23
watch closely the kinds of capabilities
that Russia seems to want to develop,
which could pose a threat not just to
our national-security interest, but
the security of other space-faring na-
tions,” Kirby said.
Several countries, including the
U.S., China, India and now Russia,
have tested ASAT missiles by blasting
their obsolete satellites apart. Earlier
in November, the ISS was forced to
fire up its thrusters and raise its alti-
tude by about a mile in order to avoid
a lingering piece of a weather satellite
China blew up in a 2007 test, which
was on target to come uncomfortably
close. That marked the 29th time the
station has been forced to bob and
weave to stay out of harm’s way since
1999—and it won’t be the last.
Russia’s test marks the latest
contentious development in space,
which has become a new theater of
hostilities between world powers. A
flurry of advancements by the U.S.,
Russia and China has altered the
image of outer space as a peaceful
sanctuary and instead stoked fears
that an arms race has extended into
the heavens. —W.J. HENNIGAN; with
reporting by JEFFrEy KLUGEr
LIFESTYLE
Single people today
care less about looks
EmotIoNAL mAtUrIty tops tHE
list of what U.S. singles are looking
for, beating out all other qualities, ac-
cording to a new study by the dating
site Match released on Nov. 9. It’s one
of many recent shifts in dating trends
that show that singles are reconsider-
ing their relationship priorities in light
of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to a move toward an in-
terest in emotional maturity, the study
found singles are less concerned with
finding someone who is considered
physically attractive. In 2020, 90% of
singles ranked physical attractiveness
as an important quality. This year,
only 78% did. Being open-minded and
accepting of differences was impor-
tant to 83% of respondents; being a
good communicator was a high prior-
ity for 84%.
The effect of the pandemic on
these cultural changes cannot be em-
phasized enough, according to Helen
Fisher, Match’s chief science adviser,
who says trends emerging because of
COVID-19 have the potential to im-
pact how we date and form partner-
ships forever.
A need for security and stability
was especially apparent in the survey:
Singles indicated that their desire for
a financially stable partner was nearly
20% higher this year than over the
past two years. The desire for a part-
ner with a similar level of education
and successful career rose 10% and
5%, respectively, since 2019.
A majority of singles reported
being eager to be off the market—the
sooner, the better. The study found
only 11% of singles want to date ca-
sually, while 62% said they’re look-
ing for meaningful and committed
relationships.
Urgency has also become a factor:
65% of those surveyed, especially
Gen Z and millennial singles, said they
wanted a relationship within the next
year. And while the importance of
putting a ring on it increased by nearly
20% this year over the past two years
for all singles, men across the board
had a more significant increase—22%
more men indicated that they now
want to get married, compared with
14% more women.
Fisher also notes that singles are
looking to find more meaning in not
only their romantic partnerships but
also in their independent lives, work-
ing on themselves and prioritizing
their physical and mental health.
“This is a historic time in human
courtship,” she tells TIME. “I’m not
surprised that those that came out of it
alive grew up.” —CADy LANG‘A n
irresponsible
act.’
—JOHN KIRBYThe Brief is reported by Eloise Barry,
Brian Bennett, Paulina Cachero,
Madeleine Carlisle, Tara Law, Sanya
Mansoor, Ciara Nugent, Billy Perrigo
and Olivia B. Waxman