So it seems that space, that we like to consider a frozen desert, has a lot more water than we first imagined. Scientist have discovered an ancient lake, deep in space, that could be the oldest reservoir known. But this is no mere lake,it’s so large that it could provide each person on Earth an entire planet’s worth of water—20,000 times over.
Wow…
Go check out the article from NASA and let me know what you think.
I had just a quick image to share with you, showing the motion of our Solar System. It’s amazing how slow the outer planets move around the Sun.
I have been spending alot of time on Google+ and it’s become my favorite social media site. So many different communities out there to meet new people and learn new things.
One post that caught my eye came from Astrophysicist Brian Koberlein, where he talked about studying data from the Kepler Mission (Kepler is an orbital observatory NASA uses to search for Earth like planets in our galaxy).
Based on early analysis of data taken from the Kepler Mission, it seems there are a ton of Earth sized planets, sitting in the habitable zone of stars the same size as our Sun. But the one thing that strikes me as most amazing is that Kepler has only scanned a tiny fraction of our galaxy.
Check out this image from artist Jon Lomberg that shows just how little of our galaxy that Kepler has been able to scan. There could be billions of habitable Earth sized worlds in our galaxy alone. Now consider the fact that there are about 100 billion galaxies in the observable Universe, and let that simmer in your brain for a while.
So go click on the link to Brian’s post, and let a Universe of possibilities open up in your mind. It’s scientists like Brian that help us understand where we are today, so that we can find a way to a better tomorrow!
Yes, the fantastic Bill Nye is back, talking about how solar power is used in space! Check it out and subscribe to the channel if you love your science.
In this edition of Sunday Science, the great Bill Nye explains to just how dangerous the radiation of Jupiter is, and the steps that NASA had to take to protect the Juno spacecraft on it’s mission to study Jupiter.
I know I had fallen off with the weekly Sunday Science, but we are back, baby! And this week, I want to start something a bit different than what I had been doing. Universe Today is a great site, and we will surely go back there, but I just found the amazing Bill Nye (yes, the science guy!) and he has some really cool videos that I want to share.
This week’s Sunday Science is topical, as the Juno Earth Flyby just happened a few days ago. Let’s listen in as Bill explains what it’s all about.
I would highly recommend subscribing to the THNKR channel. Lots of good stuff on there people. Remember, get your kids into science early. Our future depends on them!
Well, looks like a team from the University of Southhampton’s Optoelectronics Research Center and Eindhoven’s University of Technology have created such a thing.
They were able to create the first document that will outlast the human race. Using laser’s and a storage structure that consists of self-assembled nanostructures within fused quartz, the team copied 300kb of data to an object that can withstand temperatures up to 1,832 Fahrenheit.
What’s more, this new structure is capable of holding up to 360tb of data.
Wow.
And that is just the start. Where will this technology be in 5, 10 or even 15 years? Imagine, the entire sum of knowledge of the human race can now exist long after we are gone.
Let’s just make sure it’s not all cat videos and Jersey Shore reruns…
Go check out the article here, and ponder the implications of this breakthrough.
Antigravity has long been a common element of science fiction.
From powering spaceships to helping people carry heavy loads, antigravity is a favorite tool of authors everywhere.
In the late 20th century, astronomers discovered data that suggests that the universe is continuing to expand at an accelerated rate.
Let’s ponder that for a moment. The universe is expanding, not at a rate that is slowing over time, but going faster over time.
The conventional model of physics says that a form of energy called “dark energy” makes up about 70% of the energy in the universe.
A new study, however, indicates that it could be matter and antimatter repelling each other, creating an antigravity which pushes the particles away from each other.
Now this goes against all common sense, and the fact that we have been unable to observe antimatter in space makes it rather hard to prove, but Vanessa D’amico wrote an interesting article over on UniverseToday.com. Go read it, and expand your mind!
July 8th, 2011 marked an unprecedented time in the space program.
For the first time since 1962, America didn’t have a way to put astronauts into space from US soil.
There are many people who feel we have more than enough problems to deal with here on Earth, and we are just wasting time and money by trying to go to space.
While I certainly won’t debate that we have plenty of problems here on Earth, the benefits that come from the space program are enjoyed by everyone today.
Satellites, GPS and countless more innovations are direct products of the space program.
So yes, right now is a dark time in US technology. If we continue down this path, then we cede vital innovations to Europe and China. These same innovations will inspire a new generation of American youth to move into the sciences.
But a new day is dawning.
Boeing, SpaceX and Sierra Nevada Corp, with contributions from NASA, are developing the next generation of capsules designed to carry astronauts into space, launched from American soil.
Ken Kremer wrote an article on UniverseToday.com that has all the details. Go read, go learn.
And if you need more information on why our space program is important, please read what Neil deGrasse Tyson has to say.
This is a smart man, so please listen to him…
I hope you guys are having a great Memorial Day weekend. I got so into creating Suzi’s new pages that I totally spaced it and forgot about Sunday Science!
But never fear, science will always find a way.
Today, let’s talk about the Holy Grail of science (yeah, wrap your head around that statement!): The Grand Unified Theory. This theory seeks to explain all the physical phenomenons in the Universe. This sounds easy, but we use two different systems to observe the Universe.
In the biggest scale, the “classic mechanics” theory covers how the planets orbit around suns and things like that. The problem begins when we get down to the atomic level. The rules change, and we use Quantum mechanics to explain how particles behave.
The question that perplexes science is why doesn’t classic mechanics work at the sub-atomic levels?
Tega Jessa has written a great article over at UniverseToday.com. Go read, and learn something new today!