Category Archives: Earth/Physical Science

Space News

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Stephen Hawking says black holes don’t exist

Well, sort of, he says we got a few things wrong.

Mysterious rock found by Mars rover: ‘We were absolutely startled’

Hmmmm, jelly donuts on Mars, sign me up to go. Speaking of Mars, how did the rover that was to last only three months just keep going?

Why This Mars Rover Has Lasted 3,560 Days Longer Than Expected

Water Found on Dwarf Planet Ceres, May Erupt from Ice Volcanoes

Water, water everywhere. Or so it seems.

Two Great Futurists on the Future

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In 1964 two of the greatest science fiction writers of the twentieth century looked ahead 50 years and predicted what our modern world would be like. They got a lot of things right.

First Isaac Asimov. Asimov wrote over 200 books in his lifetime. Non-fiction books in every category of the Dewey Decimal system (the only writer to do so) and some important fiction as well.

Isaac Asimov Predicts in 1964 What the World Will Look Like Today — in 2014

Next, Arthur C. Clarke. Clarke is best known as the author of the book and film “2001: A Space Odyssey”, however he was the first to propose geosynchronous telecommunications satellites, pushed for manned space flight as an activist/scientist and helped create NASA, and was a trail blazing Ocean explorer.

Arthur C. Clarke Predicts the Future in 1964 … And Kind of Nails It

Astronomical Events of 2014

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First, Space.com’s picks for the top 11 skywatching events of the upcoming year…

11 Must-See Skywatching Events in 2014

Second, universe Today’s exhaustive month-by-month guide to upcoming astronomical events…

101 Astronomical Events for 2014

Finally, a cool image to get you thinking from Phil Platt. What would a lunar eclipse look like from the moon?

What does a lunar eclipse look like from the Moon?

Thanks to Kai for the last one.

Winter in Antarctica

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Well it looks like we’ll be seeing some truly cold weather as school starts back up. It’s summer in Antarctica right now, but it’s a good time to reflect on how cold it can get on our planet (remember, being in the Southern Hemisphere, their winter is during our summer). Few scientists can take wintering on the Antarctic continent. The population of the whole continent drops to only a few hundred over the winter and they must pass a rigorous screening process before they are allowed to do so. The video below shows what “Condition 1” weather is like. No travel outside quarters is permitted during these conditions.

Makes you feel warmer already, doesn’t it?

China Lands Probe on the Moon, Iran sends Monkey into Space, maybe.

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China has accomplished the first soft landing on the moon since 1976! They are only the third country to do so.

China successfully soft-lands probe on the moon

Update: The “Jade Rabbit” rover is sending back it’s first pictures…

China Moon Landing: ‘Jade Rabbit’ Rover Basks in Lunar Bay of Rainbows

Iran says they have launched a monkey into space, controversy ensues…

Iran brings monkey back safely from space

India On Track to be the First Asian Country to Reach Mars

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India’s MOM (Mars Orbital Mission) probe is on it’s way to Mars after a bit of a rocky start, thus making India only the fourth space agency to have a probe make it to the red planet.

India Set To Be The First Asian Country To Reach Mars

India’s Mars Orbiter Overcomes Engine Glitch

note – Space.com is becoming too clogged with ads.

Dynamic tangible display renders 3D data in physical form

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This is very cool. “inFORM is a Dynamic Shape Display that can render 3D content physically, so users can interact with digital information in a tangible way. inFORM can also interact with the physical world around it, for example moving objects on the table’s surface. ”

inFORM – Interacting With a Dynamic Shape Display from Tangible Media Group on Vimeo.

Video: Tangible Media Group