Space

With little fanfare, NASA released on online simulation of spacewalking, the ISS, and real science in space. Real physics, real challenges, no sissified arcade-y action or twitch gaming. Just you, physics, and a mission. And they call it... "Statio ...

Blog Post - Alex "Sandy" Antunes - Apr 16 2010 - 1:26pm

Lunar Poles May Be Electrified, Study Finds

A new study in the Journal of Geophysical Research suggest that solar wind may charge polar lunar craters to hundreds of volts as it flows over natural obstructions on the moon. The findings are important for NASA scientists who are investigating the resou ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 19 2010 - 1:13pm

Tubey The Satellite Kit

I just received edition 1.1 of the "TubeSat Personal Satellite Kit Assembly Guide". Rather than reprinting the entire 50-page instruction set, I decided to rewrite it as "Building Tubey, the Picosatellite", in faux children book style. ...

Article - Project Calliope - Apr 20 2010 - 9:01pm

VISTA Captures Hidden Stars In Cat's Paw Nebula

The ESO's VISTA telescope has captured a stunning new image of the Cat's Paw Nebula- NGC 6334. The view in the infrared is strikingly different from that in visible light. With dust obscuring the view far less, astronomers can learn much more abo ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 21 2010 - 12:24pm

Neptune-Sized Exoplanet Upsets Assumptions

The exoplanet GJ 436b has left scientists confused after defying their assumptions about the composition of its atmosphere. Neptune-sized planets as hot as 800 Kelvin-- about 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit-- should contain high levels of methane and very little ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 22 2010 - 12:15pm

Here comes the sun (photos)

Absolutely stunning photos are now being released from NASA's new telescope, the Solar Dynamics Observatory. Over the course of its five-year mission, it will study the sun's magnetic field and also provide a better understanding of the role the ...

Blog Post - Becky Jungbauer - Apr 22 2010 - 4:51pm

Symphony Of Science

How often do you hear a song featuring Bill Nye? Well, often-- it's part of his shtick. But to hear him remixed with 3 other science populist greats, that's a treat. It's "We Are All Connected (feat. Sagan, Feynman, deGrasse Tyson and ...

Article - Alex "Sandy" Antunes - Apr 23 2010 - 8:48am

Hawking Warns of Alien Encounters as American Space Weapon Launched

Just a couple of quick news stories: In keeping with the theme of 2010, that humans should be ashamed of themselves, Stephen Hawking, it seems, is generally pessimistic about man. In a recently completed documentary series for the Discovery Channel, Hawki ...

Blog Post - Brian Taylor - Apr 25 2010 - 5:45pm

Extraterrestrials: A Dime A Dozen

Last Monday Stephen Hawking gave a lecture at the George Washington University for the 50th anniversary of NASA. There he discussed the chance of a contact between our civilization and an extraterrestrial one. And he warned about the risks we may be facing ...

Article - Tommaso Dorigo - Apr 26 2010 - 11:07am

Earth Microbes Could Contaminate Search For Martian Life

A study in Applied and Environmental Microbiology suggests that bacteria common to spacecraft may be able to survive the harsh conditions on Mars long enough to inadvertently contaminate the planet with terrestrial life. Despite sterilization efforts made ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 27 2010 - 10:57am