 鈥渂ackground in engineering, medicine, botany, geology, or survival skills鈥�. Confusingly, the list demands both 鈥渁daptability and resilience in complete isolation鈥� and 鈥渟trong teamwork and leadership skills鈥�. Finally, you must have 鈥渘o dependency on Earth鈥檚 luxuries鈥搊nly grit and determination鈥�. 鈥淧rior experience in extreme environments鈥� is optional.

Don鈥檛 all rush: the listing has expired, and we are not at all sure it was genuine. Besides, given the frankly strenuous requirements, Feedback was stunned to see the proposed salary was just 拢60,000-拢100,000 per year. However, the company deserves credit for listing the job as 鈥減ermanent鈥� 鈥� it most certainly would be. Bonus points for the location, which was described simply as 鈥渞emote鈥�.

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