Friday, June 29, 2012

Hidden Portals in Earth's Magnetic Field

Source - NASA Science News for June 29, 2012

A NASA-sponsored researcher has developed a way for spacecraft to hunt down hidden magnetic portals in the vicinity of Earth. These gateways link the magnetic field of our planet to that of the sun, setting the stage for stormy space weather.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/29jun_hiddenportals/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3_vW5yrNek

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Evidence Mounts for an Underground Ocean on Titan

Source: NASA Science News for June 28, 2012

Saturn's giant moon Titan appears to have an underground ocean of liquid water, according to a newly-released analysis of data from NASA's Cassini probe.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/28jun_titanocean/

Stellar Flare Blasts Exoplanet

Source - NASA Science News for June 28, 2012

Working in tandem, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and Swift satellite have caught a distant star blasting one of its own planets with a powerful stellar flare.

The eruption stripped thousands of tons of material from the planet's atmosphere.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/28jun_alienflare/

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

CBS Editor's Note by Scott Pelley regarding Neil Armstrong.


In a Editor's Note by Scott Pelley he writes about a letter received from Neil Armstrong that takes both he, Scott Pelley, and CBS to task for how they were not complete in their description of his testimony to Congress regarding his views about private companies working with NASA in a recent episode of 60 Minutes featuring Elon Musk and SpaceX.

From the article:

"Armstrong wrote us to say we had not been complete in our description of his testimony. He's right. When you look at what Armstrong said to Congress, you see that while he was "not confident" that the newcomers could achieve safety and cost goals in the near term, he did want to "encourage" them. We should have made that clear in our 60 Minutes report and in our story on The CBS Evening News. Also, we should have spelled out that his concerns were directed toward the "newcomers" in general and not SpaceX in particular."


Here is the URL to the actual article:


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57458233/editors-note/?tag=showDoorFlexGridRight;flexGridModule

It's a pretty good read, and I think CBS and Scott Pelley deserve credit for correcting the misinterpretation Neil Armstrong's views on private enterprise participating in the exploration of space.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Big Picture Science for 06/25/12 - Seth's Storm Shelter

Image for Big Picture Science weekly radio show
Big Picture Science - Seth's Storm Shelter

Expect the unexpected when we go digging in Seth’s storm shelter – who knows what we’ll find! In this cramped never-never land, tucked between piles of dehydrated food packets and old civil defense helmets, we stumble (but don’t step) upon marauding ants … a mission to Pluto…. “evidence” of a spaceship crash … the Apollo astronaut who shot the “Earth Rise” photograph … and Jonah Lehrer meditating on creativity.

Tune in, find out and, help move this box of canned soup, will you?

Guests:

Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Seth_s_Storm_Shelter

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Voyager 1 at the Final Frontier

Source - NASA Science News for June 22, 2012

At the edge of the solar system, Voyager 1 is reporting a sharp increase in cosmic rays that could herald the spacecraft's long-awaited breakthrough into interstellar space.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/21jun_finalfrontier/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFnJzyxd78o


Evidence Mounts for Ice in Huge Lunar Crater

Source - NASA Science News for June 20, 2012

According to data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, ice may make up as much as 22 percent of the surface material in Shackleton crater at the Moon's south pole.

You can find the full story here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/20jun_shackleton/

Monday, June 18, 2012

Big Picture Science for 06/18/12 - Skeptic Check: OMG, GMO?

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Big Picture Science - Skeptic Check: OMG, GMO?

You are what you eat. But what does that mean if your food is genetically engineered? And the chances are good that it has been engineered if you munch down on corn or soybean. The prospect of eating GM food makes some folks afraid, but is their fear warranted?

Discover what experts say about the safety of genetically engineered foods … whether the technology delivers on the promised increase in yield … and the argument for and against labeling.

Also, why some say the issue is not food safety, but the unethical business practices of multinationals. A filmmaker reports from the fields of India.

Plus, GM crops off this planet: the role of synthetic biology in terraforming Mars.

It’s Skeptic Check … but don’t take our word for it.

Guests:

Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Skeptic_Check_OMG_GMO_

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Double CME Hits Earth, Sparks Auroras

Source - Space Weather News for June 17, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

As predicted, a double CME hit Earth's magnetic field on June 16th.  The impact strongly compressed Earth's magnetosphere, exposing geosynchronous satellites to solar wind plasma and sparking more than 24 hours of geomagnetic storms.  (The storms are still in progress as this alert is being written during the middle hours of June 17th.) In the United States, Northern Lights have descended as far south as Wisconsin, Washington, Minnesota, and the Dakotas.  Southern hemisphere observers are also reporting colorful aurora australis.  Check http://spaceweather.com for photos and updates.

AURORA ALERTS: Would you like a call when geomagnetic storms are underway? Aurora alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Why Won't the Supernova Explode?

Source - NASA Science News for June 15, 2012

A question has been troubling astronomers: Why won't the supernova explode? While real stars blow up, computer models of massive dying stars do not result in much of a bang. NASA has launched a new observatory named "NuSTAR" to seek out the missing physics of stellar explosions.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/15jun_nustar/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVMwwKmF9NA

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Double CME Targets Earth

Source - Space Weather News for June 14, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

DOUBLE CME:  Active sunspot AR1504 is facing Earth and hurling coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in our direction.  A fast-moving CME that left the sun on June 14th is expected to scoop up another CME already en route and deliver a double-blow to Earth's magnetic field on June 16th.  Weak-to-moderate geomagnetic storms are possible when the clouds arrive.  Check http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.

