NASA's GRAIL Moon Twins Begin Extended Mission Science - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Source: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/

"PASADENA, Calif. - NASA's twin, lunar-orbiting Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft began data collection for the start of the mission's extended operations. 

At 9:28 a.m. PDT (12:28 p.m. EDT) yesterday, while the two spacecraft were 19 miles (30 kilometers) above the moon's Ocean of Storms, the Lunar Gravity Ranging System -- the mission's sole science instrument aboard both GRAIL twins -- was energized."

Click the link below to read the rest of the article:

NASA's GRAIL Moon Twins Begin Extended Mission Science - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Artist concept of GRAIL mission. Grail will fly twin spacecraft in tandem orbits around the moon to measure its gravity field in unprecedented detail. Image credit: NASA/JPL

The Radiation Belt Storm Probes

Source - NASA Science News for August 30, 2012

Most spacecraft try to avoid the Van Allen Belts, two doughnut-shaped regions around Earth filled with "killer electrons." This morning NASA launched two heavily-shielded spacecraft directly into the belts. The Radiation Belt Storm Probes are on a two-year mission to study the Van Allen Belts and to unravel the mystery of their dangerous unpredictability.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/30aug_rbsp/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5KKHzWafDg

Watch Out for the Blue Moon

Source - NASA Science News for August 29, 2012

The full Moon of August 31st is a "Blue Moon," the second full moon in a calendar month. Could the Moon actually turn blue? Today's story from Science@NASA discusses the surprising possibilities.

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

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HRKl0fa2dg

Wide Awake in the Sea of Tranquillity

Source - NASA Science News for August 27, 2012

The Apollo 11 moon landing of July 1969 was as heart-pounding as any modern sci-fi thriller--and far more transformative. To mark the passing of the man who stepped out of the lunar lander and put his footprint in the moondust first, Science@NASA invites you to read a retrospective story about Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's historic visit to the Sea of Tranquillity.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2006/19jul_seaoftranquillity/

Big Picture Science for 08/27/12 - Skeptic Check: Monsters, Magic, and Music

Big Picture Science - Skeptic Check: Monsters, Magic, and Music

ENCORE: If Bigfoot walks through a forest and no one sees him, does he exist? It’s the job of paranormal investigator Joe Nickell to find out! Discover whether eyewitness accounts are reliable when it comes to tracking down the hirsute big guy and other monsters.

Also, on the subject of “seeing is believing”: how magic fools the brain.

Plus, in our potpourri show: can music boost brain power? A new study says listening to music makes brains happy. Does this support the dubious “Mozart Effect,” that claims listening to Wolfie’s compositions boosts IQ?

And, skeptic Phil Plait on why the so-called “super moon theory” doesn’t predict devastating earthquakes.

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

Guests:

• Joe Nickell – Paranormal investigator and author of Tracking the Man-beasts: Sasquatch, Vampires, Zombies, and More
• Stephen Macknik – Director of the Laboratory of Behavioral Neurophysiology at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona
• Susana Martinez-Conde – Director of the Laboratory of Visual Neuroscience at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona
• Phil Plait – Astronomer, and author of the Bad Astronomy blog at Discover Magazine
  
• Valorie Salimpoor – Researcher at Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Quebec, Canada
• Penny Glass – Developmental psychologist and associate professor of pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine

First aired March 21, 2011

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

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.

Curiosity Begins Driving at Bradbury Landing

Source - NASA Science News for August 22, 2012

Curiosity has made its first tire tracks on Mars. On August 22nd, the massive rover began driving from its landing site, which scientists have named for the late author Ray Bradbury.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/22aug_bradbury/

Curiosity Zaps First Martian Rock

Source - NASA Science News for August 19, 2012

NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has fired its laser for the first time on Mars, using the beam to study a fist-size rock called "Coronation."

FULL STORY: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/19aug_curiosity3/

Big Picture Science for 08/20/12 - ¡A.I. Caramba!

Big Picture Science - ¡A.I. Caramba!

ENCORE When the IBM computer, Watson, snatched the “Jeopardy” title from its human competition, that raised the question of just how smart are machines? Could artificial intelligence ever beat humans at their own game… of being human?

Hear why an A.I. expert says it’s time to make peace with your P.C.; the machines are coming. Also, why technology is already self-evolving, and presenting its own demands. Find out what technology wants.

