(Still) Timely Topics: COVID Travel Safely, Dating in a Pandemic, the Great Conjunction

First, The 21st hears from two experts on how to stay safe, and what steps we can take if traveling is absolutely essential this holiday season. 

Then, with COVID-19 surging across Illinois, returning to casual, in-person dating is out of the question for the time being. But hearts will find a way. Nine months into the pandemic, how have people been dating? And what are the safest ways to do so? The 21st Show discusses these questions and more with the founder of the Smart Dating Academy in Chicago, a date coaching business that teaches professionals how to date and a researcher at the University of Illinois who studies rituals and relationships.

Lastly, December 20, 2020 marked the darkest evening of the year. However, it was a little brighter this year than usual due to a rare astronomical sight called a Great Conjunction. The planets Jupiter and Saturn will be lined up in the sky. A version of this happens every couple decades — but this year is special — it’s the closest our solar system’s largest planets have appeared in centuries. Joining us to talk more about this phenomena was the director of public observing at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, and author of the book, “Astronomy Lab for Kids.”

Prepared for web by Zainab Qureshi. 

Help shape our coverage on The 21st by joining our texting group and answering weekly questions. To join, text “TALK” to 217-803-0730 or sign up with your phone number below: