Friday, November 30, 2012

Ancient Microbes Found in Antarctic Lake


Source - NASA Science News for Nov. 29, 2012

Nearly 65 feet beneath the icy surface of a remote Antarctic lake, scientists have uncovered a community of bacteria existing in one of Earth's darkest, saltiest and coldest habitats. The finding could have implications for the possibility of life in extreme environments on other planets.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/30nov_lakevida/

Thursday, November 29, 2012

New Evidence for Ice on Mercury


Source - NASA Science News for Nov. 29, 2012

The planet closest to the Sun would seem an unlikely place to find ice.

Nevertheless, NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft has found evidence for abundant deposits of frozen water on Mercury.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/29nov_iceonmercury/

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Big Picture Science for 11/26/12 - Doomsday Live, Part I

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Big Picture Science - Doomsday Live, Part I

If there is only one show you hear about the end of the world, let it be this one. Recorded before a live audience at the Computer History Museum on October 27th, 2012, this two-part special broadcast of Big Picture Science separates fact from fiction in doomsday prediction. In this episode: Maya prophesy for December 21, 2012 … asteroid impact and cosmic threats …. and alien invasion.

Presented as part of the Bay Area Science Festival.

Find out more about our guests and their work.

Guests:

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

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, November 23, 2012

The Strange Appeal of a Cloudy Eclipse

Source - NASA Science News for Nov. 23, 2012

Eclipse chasers always hope for clear skies, but observers of last week's total solar eclipse in Australia discovered that clouds can add a surprisingly beautiful twist to the brief minutes of totality.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/23nov_cloudyeclipse/

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving Dinner at the Center of the Galaxy


Source - NASA Science News for Nov. 22, 2012

NASA's NuSTAR spacecraft has detected X-ray flares coming from the center of the galaxy--a signal that the Milky Way's supermassive black hole is having dinner. Astronomers are not sure, however, what's on the menu.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/22nov_backholesnacks/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP7ig8Gxftw





License: Standard YouTube License

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Solar Activity Alert: New Sunspot Crackles with M-flares


Source - Space Weather News for Nov. 21, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR ACTIVITY: A big new sunspot (AR1618) has emerged near the center of the solar disk, and it is crackling with strong M-class solar flares.  NOAA forecasters estimate a 70% chance of more M-flares today, and a 15% chance of powerful X-flares.  If the rapid growth of AR1618 continues apace, the Thanksgiving holiday (USA) could be filled with stormy space weather.  Check http://spaceweather.com for updates.

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).

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Big Picture Science for 11/19/12 - No Expiration Date

Image for Big Picture Science weekly radio show
Big Picture Science - No Expiration Date

ENCORE: We all have to go sometime, and that final hour is the mother of all deadlines. But scientists are working to file an extension. Discover how far we can push the human expiration date.

Plus, the animal with the shortest lifespan and the chemistry that causes your pot-roast to eventually clothe itself in fuzzy green mold.

Also, a clock that won’t stop ticking (for 10,000 years) and our love-hate relationship with that long-lived hydrocarbon that keeps our snack cakes fresh: plastic!

Guests:

First aired June 13, 2011

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

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, November 11, 2012

Big Picture Science for 11/12/12 - Skeptic Check: Zombies Aren't Real

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Big Picture Science - Skeptic Check: Zombies Aren't Real

Zombies are making a killing in popular culture. But where did the idea behind these mythical, cerebrum-supping nasties come from? Discover why they may be a hard-wired inheritance from our Pleistocene past.

Also, how a whimsical mathematical model of a Zombie apocalypse can help us withstand earthquakes and disease outbreaks, and how the rabies virus contributed to zombie mythology.

Plus, new ideas for how doctors should respond when humans are in a limbo state between life and death: no pulse, but their brains continue to hum.

Meet the songwriter who has zombies on the brain …. and we chase spaced-out animated corpses in the annual Run-For-Your-Lives foot race.

Guests:

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

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.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Taurid Meteor Shower


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

TAURID METEOR SHOWER: Earth is passing through a stream of gravelly debris from Comet Encke, source of the annual Taurid meteor shower. Because the debris stream is not very congested, Taurid meteor rates are low, no more than 5 per hour. The special thing about Taurids is that they tend to be fireballs. Check http://spaceweather.com for the latest videos and images of the display, which is expected to peak around Nov. 12th.

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

Friday, November 09, 2012

Total Eclipse of the Sun


Source - NASA Science News for Nov. 8, 2012

Scientists and sky watchers are converging on the northeast coast of Australia, near the Great Barrier Reef, for a total eclipse of the sun on Nov. 13/14. For researchers, the brief minutes of totality open a window into some of the deepest mysteries of solar physics.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/07nov_totaleclipse/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn5nKlMY5cI


NASA Finds Cure for a Common Phobia


Source - NASA Science News for Nov. 9, 2012

NASA has found a cure for a common phobia--the fear of asking "stupid" questions. The remedy, revealed in today's story from Science@NASA, might surprise you:

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/09nov_camilla/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYwNFwj2QVE


Sunday, November 04, 2012

Big Picture Science for 11/05/12 - Going Global

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Big Picture Science - Going Global

The Internet is not the only globally-uniting phenomenon. Viruses and bacteria can circle the globe as fast as we can, and the effects can be devastating. Discover what it takes for an animal disease to become a human pandemic. Also, was hurricane Sandy a man-made disaster? The future of severe storms and climate change.

Plus, the view of our science from abroad: why Brits have no trouble accepting the theory of evolution but Americans do. And what about a new annex for Silicon Valley – 12 miles out to sea?

Guests:

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

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.