And, a man who went head-to-chip with a computer and says machines will never beat the human mind. Plus, we take a voyage into “2012: An Emotional Odyssey.”

Guests:

• Kevin Kelly – Editor-at-large at Wired and author of What Technology Wants
• Henry Lieberman – Research scientist at the M.I.T. Media Laboratory
• Brian Christian – Science writer, poet and author of The Most Human Human: What Talking with Computers Teaches Us About What It Means to Be Alive
• Horst Simon – Deputy Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Shankar Sastry – Dean of Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
• Jean Paul Jacob – Scholar in Residence at U.C. Berkeley and IBM Researcher, Emeritus

First aired March 28, 2011

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

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.

Solar Activity Moderately High

Source - Space Weather News for August 18, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR ACTIVITY PICKS UP: Following a week of quiet, solar activity is picking up again with a series of M-class solar flares off the sun's northeastern limb.  So far none of the eruptions has been Earth-directed.  This could change, however, with the approach of an active farside sunspot that appears set to turn toward our planet in the days ahead.  Check http://spaceweather.com for movies and forecasts.

SOLAR FLARE ALERTS: Would you like a call when solar flares are underway? X-flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Where on Mars will Curiosity go first?

Source - NASA Science News for August 17, 2012

Curiosity is safe on Mars and ready to roll. In today's story from Science@NASA, project scientist John Grotzinger discusses where the rover might go first.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/17aug_curiosity2/

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


 

THE GALILEOSCOPE

The following text was copied from http://www.fundageek.com/project/detail/549/Telescopes4Teachers with permission from project leader Douglas Arion. This re-post is intended solely for the promotion of the project and it's goal of promoting science education.


THE GALILEOSCOPE

Galileoscope was developed during the 2009 International Year of Astronomy to provide a high quality but inexpensive telescope kit to introduce people to telescopes, optics, and the night sky. Over 200,000 have been produced and delivered to over 100 countries, and a donation program during the IYA put 7000 into third-world nations.

The Galileoscopes has been extremely successful - educational materials have been developed for teachers - including the Galileo Teacher Training Program in Europe and the Teaching with Telescopes program developed by National Optical Astronomy Observatories in Tucson, AZ. Instructions have been translated into many languages, and there is a huge installed base of telescopes and programs. Check out a Google Images search on Galileoscope, and you'll see them used all over the world!

Now, we want to put Galileoscopes into schools here in the States - by raising funds to donate Galileoscopes into classrooms through our new telescopes4teachers.org program. Everyone agrees that science education needs a boost. The Galileoscope - designed for education - is the perfect tool.  We want to get 5000 into classrooms by the time school starts in the fall. Yes - that's only a fraction of the students in the country - but it's a good start. If that's successful, we can move forward to reach even more students. Teachers, schools, and school districts don't have the discretionary funds to buy supplies, much less a great teaching tool like the Galileoscope - we're going to have to find ways, like Fundageek, to get the funds to put telescopes into classrooms. telescopes4teachers is operated through a 501(c)(3) nonprofit - so donations are tax deductible in the US.

How best to do that? Designate a teacher or school to receive a Galileoscope, or, better yet, a case of six. We need $50 to send a Galileoscope to a classroom, or $200 to send a case. Tell us who should get it, and we'll send it!

Other Ways You Can Help

Let the teachers in your area know about this program - perhaps they can get the word out to the parents of their students, who can help make science education a reality in their schools. Talk to people who are into astronomy - or science education - and let them know how cool this is. And do a Google Images search on Galileoscope - you'll be amazed at how they're being used all over the world - then share those pictures with those who can help us out.


ADDITIONAL LINKS

1. Galileoscope.org
2. Astrogear | Telescopes4Teachers

Vist: http://www.fundageek.com/project/detail/549/Telescopes4Teachers if you wish to contact Douglas Arion, download documents for the project, or pledge funds for the project.

Big Picture Science for 08/13/12 - A Martian Curiosity

Big Picture Science - A Martian Curiosity

We dig the Red Planet! And so does Curiosity. After a successful landing, and a round of high-fives at NASA, the latest rover to land on Mars is on the move, shovel in mechanical hand.

Discover how the Mars Science Laboratory will hunt for the building blocks of life, and just what the heck a lipid is. Plus, how to distinguish Martians from Earthlings, and the tricks Mars has played on us in the past (canals, anyone?).

Also, want to visit Mars firsthand? We can point you to the sign-up sheet for a manned mission. The catch: the ticket is one-way.

Guests:

• John Grotzinger – Geologist, California Institute of Technology, and project scientist, NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission
• Jennifer Heldmann – Research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center
• Rachel Harris – Astrobiology student at the NASA Astrobiology Institute
• Stuart Schlisserman – Physician in Palo Alto, California
• Felisa Wolfe-Simon – NASA astrobiology research fellow, Lawrence Berkeley National Labs
• Bas Lansdorp – Founder, Mars One

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

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.

The Perseid Meteor Shower is Underway

Source - Space Weather News for August 11, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

PERSEID METEOR SHOWER: Earth is entering a stream of debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, source of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Worldwide observers are now reporting more than 30 Perseids per hour, a number that could triple during the weekend when Earth reaches the heart of the debris zone. Forecasters recommend looking during the dark hours before dawn, especially Sunday morning, August 12th, when activity is expected to be highest. Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps, observing tips, and links to a live meteor radar.

Don't just watch meteors, wear them:  Authentic meteorite jewelry is available in the Space Weather Store:  http://www.shopspaceweather.com/ownameteorite.aspx

The Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend

Source - NASA Science News for August 10, 2012

The Perseid meteor shower is underway. There's more to see than meteors, however, when the shower peaks on August 11th through 13th. The brightest planets in the solar system are lining up in the middle of the display.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/10aug_perseids/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=106ne66KAuw

'Meteor Smoke' Linked to Noctilucent Clouds

Source - NASA Science News for August 8, 2012

A key ingredient of Earth's strangest clouds does not come from Earth. New data from NASA's AIM spacecraft shows that "meteor smoke" is essential to the formation of noctilucent clouds.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/07aug_meteorsmoke/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzs9ZOsjF-c

Amazing Image of Curiosity Parachuting to Mars

Source - NASA Science News for August 6, 2012

With split-second timing, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has captured an amazing snapshot of Curiosity parachuting to the surface of Mars.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/06aug_parachute/

Big Picture Science for 08/06/12 - Fuel's Paradise

Big Picture Science - Fuel's Paradise

ENCORE You know the joke about the car and the snail. Look at that escargot? Well, snails may be the only thing not powering the automobiles of the future. Trees, grass, algae, even the garbage you toss on the sidewalk has potential for conversion into biofuel. What is America’s next top model fuel? Join us on a tour of the contenders.

Meet a man who’s mad about miscanthus … an astrobiologist’s attraction to algae… and the blueprint for building your own biofuel bugs.

Also, discover whether any of these next-generation fuel sources could take us to the stars. Put that in your rocket and burn it!

Guests:

• Madhu Khanna – Professor of Agriculture and Environmental Economics at the University of Illinois and at the Energy Biosciences Institute
• Stephen Long – Professor of Crop Sciences and Plant Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Michelle Chang – Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of California at Berkeley
• Bret Stroegn – Graduate student researcher, Energy Bioscience Institute, University of California at Berkeley
• Jonathan Trent – Bioengineering Research Scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center and founder of Global Research into Energy and the Enviornment (GREEN )
• Richard Obousy – Physicist and co-founder and project leader for Project Icarus

First released April 25, 2011.

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

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.

NASA Lands Car-Size Rover Beside Martian Mountain

Source - NASA Science News for August 6, 2012

NASA's most advanced Mars rover Curiosity has landed on the Red Planet. The one-ton rover, hanging by ropes from a rocket backpack, touched down onto Mars Sunday to end a 36-week flight and begin a two-year investigation.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/06aug_success/

The Summer of 2012--Too Hot to Handle?

Source - NASA Science News for August 3, 2012

Are the heat waves of summer 2012 a sign of climate change, ordinary weather, or some mixture of the two? Earth scientists discuss the possibilities in today's story from Science@NASA.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/03aug_summer2012/

Curiosity's First Daredevil Stunt: Solar Flares

Source - NASA Science News for August 2, 2012

When Curiosity enters the Martian atmosphere on August 6th, setting in motion "the seven minutes of terror" that people are buzzing about, the rover will actually be performing the mission's second daredevil stunt. The first was completed in July.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/02aug_rad2/