Translate

Ads

Friday, August 31, 2018

“Robots” and “Small Female Alien” in UFO Close Encounter by Calvin Parker in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

  We had drove from the pier and walked from where we parked and was fishing on the pier. And we was looking across the water because I’d seen a big Coast Guard ship, and I was sitting there thinking, “How do these things float, made out of steel?” About that time is when everything …

from Earthfiles https://ift.tt/2N9raFa

California Lawmakers Pass Nation’s Toughest Net Neutrality Law


By CECILIA KANG from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2N8Mw5A

NASA Just Gave the Opportunity Rover a Survival Deadline on Mars—Here's What That Means

NASA has released its plan to handle the embattled Mars rover Opportunity, which has been silent since June — and some scientists intimately familiar with the project said the timeline doesn't do the grizzled robot justice.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N61k57

Mattis: Reorganization of US Military Space Forces Already in Motion

The Defense Department is moving ahead with previously announced plans to stand up a four-star U.S. Space Command as part of a broader effort to reorganize military space forces, Defense Secretary James Mattis said Tuesday.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PSFZKZ

India Pushes Back Against Tech ‘Colonization’ by Internet Giants


By VINDU GOEL from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2orsqpf

Send NASA's Mars Rover Opportunity Support As It Battles Epic Dust Storm

The Opportunity rover on Mars is battling to survive during an epic dust storm, and while NASA waits for any signs of life from the rover, you can beam the robot your support with a digital postcard.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wvVwIF

Neil Armstrong Biopic 'First Man' Lifts Off with Over-the-Moon Reviews

Damien Chazelle's film "First Man," starring Ryan Gosling as astronaut Neil Armstrong, has lifted off, soaring on the praise of critics at its world premiere. The movie debuted at the Venice International Film Festival in Italy on Wednesday, Aug. 29.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N7uTTF

The Hot College Gig: Online Brand Promoter


By CLAIRE BALLENTINE from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2wxkirN

See Saturn's Stunning Auroras Glow Over Time in These Hubble Photos

New images from the Hubble Space Telescope show Saturn's ultraviolet auroras swirling at the planet's north pole in the months before and after the northern summer solstice.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PpNHeA

Virgin Orbit Performs LauncherOne Aircraft Flight Tests

The carrier aircraft for Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne system has performed a series of test flights in preparation for upcoming flights with the rocket attached.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wsTR6m

Space Station Leak All Patched Up Now, NASA Says

The repair job astronauts conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) yesterday (Aug. 30) appears to be complete.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N47FxN

Why We Need Active Experiments in Space (Op-Ed)

Active space-based experiments can deliver crucial insight into the space environment that has become increasingly vital to national security and the global economy.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2LJFHmr

Life on Mars? 40 Years Later, Viking Lander Scientist Still Says 'Yes'

Forty years later, Gil Levin still insists that NASA's twin Viking landers found conclusive evidence of life on Mars.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MH3lFw

In 'UFO' Movie Clip, Gillian Anderson Discusses a Theoretical Way to Navigate the Stars

In a new clip from the upcoming movie "UFO," releasing digitally and on DVD Sept. 4, a mathematician played by Gillian Anderson discusses how aliens could use physical constants to navigate across space.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N41dXQ

Baby Stars Glow Through Dust in These Sparkling Views of the Carina Nebula

A telescope captured the nuanced details of the Carina Nebula, where new stars take the equivalent of their first cosmic breaths.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wxc8j2

The Week in Tech: Claims of Censorship Come Through Loud and Clear


By KATE CONGER from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2Nysq1H

Going Back to the Moon Won't Break the Bank, NASA Chief Says

Sending humans back to the moon won't require a big Apollo-style budget bump, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wCO8u4

With Mars Dust Storm Clearing, Opportunity Rover Could Finally Wake Up

The solar-powered Opportunity hasn't made a peep since June 10, when a worsening dust storm plunged the rover's environs into deep darkness. But the skies should soon be clear enough for Opportunity's batteries to start recharging.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PS3KCQ

Celestial 'Eye' Stares Back at Earth in Dazzling Hubble Telescope Photo

Many people enjoy gazing at the night sky, and once in a while, something up there appears to look right back at us.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2LK6u1I

Satellite Tracker Map: How to Spot the International Space Station, Hubble & More

Pinpoint the International Space Station, Hubble Space Telescope and other satellites in the sky above you as they orbit Earth with this satellite tracker.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2tyI0Ee

The Best Mobile Apps for Spotting and Identifying Orbiting Satellites and Iridium Flares

If you spend time gazing at the stars on a clear night, you're guaranteed to see a satellite or two passing among them. But how do you know what you've seen?

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Naer54

Too Many Chinese Children Need Glasses. Beijing Blames Video Games.


By RAYMOND ZHONG from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2onQXLX

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Why Are 2018 Wildfires So Ferocious?

“Arctic sea ice is decreasing. Greenland is melting. Antarctica is melting. …I think the outlook, if we keep on our current path, is not good.” – Kevin Trenberth, Ph.D., Atmospheric Physicist, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado August 31, 2018  Boulder, Colorado –   On August 10th, 2018, The New York Times front page above …

from Earthfiles https://ift.tt/2ooOmRW

John Greenewald’s The Black Vault Gets Suppressed 1979-1980 FBI Cattle Mutilation Documents.

“It makes you question what exactly are the FBI trying to hide? You know, is this some kind of secret technology? Is it something much more sinister that they know that they can’t readily identify or at least explain?” – John Greenewald, The Black Vault.com August 31, 2018  Castaic, California – John Greenewald has been …

from Earthfiles https://ift.tt/2PnFyXX

Angus Cattle Raiser’s 9th Mutilation Came with A Blast of White Light.

“All of a sudden, the entire room just flashed — like a dance club where a strobe light goes off and the dogs went nuts.” - Alex Peterson, Owner, Windmill Angus Ranch, Haigler, Nebraska   Click here to subscribe and get instant access to read this report. Click here to check your existing subscription status. …

from Earthfiles https://ift.tt/2opRGfN

Here’s the Conversation We Really Need to Have About Bias at Google


By FARHAD MANJOO from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2C2xYQI

San Francisco Grants 2 Scooter Permits (but Not to the Early Disrupters)


By ERIN GRIFFITH from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2oqdbx0

Did a Micrometeoroid Poke a Hole in the Space Station?

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station spent part of their day today (Aug. 30) fixing a tiny air leak in the facility.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PMK2Z8

Astronauts Work to Seal Air Leak on Space Station. Here's How.

