The Universe is out there, waiting for you to discover it.
“You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.” –Wayne Dyer We like to think of our Solar System as typical: a central star with a number of planets — some gas giants and some rocky worlds — in orbit around it. Yes, there’s some variety, with binary or trinary star systems … Read moreThrowback Thursday: Most Planets in the Universe are Homeless (Synopsis)
“Let others praise ancient times; I am glad I was born in these.” –Ovid With all that we know of astronomy, with the hundreds of billions of galaxies and hundreds of billions of stars in each that we know are there, it might surprise you to learn that the stars — for the most part … Read moreWhat is the oldest star in the Universe? (Synopsis)
Wandering into the woods unprepared and without a plan sounds like a terrible idea. But if you’re interested in scientific exploration at the frontiers, confronting the unknown with whatever you happen to have at your disposal, you have to take that risk. You have to be willing to take those steps. And you have to … Read moreInto the Woods (Synopsis)
You’ve no doubt heard of quantum entanglement before: the idea that if you create a mixed quantum state that consists of two particles, you can then know the properties of one by measuring the properties of the other. The odd — and counterintuitive — thing about this is that once these particles are entangled, you … Read moreGhostly Physics (Synopsis)
“The human mind is capable of excitement without the application of gross and violent stimulants; and he must have a very faint perception of its beauty and dignity who does not know this.” –William Wordsworth Galaxies may be the most common type of object identified in the Messier catalogue, and considering that there are at least … Read moreMessier Monday: Messier’s Final Galaxy, M110 (Synopsis)
“The trees are man’s best friends; but man has treated them as his worst enemies. The history of our race may be said to be the history of warfare upon the tree world. But while man has seemed to be the victor, his victories have brought upon him inevitable disasters.” –Nathaniel Egleston When things you’ve … Read moreWeekend Diversion: The Forest Man of India (Synopsis)
“Sexism was the only thing that kept Jerrie Cobb out of space in 1960, and it cannot be allowed to stand in her way now.” -Patricia Ireland It isn’t every week that you cover topics ranging from the birth of the Universe to the fundamental nature of space, and the go from sexism in NASA … Read moreComments of the Week #33: From Dark Energy to Bad Math
“The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long — and you have burned so very, very brightly, Roy. Look at you: you’re the Prodigal Son; you’re quite a prize!” –Dr. Eldon Tyrell, Blade Runner Some questions that we look at are fun to consider because of how far outside our own experience they are, but … Read moreAsk Ethan #59: Double the flame, half the time? (Synopsis)
“Our external environment no longer seems to have any firm boundaries, any limits, or any positive cues about when to stop consuming anything. I mean, there is a reason that people get fat — it’s easy and cheap to get high-calorie, tasty food.” –Bob Harper There are plenty of good things we can all do to get … Read moreThrowback Thursday: The Bad Math of the Biggest Loser (Synopsis)
“We were marching down the street, & we were at the head of the troops. We went on marching, & the troops went off to the left.” –Geoffrey Burbidge It’s such a part of our cosmic and scientific history, that it’s difficult to remember that it’s only been for the past 50 years that the … Read moreHow the Big Bang’s alternatives died (Synopsis)