1989: The Exxon Valdez runs aground in Prince William Sound, spilling nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil across 1,300 miles of Alaskan coastline. In terms of environmental damage, it ranks among the worst man-made catastrophes ever, and one whose repercussions are felt to this day.

The Exxon Valdez, a single-hull oil tanker measuring nearly 1,000 feet long, was laden with 53 million gallons of crude. After clearing the Valdez Narrows, Master Joseph Hazelwood briefly resumed control of the ship from the port of Valdez harbor pilot.

Then he quit the wheel house, leaving the third mate and an...

Fetish

Photo: Spencer Lowell

Even a basic telescope can deliver clear views of celestial regulars like Jupiter and its moons. But for NASA-worthy sights of, say, the Crab Nebula, you need serious gear—and serious coin. Enter the Meade MAX 20? telescope. Its optics are coated with nanothin layers of proprietary materials that help guide every cosmic photon into your eye or camera. And the focal plane is almost perfectly flat, so the edges of your shots won’t be too blurry. Press a button and the robotic mount points the 20-in...