Astronauts on the International Space Station worked swiftly today (Aug. 30) to repair a minor air leak in the Russian segment of the orbiting laboratory. Although they managed to stabilize the slowly dropping air pressure inside the station, the repair j

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N3alff

Got an idea for science and engineering research? Send it to the NSF 2026 Idea Machine

Got an idea for science and engineering research? Send it to the NSF 2026 Idea Machine

Logo featuring people working at tables shaped like cogs.

If you've ever had an idea about how the National Science Foundation (NSF) could transform fundamental research, a huge window of opportunity is about to open. From Aug. 31, 2018 through Oct. 26, 2018, the foundation will open the entry window for its first-ever NSF 2026 Idea Machine, a competition that gives entrants a chance to help inform the agenda for basic research, through the Nation's 250th anniversary in 2026 and beyond.

NSF is looking for fresh ideas -- large in ...

More at https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=296483&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click


This is an NSF News item.

Published August 31, 2018 at 12:48AM
Read more at nsf.gov

Matt Smith Joins 'Star Wars: Episode IX' — Report

The former Doctor Who star reportedly joins Episode IX.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wyOty3

'Transformers: The Movie' Re-Release Has the Touch, the Power and 300+ More Theaters

Bah weep gragnah weep nini bong.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wsvuFW

With the Passing of Paul Spudis, We Lost One of the Biggest Moon-Exploration Experts

It was a personal shock to me yesterday (Aug. 29) to learn of the passing of Paul Spudis, a leading moon expert, a great friend over the decades and an in-your-face proponent of the moon over Mars as the next deep-space astronaut destination.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MX2EHx

Space and the 'Breath of Art': How Out-of-This-World STEM Education Is Transforming Schools

Look to the heavens to see the latest academic disruption on Earth.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2NBazXQ

Fireball Streaks Over Australia, and the Videos and Photos Will Amaze You

Skywatchers across Western Australia caught sight of an incredible fireball on Tuesday night (Aug. 28), and many were lucky enough to capture the spectacle on film.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wukSqf

'First Man': New Neil Armstrong Biopic Trailer Dials Up Apollo 11 Drama

The new trailer for "First Man" dials up the drama of Neil Armstrong's extraordinary life and his historic journey to the moon on Apollo 11.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MIlB1m

How Does a Black Hole Form?

They start with a bang and end up gobbling up everything near them.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2NxnVoa

NSF awards $10 million for development, dissemination of genomic tools in diverse species

NSF awards $10 million for development, dissemination of genomic tools in diverse species

Hawaiian bobtail squid

The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Enabling Discovery through Genomic Tools (EDGE) program has made 11 new awards, totaling approximately $10 million, to develop genomic tools that will allow biologists to identify mechanisms that determine how genes affect an organism's physical and functional characteristics.

The EDGE program helps the research community overcome the impediments that restrict progress in the biology of ...

More at https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=296455&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click


This is an NSF News item.

Published August 30, 2018 at 10:30PM
Read more at nsf.gov

Every Generation Gets the Beach Villain It Deserves


By NELLIE BOWLES from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2wpD58y

Hulu Show 'The First' Details the Drama of a Near-Future Mars Misison in New Trailer

With a boldness that hearkens back to the original Apollo missions, "The First," a near-future dramatic series starring Sean Penn, will tell the story of the hopeful first humans to land on Mars.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PkTSjR

Small Air Leak Detected on International Space Station

Astronauts aren't in any danger, NASA said.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2omKXTx

Detecting Life's Influence on Planetary Atmospheres

How the presence of oxygen and other disequilibrium gases could signpost life.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2NAhBMK

Gravity Assist Podcast: Mars Dust Storm with Melinda Kahre

This week, NASA's Jim Green is joined by Melinda Kahre, who manages the Mars Climate Modeling Center at NASA's Ames Research Center and is an expert in Martian dust storms.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N4HwyS

Cosmic Zombies: Black Holes Can Reanimate Dead Stars

Close encounters with medium-size black holes can reanimate dead stars, if only momentarily, a new study suggests.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2C2ttG1

NASA Still Can't Establish a Connection with IMAGE Spacecraft

Six months after NASA last picked up a signal from a long-lost spacecraft, engineers have been unable to re-establish communications with the satellite.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PPbNQQ

What Would It Take to Land on Mercury? It’s Time to Find Out, Scientists Say

Mercury has been devoid of human-built companions since April 2015, and while the next spacecraft bound for the innermost planet launches in October, it won't arrive until 2025.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2LB7dCw

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Astronauts on Cereal Boxes, Logos on Spaceships? NASA Chief Says It Could Happen

Before too much longer, you could start seeing NASA astronauts' smiling faces on cereal boxes, and Mars rovers emblazoned with corporate logos just like race cars.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wosOsS

How a Massive Database on Stars Will Make It Easier to Explore Alien Worlds

Our sun shapes every day of our lives and always has — and if there's life on alien worlds, the same will be equally true of their stars.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wwO3s5

Fireball Lights Up Sky Over Western Australia (Videos)

A fireball lit up the sky over the Australian city of Perth today (Aug. 28), reportedly generating a powerful shockwave that rattled houses in the area — and some observers caught the dramatic event on video.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N0wQBv

NASA's Space Exploration Vehicle is Now an Awesome Matchbox Toy Car

A NASA concept vehicle for exploring the sweeping terrains of planets and moons can now rove around a much smaller, more personal surface: the palm of your hand. Matchbox has released a toy version of NASA's Space Exploration Vehicle, or SEV.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BUtwU9

You Took Lousy iPhone Photos. Here’s How to Make Them Beautiful.


By J. D. BIERSDORFER from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2BYmn57

First-Ever Evidence of Higgs Boson Decay Opens New Doors for Particle Physics

For the first time, scientists at the Large Hadron Collider have unambiguously detected Higgs bosons decaying into a matter-antimatter pair of bottom quarks.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PPacun

Customers Died. Will That Be a Wake-up Call for China’s Tech Scene?


By LI YUAN from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2POd0I4

Chiral Molecules May Have Hitched Meteor Rides to Planets

The building blocks of life might have had a cosmic origin before hitching a ride to the early Earth on meteorites.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2okBMD9

Unstable Monster Galaxy Hosts Runaway Star Formation

Some 12.4 billion light-years from Earth, a monster galaxy can be seen forming stars 1,000 times faster than the Milky Way does. It's less of a mess than researchers expected — but its frenetic pace can't last.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MZSHsN

India Will Launch Its Own Astronauts to Space by 2022, Government Says

Indian engineers have a new, ambitious timeline for putting its astronauts in space, according to a recent set of comments from government leaders, who say the country will achieve the feat by 2022.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PNaGBa

Here's What Happens When a Higgs Boson Decays — and What It Means for Particle Physics

Six years after discovering the Higgs boson, physicists have observed how the particle decays — a monumental contribution to scientists' understanding of the Standard Model of particle physics and the universe at large, study researchers said.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N5kesC

'Ask a Spaceman' Takes a Closer Look at the Universe's 'Baby Picture'

This week's "Ask A Spaceman" episode explores the radiation echo of the Big Bang that formed our universe. While we can't see it with our eyes, this radiation surrounds us everywhere.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2onRAVD

NSF funds new projects to ‘connect dots’ (and data) to address longstanding, multi-scaled environmental problems

NSF funds new projects to ‘connect dots’ (and data) to address longstanding, multi-scaled environmental problems

Streams of the Smoky Mountains

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is investing $9 million in nine new projects to research biosphere processes and their complex interactions with climate, land use and invasive species at regional to continental scales. The awards are funded through NSF's MacroSystems Biology and Early NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network) Science program.

"These projects leverage NSF investments in biological infrastructure to study how organisms and ecosystems respond to environmental ...

More at https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=296453&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click


This is an NSF News item.

Published August 29, 2018 at 09:30PM
Read more at nsf.gov

The One Thing A.O. Scott Doesn’t Use to Review Movies (No Spoilers!)


By A. O. SCOTT from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2MZM2Pm

NSF awards $60 million for next-generation supercomputer

NSF awards $60 million for next-generation supercomputer

Computer simulation of the Earth

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has made a $60 million award to fund the largest and most powerful supercomputer the agency has ever supported to serve the nation's science and engineering (S&E) research community. The new high-performance computing (HPC) system, to be called Frontera, will be located at the University of Texas at Austin's (UT Austin) ...

More at https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=296431&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click


This is an NSF News item.

Published August 29, 2018 at 06:30PM
Read more at nsf.gov

Gemini 5: Inside NASA's First 8-Day Space Mission of 1965

NASA's Gemini 5 mission launched astronauts Gordon Cooper and Pete Conrad on a record-breaking mission (for the time) on Aug. 21, 1965. See photos from the historic mission here!

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wpFDU6

Defining the Job Duties of the Space Force Will Be A Knotty Task

There are internal disagreements in the military space community over what takes precedence: war fighting or providing services to the rest of the armed forces.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BSMM4p

New Horizons Spies Its Next Target Beyond Pluto — from 100 Million Miles Away

The New Horizons spacecraft is on its way to a distant solar system object and has spotted its destination — on its first try and from more than 100 million miles (170 million kilometers) away.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BY5KGV

Prospecting on the Moon: Russia, Europe to Hunt for Lunar Ice

The European Space Agency and Russia are working together to investigate the moon's resources — specifically, water ice and other volatiles at the lunar poles.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Ph50yl

New Buzz Aldrin Musical Recounts His Heroic Journey and Inner Struggles

NEW YORK — Turn back the clock and walk through life with NASA moonwalker Buzz Aldrin in "1969: The Second Man," an inventive new musical that opened here today (Aug. 28). Space.com attended a dress rehearsal of the production on August 23.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MX6bW8

Laser Experiment Helps Unravel Mystery of Antimatter

An innovative laser experiment from the CERN lab in Switzerland has brought physicists one step closer to understanding mysterious antimatter.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Nu56SF

‘Overtourism’ Worries Europe. How Much Did Technology Help Get Us There?


By FARHAD MANJOO from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2wxxg8d

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Dozens at Facebook Unite to Challenge Its ‘Intolerant’ Liberal Culture


By KATE CONGER and SHEERA FRENKEL from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2wmVhPR

Approaching (But Non-Scary) Asteroid 2016 NF23 Captured in New Photo

A decent-size asteroid that's about to zoom past Earth looks like a tiny, unimposing dot in a newly captured image. And that's appropriate, considering the space rock poses no danger to us on this pass.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MExMfm

Will Mars Rover Opportunity Survive Monster Dust Storm? It's Still Too Soon to Tell

Mission team members say it's still too soon to draw any conclusions about the fate of Opportunity, which has been sidelined by a monster Martian dust storm since June 10.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wv8F3N

Incredible NASA Photos Show Jupiter's Marbled Atmosphere

A stunning series of photographs captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft highlights the complicated dynamics of Jupiter's atmosphere.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2LA18pH

Watch Yellowstone Recover from Wildfires Over 30 Years in This NASA Time-Lapse Video

In a new time-lapse video, the scorched earth from the 1988 wildfires in Yellowstone National Park is visible via NASA satellite imagery.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wjYmA6

Children's Artwork Flying to Space Aboard European Exoplanet Satellite (Photos)

Two plaques etched with nearly 3,000 pieces of children's artwork have been attached to Europe's new CHEOPS exoplanet satellite.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PbqnkI

How Old Is Asteroid Itokawa? Scientists Say They Finally Know

Even as Japan's Hayabusa2 mission prepares to place landers on the surface of an asteroid, scientists are still squeezing discoveries out of data and samples gathered by its predecessor.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PNc9Yr

NSF invests in research to help disrupt operations of illicit supply networks

NSF invests in research to help disrupt operations of illicit supply networks

woman and child sitting in a window

Networks that illegally traffic in everything from people and opioids to human organs and nuclear material pose threats to U.S. health, prosperity and security. Nine new awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF) will advance the scientific understanding of how such illicit supply networks function -- and how to dismantle them.

The new awards support research that combines engineering with computer, physical and social sciences to address a danger that poses significant ...

More at https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=296258&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click


This is an NSF News item.

Published August 28, 2018 at 07:30PM
Read more at nsf.gov

Future impacts of El Niño, La Niña likely to intensify, increasing wildfire, drought risk

Future impacts of El Niño, La Niña likely to intensify, increasing wildfire, drought risk

During the July 2011 La Niña, a boat sits on dry land in a branch of Lake Travis in Texas.

When an El Niño or its opposite, La Niña, forms in the future, it's likely to cause more intense impacts over many land regions -- amplifying changes to temperature, precipitation and wildfire risk.

These are the findings of a new study funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Energy and published in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union.

The researchers found, for example, that the ...

More at https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=296344&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click


This is an NSF News item.

Published August 28, 2018 at 07:30PM
Read more at nsf.gov

Exos Aerospace Launches SARGE Suborbital Rocket

Exos Aerospace performed what it called a "very successful" test launch of a reusable suborbital sounding rocket from New Mexico Aug. 25.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Lz89ak

China Just Set New National Launch Record While Putting Up Two More Beidou Navigation Satellites

China's launch of a pair of Beidou navigation satellites late Friday saw the country set a new annual launch record as its space activities ramp up.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2LACTbj

Space Station Astronauts Squeeze into Tiny Crew Cabin for Fun Photo

The six crewmembers on the International Space Station each have their own phone-booth-size sleeping cabin, but they all jammed into one for a fun photo op.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BTxEUr

US Military Aims to Launch Cheap New 'Blackjack' Spy Satellites in 2021

The U.S. military's spy-satellite network will get a serious makeover in the next few years, if all goes according to plan.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PcKFKm

Go to Sea with Astrobiologists Visiting Hawaii to Learn How to Look for Alien Life

Astrobiologists want to snorkel in the hidden oceans of icy moons like Europa and Enceladus — but research trips there are awfully difficult to coordinate. So, as a consolation prize, they're going to Hawaii.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MB6S8l

Silicon Valley Takes Another Step Toward Autonomous Flying


By CADE METZ from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2MVPI4E

Monday, August 27, 2018

What Is The Hubble Constant?

The Hubble Constant is the unit of measurement used to describe the expansion of the universe. The cosmos has been getting bigger since the Big Bang kick-started the growth about 13.82 billion years ago.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2f2AzvP

SpaceX's 1st 'Block 5' Rocket: A Tale of 2 Launches

I watched the first two launches of the ultra-reusable Block 5 rocket booster from SpaceX.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PGcfAV

SpaceX's 1st 'Block 5' Falcon 9 Rocket: The Launch Photos

Space reporter Amy Thompson documented SpaceX's first Block 5 rocket booster's first two launches on May 11 and Aug. 7.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Lyrfxs

A Half-Lit Mercury Rises Early Tuesday: How to See It

The planet Mercury will reach "half phase" tomorrow (Aug. 28) and will be visible early in the morning before dawn.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N1AwmF

Katherine Johnson, Trailblazing NASA Mathematician, Celebrates 100 Trips Around the Sun

Katherine Johnson — a mathematician at NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia who helped make human spaceflight possible — celebrated 100 trips around the sun this weekend.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MQEo9V

In a Shift in Driverless Strategy, Uber Deepens Partnership With Toyota


By KATE CONGER from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2PFjFnQ

NASA Astronaut Candidate Resigns Prior to Qualifying for Spaceflight

A member of NASA's latest class of astronaut candidates has resigned from the space agency before completing his basic training.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wl7q81

In drought and heavy rains, ecosystems function like information communication networks

In drought and heavy rains, ecosystems function like information communication networks

Scientists studied ecosystem connectivity at Idaho's Reynolds Creek CZO.

Find related stories on NSF's Critical Zone Observatories.

How is a telecommunications network like an ecosystem?

Tree canopies and the running streams below, or coral reefs and the ocean waters that flow around them, are interconnected components of a larger whole: an ecosystem. These ecosystem parts are in communication with one another, scientists have learned, via signals ...

More at https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=296321&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click


This is an NSF News item.

Published August 28, 2018 at 12:30AM
Read more at nsf.gov

How Do You Build on the Moon? Start with Lunar Dust

To learn how to build with moon dust, researchers are turning to volcanic powder here on Earth.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wl12gY

Let This Stunning Full Moon Photo from Space Inspire You to Look Up Tonight

One of the beautiful things about the full moon is that the days before and after are almost as stunning — so if you needed a little reminder to go enjoy yesterday's full moon, it's not too late.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BRYa0j

Tune In LIVE August 30th Coast to Coast w/George Noory.

3 Hours Earthfiles news updates with Linda Moulton Howe begin 11 PM Pacific / 2 AM Eastern: — Why Are 2018 Wildfires So Ferocious? Report upcoming. The Mendocino fire in California is the largest ever in the state and now exceeds 400,000 acres, half the size of Rhode Island and still burning. — John Greenwald’s …

from Earthfiles https://ift.tt/2obxIFo

Why Jupiter's Rapid Growth Spurt Was Delayed for Millions of Years

New research suggests why Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, waited about two million years for its early-formation growth spurt.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BROX8j

This Solar Eclipse Forecast from 2017 Shows What We Still Don't Know About the Sun

Most people's preparations for last year's total solar eclipse involved tracking down protective glasses and booking hotels, but Zoran Mikic and his colleagues had another task on their plate: predicting what precisely the stunning spectacle would look li

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2NtwvUE

SpaceX Adds New Astronaut Walkway to Historic NASA Launch Pad

An astronaut walkway added by SpaceX to a historic NASA launch pad looks decidedly different from the heritage hardware it is replacing, but it carries on a 50-year legacy leading crew members atop Pad 39A to their ride to space.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2odfTpf

Why Does the Earth Rotate?

You can thank the solar system's head-spinning early years for Earth's rotation.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2LwywxF

What Is Nothing? Martin Rees Q&A

Philosophers have debated the nature of "nothing" for thousands of years, but what has modern science got to say about it?

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Lw9y1k

NASA Is Trying to Find Better Cancer Treatments in Space (Video)

With careful attention from an astronaut, a blood cell experiment may deliver improvements on cancer-fighting treatments.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BQMRpd

E.T., Phone Earth? How Neutron-Star Crashes Could Help Aliens Call Us

The first-ever observations of merging binary stars stunned the astronomy community last year, but not quite as much as the first-ever signal from extraterrestrial life might someday stun the world.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Ly3PIq

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Tech Industry Pursues a Federal Privacy Law, on Its Own Terms


By CECILIA KANG from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2Lsp52t

Artificial Intelligence Is Now a Pentagon Priority. Will Silicon Valley Help?


By CADE METZ from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2BVSCSm

2018 Full Moon Calendar

The full moon happens once a month. Find out when.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2sIzP4o

Meet Mr. Steven, SpaceX's Nose-Cone-Catching Boat

SpaceX's nose-cone-catching boat, Mr. Steven, is preparing for the ultimate interception.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2obHs2t

SpaceX's Mr. Steven: A Rocket Nose-Cone Catching Boat in Photos

Nestled among the many freight containers and fishing vessels resides one of the newest members of SpaceX's recovery team: Mr. Steven. Space.com got a look at the boat during testing on Aug. 13, 2018. See our photos.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2LtCOWz

How Canadian Technology Could Protect Space Force Troops

U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence has announced that the United States plans to establish a "Space Force." President Donald Trump endorsed the announcement in a follow-up tweet.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PFVaXQ

Watch NASA's X-Ray-Hunting Pulsar Detector Do a Cosmic Dance in Space

Care to dance? An X-ray hunting instrument on the International Space Station twists and turns in a new NASA YouTube video as huge solar arrays rotate behind it.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2LwQ8ty

Colorful Star Trails Swirl Around Polaris in Mesmerizing Night-Sky Photo

When we look up at the night sky, it can be difficult to distinguish the color of each star with our own eyes. But if we record a long-exposure image, star trails can reveal much of our colorful universe.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2LtdaBb

Saturday, August 25, 2018

This Week's Top Space Stories!

Pence is making space "plans," night sky superstar Steve got a dramatic rebranding, and researchers have discovered water ice on the moon! — it's Space.com's best news stories of the week.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2sd6VvC

The Most Amazing Space Photos This Week!

Here are our picks for the most amazing space photos of the week.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2tedITD

August Full Moon 2018: See the Sturgeon Moon, Mercury and More This Weekend

The full moon of August will grace the skies the same day that Mercury is at its highest in the predawn sky and farthest from the sun, making it an ideal time to see the innermost planet.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2vbPJIX

Donald Trump's Space Force Isn't As New Or As Dangerous As It Seems

Donald Trump's plans to create a "Space Force" have ruffled plenty of feathers and alarmed some commentators.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BLRpgz

Space Gifts 2018: Back-to-School Shopping Guide for Space Fans

Here are Space.com's picks for your back-to-school shopping list. From NASA backpacks to cosmic pencils and "Star Wars" stationery, these school and office supplies are out of this world!

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2xTCwS2

Happy Birthday, Spitzer! NASA Telescope Marks 15 Years in Space

The Spitzer Space Telescope launched into orbit around the sun on Aug. 25, 2003, kicking off a long and diverse mission that has produced groundbreaking finds in a number of different fields.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wcADlD

Glowing NASA Map Shows Huge Dust Clouds Swirling Across Earth

We live our whole lives wandering from one cloud of dust to the next. A new NASA image lets you see that for yourself.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PD8NH3

Friday, August 24, 2018

Cosmic Microwave Background: Remnant of the Big Bang

The cosmic microwave background (CMB) is thought to be leftover radiation from the Big Bang, or the time when the universe began.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2smAWtU

$30,000 Reward for Info About Cat Mutilations in Thurston County, Washington



from Earthfiles https://ift.tt/2BLaLCy

Asteroid-Sampling NASA Probe Gets 1st Look at Its Target (Photo)

OSIRIS-REx, which launched in September 2016, has captured its first photos of the 1,650-foot-wide (500 meters) space rock Bennu, NASA officials announced today (Aug. 24).

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2P4M8m8

Arecibo Observatory's Space Cats Need Your Help!

Puerto Rico's Arecibo Observatory is the home of the second-largest radio telescope in the world. It's also home to cats — lots of cats.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BQXMPw

New NASA VR Apps Let You Take Space Selfies and Visit Strange New Worlds

New virtual reality apps from NASA let users take space selfies and visit a cool star system that has seven Earth-size exoplanets.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2P4Rwpg

Alphabet’s Plans for a China Comeback Go Beyond Google Search


By RAYMOND ZHONG from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2wdOKXG

This Asteroid Poses No Risk — Again, No Risk — to Us Earthlings

Within the past couple of days, some media outlets have reported that a "potentially dangerous" asteroid will come "dangerously close" to Earth on Tuesday (Aug. 28) — but unfortunately for sensationalists, this is not true.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PAoejm

NASA's Prolific Planet-Hunting Kepler Space Telescope Goes Back to Sleep

The most accomplished planet-hunting instrument of all time has shut its eagle-sharp eyes once again.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wohn3I

SpaceX's New Astronaut Walkway Represents a Step Toward Crewed Flight

On Monday (Aug. 20), SpaceX installed an astronaut walkway at Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the jumping-off point for SpaceX's Crew Dragon spaceship.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2P1KmSu

China's Sending a Probe to the Moon's Far Side. Here's Where It Will Land

A recent paper lays out some key characteristics of Von Kármán Crater, the spot on the far side of the moon where China's robotic Chang'e 4 mission is scheduled to land late this year.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BJJG2v

Hurricane Lane Shutters Space Science in Hawaii

Hurricane Lane began pummeling Hawaii on Wednesday (Aug. 22), carrying with it strong winds and heavy rains, and space science has not escaped the storm's wrath.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2woHCan

Would-Be NASA Intern Reportedly Loses Position Over Vulgar Tweets

A newly hired NASA intern recently lost her position at the agency after a vulgar exchange with a famous NASA engineer on Twitter, according to news reports.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BEMttT

Spacesuit Worn by Wolowitz on 'Big Bang Theory' Up for Auction

A spacesuit worn on a mission seen by millions is up for auction.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2OYjenw

The Week in Tech: Democracy Under Siege


By NATASHA SINGER from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2P04MeI

Manage Your Digital Magazines


By J. D. BIERSDORFER from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2Lnkajh

Pentagon Report: China's Space Program 'Continues to Mature Rapidly'

Chinese strategists regard the ability to use space-based systems — and to deny them to adversaries — as "central to modern warfare."

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2P3I7yd

Colorado Airport Receives FAA Spaceport License

A Colorado airport has received a commercial spaceport license from the Federal Aviation Administration despite a lack of announced users of the site and concerns about conflicts with aviation.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wqBZZ4

It's the 2018 'Star Wars' Fan Awards! May the Creative Force Be with You

Calling all "Star Wars" mega fans! The 2018 "Star Wars" Fan Awards contest has been underway for a while, but there's still time to get creative and submit your best fan work for a chance to win the ultimate prize.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MKr3jm

Asteroid Billiards: This Wild Idea to Protect Earth Just Might Work

Researchers are proposing to add a new arrow to our planetary-defense quiver: steering small, benign near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) into big and dangerous ones, in a dramatic and high-stakes game of cosmic billiards.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2NfqECD

Gamma-Rays Spewed As a Black Hole Forms Might 'Reverse Time'

Gamma ray bursts may contain "time-reversed" structures.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2LmF6XE

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Opportunity: Longest-Running Mars Rover

The Opportunity rover is NASA's longest rover mission.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2uR7jkW

Dione: Saturn's Turned-Around Moon

A collision may have spun Saturn's fourth moon around 180 degrees.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2vbNl3Z

Earth's Magnetic Field Can Reverse Poles Ridiculously Quickly, Study Suggests

Earth's magnetic field is far less stable than scientists thought.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2NhyMCE

A Whole Lot of the Planet Is on Fire Right Now

NASA's latest images of the world from space reveal just how much of planet Earth is straight-up burning right now.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PyNKp9

Landing Site on Asteroid Ryugu Chosen for Japan’s Hayabusa2 Mission

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft's Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout (MASCOT) lander will touch down at a site in the asteroid Ryugu's southern hemisphere dubbed MA-9, mission team members announced today (Aug. 23).

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Ln3sjO

US Astronauts Could Fly to Moon-Orbiting Station by 2024, Pence Tells NASA

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence discussed the future of the country's space policy in a speech Aug. 23, highlighting the importance of a moon-orbiting space station that could host U.S. astronauts by 2024.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Ljc3UF

NASA Chief Wants to Send Humans to the Moon — 'To Stay'

Jim Bridenstine wants to make sure that there is never another day when humans are not in space.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BEWbwa

Planetary Bonanza Tonight: See All the Planets in One Night

Why settle for a planet or two when you can catch all of them in just one night of intense skywatching?

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PzGcCG

'Good Luck!' Astronaut Tells Youngsters Tackling Lego Space Challenge

An astronaut on the International Space Station sent a good-luck message to FIRST Lego League teams around the world as they take on the challenges of space exploration.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MvKpti

Google Deletes 39 YouTube Channels Linked to Iranian Influence Operation


By DAISUKE WAKABAYASHI from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2NaNcnT

NASA Will Launch a Laser Into Space Next Month to Track Earth’s Melting Ice

NASA is preparing to launch a cutting-edge, laser-armed satellite that will spend three years studying Earth's changing ice sheets.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PxM3bu

New Telescope Chases the Mysteries of Radio Flashes and Dark Energy

It's an interferometer array that will be made up of 1024 6-metre dishes. Interferometer arrays are really cool because they combine signals from many telescopes to provide the resolution of a larger telescope.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MtE15G

The US Plan for a Space Force Risks Escalating a 'Space Arms Race'

United States Vice President Mike Pence has confirmed overnight plans to create a "Space Force" as the sixth branch of the U.S. military.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2LmMPVo

To Visit Distant Planets, Spacecraft May Need Better Computer Brains

Before robotic probes can land on alien worlds far from human influence and perform other ambitious deep-space feats, their brains will need to level up.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Pt7Xg2

Make Several Gmail Addresses Out of One


By J. D. BIERSDORFER from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2Pz75Xw

Federal R&D obligations increased 3 percent between fiscal years 2016 and 2017

Federal R&D obligations increased 3 percent between fiscal years 2016 and 2017

A young woman conducts research in a science laboratory.

Federal obligations for research and development (R&D) totaled an estimated $118.3 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, an increase of 2.8 percent from total federal R&D obligations in FY2016.

Total obligations for research declined 0.3 percent to $66.5 billion in FY2017. Data are from the most recent Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development, sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the National Science Foundation (NSF). Data for ...

More at https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=296287&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click


This is an NSF News item.

Published August 23, 2018 at 06:30PM
Read more at nsf.gov

Alibaba Had a Bright Quarter, Despite Clouds Over China’s Economy


By RAYMOND ZHONG from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2o1Vof5

Hurricane Lane in Photos: Massive Storm as Seen from Space

NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station and satellites in orbit around Earth kept watch over the frighteningly large Hurricane Lane as it approached Hawaii.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2LjEnGJ

Buzz Aldrin's Story Takes Center Stage in New Musical Production

Buzz Aldrin’s story finds itself center-stage in "1969: The Second Man," a new theatrical production that explores the life of the second man on the moon.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MqpzeC

Discovery of Water Ice on the Moon Thrills Lunar Scientists

Scientists who study the moon are beaming about the new discovery of exposed water ice in lunar polar regions.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wjDjwP

China's Bold Moon Sample-Return Mission Will Target a Young Volcanic Plain

We know now a lot more about the region where China's ambitious lunar sample-return mission will touch down next year.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PyYcx8

Saturn's Gorgeous Rings Shine in Breathtaking NASA Photo

An awe-inspiring photo provides a breathtaking new view of Saturn's icy rings, showing that the iconic features are translucent.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BE4fxi

How FireEye Helped Facebook Spot a Disinformation Campaign


By KATE CONGER and SHEERA FRENKEL from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2Mtc6CT

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Australia Bans China’s Huawei From Building 5G Wireless Network


By RAYMOND ZHONG from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2P09n0E

ALMA: Large Array Looks Through Dust To See Starbirth

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is a telescope array that peers through stardust to see planetary systems under construction.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2sqJzPE

Can Facebook, or Anybody, Solve the Internet’s Misinformation Problem?


By FARHAD MANJOO from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2PwwwbR

In Photos: Vega Rocket Launches 'Aeolus' Wind-Mapping Satellite

The European Space Agency's new wind-mapping satellite Aeolus launched into orbit on an Arianespace Vega rocket on Aug. 22, 2018. See photos from the mission here.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2o0ZyE0

Europe Launches 'Aeolus' Satellite on Mission to Map Earth's Winds

The European launch company Arianespace successfully launched a new weather satellite today (Aug. 22). Named Aeolus, the spacecraft is the first satellite designed to measure Earth's winds on a global scale.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2whwsUU

Tennis in Space, Anyone? Astronauts Have a Ball During Historic Match

NEW YORK — Last night (Aug. 21), astronauts made history by playing the first-ever tennis match in space aboard the International Space Station.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2LfgkIU

CBS' Big Bang Theory Ending in 2019



from Space.com https://ift.tt/2o03Prh

Satellites Track Category 5 Hurricane Lane As It Threatens Hawaii

Government weather satellites are watching closely as a massive Category 5 storm called Hurricane Lane threatens Hawaii.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MDGxWr

Democratic Party Says It Has Thwarted Attempted Hack of Voter Database


By SHEERA FRENKEL and JONATHAN MARTIN from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2LjAcL4

Donald Trump's Space Force Plans Analyzed by a Sci-Fi Expert

The US leadership has plans to introduce a "US Space Force" by 2020. Already announced by president Donald Trump in June, US vice president Mike Pence outlined further details of the plan at a press conference on August 9.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2w6xOT1

Lego 'Star Wars' Strikes Back with Epic 'Betrayal on Cloud City' Set!

Relive the scene of an epic betrayal on "Star Wars" with Lego's latest addition to the franchise — a model of Cloud City, where hero Han Solo's friend Lando makes a nasty deal with the series villain, Darth Vader.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Nc71en

'Ask a Spaceman' Travels Back in Time to Explore the Big Bang

Our baby universe comes under scrutiny in the latest episode of "Ask A Spaceman", which airs on Facebook Watch today (Aug. 22).

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MISgmh

Baby Exoplanet Weighed for First Time

Astronomers have measured the mass of a very young alien planet for the first time, using the European Space Agency's Gaia and Hipparcos star-mapping spacecraft.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2OS1D0o

See Smoke from 110 Fires Spread Across the US in This Satellite View

Recent satellite imagery shows the United States West Coast "shrouded in smoke" erupting from 110 large fires across the area, according to NASA.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Pvmnwk

Managing Manterruptions and Her Dog’s Instagram


By JESSICA BENNETT from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2OYWBzz

Hear 'Black Widow' Pulsar's Song As It Destroys Companion

Signals from a rapidly rotating, ultradense star have been transformed into beautiful melodies, revealing the "SOS" sounds of the star's dwindling companion.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2whYUFV

Vice President Pence Will Talk Moon Return in NASA Speech Thursday

Vice President Mike Pence will take the stage on Thursday, Aug. 23, to offer an update on the Trump administration's plans for human spaceflight.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MpNmvg

Help a Fellow Mac User With Remote Tech Support


By J. D. BIERSDORFER from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2w2QAuA

NASA Approves 'Load-and-Go' Fueling for SpaceX Commercial Crew Launches

NASA announced Aug. 17 that it will allow SpaceX to use a fueling approach for its commercial crew missions that attracted prior scrutiny, pending a final series of tests.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2OWPRSz

Veteran of SpaceX, Virgin Orbit Joins Relativity Space

Relativity Space, the startup developing a small launch vehicle making extensive use of 3D-printing technologies, has brought on board a former SpaceX and Virgin Orbit executive to help grow the company.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PqAUtf

We Watched the Perseid Meteor Shower from the 1st Dark Sky Reserve in the US

The Perseid meteor shower dazzles skywatchers every year around mid-August. This year, I traveled to the recently accredited Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve to watch the event under some of the country's darkest skies.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wi7eFI

Two for One: Saturn Moon Titan Dwarfs Tethys in Stunning in Cassini Photo

The icy Saturn satellite Tethys peeks over the shoulder of the huge and hazy Titan in a newly released natural-color image, which NASA's Cassini spacecraft captured in November 2009.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Pv82jx

Why We Can't Depend on Robots to Find Life on Mars

A Senate subcommittee asked for reasons to support sending humans to Mars, and, boy, did they get one from Ellen Stofan, formerly NASA's chief scientist.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Lii0S2

The Galaxy Is Soaked with Water-Rich Alien Planets

Midsize alien planets — those two to four times larger than Earth — tend to harbor huge amounts of water, according to a new study. Some of these exotic worlds are probably up to 50 percent water by weight.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MIgCwt

Europe's New Wind-Mapping Satellite 'Aeolus' Launches Today: Watch It Live

Europe will launch a new weather satellite today (Aug. 22), and you can watch the launch live online.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2w6ca14

How the 'Cosmic Dawn' Broke and the First Stars Formed

At one time in the foggy, ill-remembered past, there were no stars.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2OXcnuK

Samsung’s Galaxy Note9: Too Much Phone for Most of Us


By BRIAN X. CHEN from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2BB3nJQ

Google Tried to Change China. China May End Up Changing Google.


By FARHAD MANJOO from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2w3NypJ

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Sputnik: The Space Race's Opening Shot

The launch of the world's first satellite was the birth of the Space Age.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2h3EPis

Physicists Think They've Spotted the Ghosts of Black Holes from Another Universe

We're not living in the first universe. There were other universes, full of black holes, in other eons before ours, a group of physicists has said. And we can detect traces of those long-dead black holes in space.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2w3ZVlU

Facebook Identifies New Political Influence Operation Ahead of Midterm Elections


By SHEERA FRENKEL and NICHOLAS FANDOS from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2Lja2b4

Ancient Quasars Provide Incredible Evidence for Quantum Entanglement

Using two ancient galactic cores called quasars, researchers have taken a massive step forward toward confirming quantum entanglement — a concept that says particles can be linked no matter how far apart in the universe they may be.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Lfpll8

NASA's Orion Spacecraft Gets Heat Shield for Daring Test Flight to the Moon

NASA's human-rated moon spacecraft just got its heat shield for a test mission that will take place in 2019 or 2020.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MI72tC

Monster Black Hole 'Feeding Frenzy' Hides Hundreds of Galaxies in New Photo

Scientists have found hundreds of galaxies hiding in plain sight, hidden by the light emitted by an extremely active supermassive black hole.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2OVwKIt

Concerns Grow About Space Force Diverting Funds from Other Military Priorities

Experts warn that if the Space Force is set up as an independent service, its substantial administrative costs could eat up funds that might otherwise be spent training and equipping forces with next-generation space technology.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2P00AMj

Astronauts Will Play the First-Ever Tennis Match in Space Tonight! Watch It Live

History is about to be made as astronauts are set to play the first-ever tennis match in space.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2OW5r0U

Don't Ignore Ethical Aspects of Planetary Protection, Scientists Say

Most scientific discussions about planetary protection focus on how contaminating another world could complicate the search for alien life. But the ethics of potentially altering an extraterrestrial ecosystem shouldn't be ignored.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Le3t9C

Gotcha! US Air Force's Secretive X-37B Space Plane Spotted by Satellite Tracker

Netherlands-based satellite tracker Marco Langbroek snapped long-exposure photos of the robotic mini-shuttle zooming overhead yesterday (Aug. 20), capturing the spacecraft's rapid trek across the nighttime sky as a thin streak of light.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PsWZY8

After Celebrating the 2017 Solar Eclipse, NASA Looks to 'Spectacular' Sequel in 2024

On Aug. 21, 2017, 154 million Americans walked outside to watch the moon slide in front of the sun — and NASA hopes all those people and more will mark their calendars for April 8, 2024.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Bxrklf

“It’s scary!” Coldest Arctic Ice Breaks Up for First Time On Record

“It’s scary! I cannot tell how long this open water patch will remain open, but even if it closes in a few days from now, the harm will be done: the thick old sea ice will have been pushed away from the Arctic coast to an area where it will melt more easily.” – Thomas …

from Earthfiles https://ift.tt/2Mos8xU

'Above and Beyond' Documentary to Land in Theaters for NASA's 60th

Director Rory Kennedy's "Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey to Tomorrow," a new documentary about NASA's 60 years of space exploration, including the agency's study of Earth, is set to screen in theaters before airing on Discovery Channel.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BwVlBP

Uber Appoints New Head of Finance as It Marches Toward an I.P.O.