AURORA ALERTS: Would you like a call when geomagnetic storms are underway? Aurora alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Monday, June 11, 2012

Unprecedented Blooms of Ocean Plant Life

Source - NASA Science News for June 8, 2012

Scientists have made a biological discovery in Arctic Ocean waters as unexpected as finding a rainforest in the middle of a desert.

You can find the complete story here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/08jun_arcticbloom/

Mars Rover Aims for Landing Closer to Prime Science Site

Source - NASA Science News for June 11, 2012

NASA has narrowed the landing zone for Mars rover Curiosity, which is due to reach the Red Planet in August. The rover will touch down closer to its science target, but also closer to the foot of a mountain slope that poses a landing hazard.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/11jun_landingsite/

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Big Picture Science for 06/11/12 - Can We Talk?

Image for Big Picture Science weekly radio show
Big Picture Science - Can We Talk?

You can get your point across in many ways: email, texts, or even face-to-face conversation (does anyone do that anymore?). But ants use chemical messages when organizing their ant buddies for an attack on your kitchen. Meanwhile, your human brain sends messages to other brains without you uttering a word.

Hear these communication stories … how language evolved in the first place… why our brains love a good tale …and how Facebook is keeping native languages from going extinct.

Guests:

Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Can_We_Talk_

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.

Friday, June 08, 2012

Hubble Transit of Venus

Source - Space Weather News for June 7, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

HUBBLE TRANSIT OF VENUS:  Transits of Venus are rare.  Transits of Venus with the Hubble Space Telescope alongside are unprecedented.  Astrophotographer Thierry Legault has captured a historic photo of Hubble crossing the face of the sun right beside the inky-black disk of Venus.  It is highlighted on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com.

The world's largest collection of Venus Transit images may be found in Space Weather's new realtime photo gallery:  http://spaceweather.com/gallery/

SOLAR FLARE ALERTS: Would you like a call when sunspots erupt? Solar flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Transit of Venus - Full Coverage from Space Weather News

Source - Space Weather News for June 5, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

TRANSIT OF VENUS: The historic 2012 Transit of Venus commences today, June 5th, at 3:09 pm Pacific Daylight Time (22:09 UT). Spaceweather.com is covering the event with observing tips, a real-time photo gallery, and links to live webcasts from around the world.  Extraordinary photos of Venus taken during the hours leading up to the transit are also featured on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com .

SOLAR WIND:  A stream of high-speed solar wind is buffeting Earth's magnetic field, stirring geomagnetic activity around the poles.  NOAA forecasters estimate a better-than-even chance of high-latitude geomagnetic storms during the next 24 hours.  Aurora alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Monday, June 04, 2012

The Mysterious Arc of Venus

Source - NASA Science News for June 4, 2012

Astronomers hope to glimpse a "ring of fire" around Venus during its historic transit across the sun on June 5-6. The apparition, if it is seen, could help crack some of the deepest mysteries of the second planet.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/04jun_arcofvenus/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nXv9YvkNyA

Big Picture Science for 06/04/12 - Better Mousetrap

Image for Big Picture Science weekly radio show
Big Picture Science - Better Mousetrap

ENCORE It’s the perennial dream: build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door. We go to San Jose’s famed Tech Museum to learn what it takes to turn a good idea into a grand success.

Remember the Super Soaker squirt gun? Hear how its inventor is now changing the rules for solar energy.

Where do good ideas come from? A Eureka moment in the bathtub? We’ll find out that it doesn’t happen so quickly – or easily.

And finally, the life cycle of society-changing technologies, from the birth of radio to the future of the Internet.

Inventions, inventors and innovation: all part of the mix on “Better Mousetrap.”

Guests:

Originally released February 7, 2011

Permalink: http://radio.seti.org/episodes/Better_Mousetrap

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.

Sunday, June 03, 2012

Lunar Eclipse on Monday, June 4th

Source - Space Weather News for Sunday, June 3rd: http://spaceweather.com

LUNAR ECLIPSE: On June 4th, the full Moon will pass through the shadow of Earth, producing a partial lunar eclipse visible across the Pacific side of our planet.  The eclipse zone stretches from east Asia to central parts of North America. In the United States, the event is visible during the hours before sunrise on Monday morning.  Check http://spaceweather.com for more information and updates.

SOLAR FLARE ALERTS: Would you like a call when sunspots erupt? Solar flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Saturday, June 02, 2012

James Cook and the Transit of Venus

Source - NASA Science News for June 2, 2012

What's the best reason to observe the 2012 Transit of Venus? It could be history. Today's story from Science@NASA recounts one explorer's role in "the Apollo program of the 18th Century."

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/02jun_jamescook/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Lx4fC42KI




(Sorry, but this looks like a duplicate video from NASA)

Friday, June 01, 2012

The ISS Transit of Venus

Source - NASA Science News for May 31, 2012

High above Earth, astronaut Don Pettit is about to become the first human to witness and photograph a transit of Venus from space. His images and commentary will be streamed to Earth during the crossing.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/31may_isstransitofvenus/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Lx4fC42KI

Astronomers Predict Titanic Collision: Milky Way vs. Andromeda

Source - NASA Science News for May 31, 2012

NASA astronomers announced today they can now predict with certainty the next major cosmic event to affect our galaxy, sun, and solar system: the titanic collision of our Milky Way galaxy with neighboring Andromeda.

FULL STORY: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/31may_andromed