By KATE CONGER from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2OVrsN5

Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017: Your Amazing Memories

Where were you on Aug. 21, 2017? On this day last summer, millions of Americans flocked to a 70-mile-wide (113 kilometers) path that stretched across the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina to watch as the moon's shadow momentarily turned day into night.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N6MMPl

Astronaut Captures Whirling Typhoon Soulik from Space

NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold caught a spectacular view of Typhoon Soulik swirling toward southern Japan from his post on the International Space Station.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2w1WA6D

NSF selects Karen Marrongelle to head its Education and Human Resources Directorate

NSF selects Karen Marrongelle to head its Education and Human Resources Directorate

headshot

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has selected Dr. Karen Marrongelle to serve as head of the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR). EHR supports fundamental research that enhances learning and teaching, and broad efforts to achieve excellence in U.S. science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, at all levels and in all settings.

Marrongelle's career as a leader in the research community has been ...

More at https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=296393&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click


This is an NSF News item.

Published August 21, 2018 at 08:20PM
Read more at nsf.gov

Eerie Sky Glow Called 'Steve' Isn't an Aurora, Is 'Completely Unknown' to Science

There is a beautiful mystery in the sky, and its name is Steve.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MpdNkW

Federal S&E obligations to academic institutions increased by 3.5 percent

Federal S&E obligations to academic institutions increased by 3.5 percent

A student conducting research in a science laboratory.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, federal agencies obligated $31.6 billion to institutions of higher education in support of science and engineering (S&E), an increase of $1.1 billion from FY2015.

The most up-to-date federal S&E obligation levels come from the FY2016 Survey of Federal Science and Engineering Support to Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit Institutions (Federal S&E Support Survey), conducted by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) ...

More at https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=296256&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click


This is an NSF News item.

Published August 21, 2018 at 07:32PM
Read more at nsf.gov

Keep Your Electronic Communications Really Secure


By J. D. BIERSDORFER from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2MBJsij

Amazon’s Ripple Effect on Grocery Industry: Rivals Stock Up on Start-Ups


By ERIN GRIFFITH from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2N3xgDH

A Year Ago, the Sun Disappeared. This Year, a NASA Probe Travels to 'Touch' It.

A year ago, scientists and amateurs across the U.S. scrambled to gather precious data about the sun during the Great American Solar Eclipse — and today, many of the same people are eagerly following NASA's first mission to "touch" the sun.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2OSByhI

Total Solar Eclipse 2024: Here's What You Need to Know

The ethereal glow from the sun's corona is just one reason scientists and skywatchers are looking forward to the 2024 total solar eclipse.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2w0z0Hl

Water Ice Confirmed on Surface of Moon for 1st Time!

Researchers have confirmed the presence of the frozen stuff on the ground at and around the lunar north and south poles, a new study reports.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PscZti

New Space Science Badges Encourage Girl Scouts to Pursue STEM Education

The Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is debuting a set of new badges to encourage girls ages 5 to 18 to explore, observe and investigate the universe like "real space scientists," the organization announced last month.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N8EdDx

A Year After the Great American Solar Eclipse, the Excitement Remains

Solar scientists look back on what we've learned in the year since the Great American Solar Eclipse.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2OTCH8P

Monday, August 20, 2018

UFO Transformation from Lights to Disk in U.K.?

— “The photos appear to be legit — no photoshopping or other manipulation.” – Photoshop Expert, San Francisco, California     August 21, 2018  Castletown, England – On August 17, 2018, Ian Church in the U. K. sent me the following email with four image attachments. They were out of order in sequence shot and …

from Earthfiles https://ift.tt/2MKFFiu

Purple STEVE Is Not An Aurora — It’s “New Upper Atmospheric Phenomenon”

—  “As you can imagine, I was totally stoked. This was my first STEVE sighting and it was unforgettable. It was visible with the naked eye and I could see the pulsations of green with the purple.” – Greg Ash photographed STEVE over Ely, Minnesota at latitude +47.9 N on May 5-6, 2018

from Earthfiles https://ift.tt/2Pqt4Q7

Project Mercury: America's 1st Manned Space Program

Mercury was a NASA program to prove that astronauts could function effectively in space for minutes to hours at a time.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2sLK62g

2014 MU69: Next Target for New Horizons

After its historic flyby of Pluto, the New Horizons spacecraft is on its way to rendezvous with a tiny, icy Kuiper Belt object.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2y3vcEE

NASA Spacecraft Begins Final Approach to Big Asteroid Bennu

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft began its final approach toward the big near-Earth asteroid Bennu on Friday (Aug. 17). The milestone also marks the official start of OSIRIS-REx's "asteroid operations" mission phase.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Bv68we

US Air Force Zooms Ahead on 2 New Hypersonic Weapons Plans

Over the last four months, the U.S. Air Force has awarded two contracts for hypersonic weapons worth a maximum of $1.4 billion to aerospace giant Lockheed Martin.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MAqloR

NASA's InSight Mars Lander Snaps a Selfie at Halfway Mark to Red Planet

In the midst of a summer full of Mars headlines, NASA's newest mission to the Red Planet is halfway to its destination and is in good condition, the agency announced today (Aug. 20).

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N6GD5E

Stratolaunch Unveils New Rockets, Space Plane to Launch from World's Largest Airplane

Stratolaunch Systems, which was established by billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2011, will employ four different satellite-toting vehicles, the company revealed today (Aug. 20).

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2nZKHdj

How the Great American Solar Eclipse Sparked Nationwide Interest in Science

The Great American Solar Eclipse ignited exceptional interest in science among the U.S. public, according to one new study.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N3AGGy

A 'Fireball' 40 Times Brighter Than the Moon Shoots Across Alabama Skies

A meteor that appeared over Alabama on Friday blazed a fiery trail.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BqcDAz

Stunning NASA Image Lets You Watch the Sun Explode in Real Time

The surface of the sun is a roiling tangle of magnetism, heat and light, stunning new images reveal.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N1f3qs

Pseudo-Satellite Drone Flies for 25 Days Straight, Sets Endurance Record

The Zephyr drone could be used for military reconnaissance and wildfire monitoring, among other activities.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Mse4mY

Solar Eclipses: When Is the Next One?

Solar eclipses are one of nature’s grandest events. What is a solar eclipse? Why are there different kinds of solar eclipses? How do they work? And when is the next one? We explain.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2rsjofB

Solar Eclipse Guide 2019: When, Where & How to See Them

Three solar eclipses will take place in 2019. Here's a guide to when, where and how to see them.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wxlZX1

Going Vertical for Instagram’s New Video App


By J. D. BIERSDORFER from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2MDx5Cl

NASA Planetary Science Program Remains on Track, Report Finds

NASA has met or exceeded many of the goals set by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine in the 2013-2022 planetary decadal survey, according to a new midterm assessment.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2L4htTz

This Tiny Galaxy Is Home to a Weirdly Large Supermassive Black Hole

Astronomers spotted a huge black hole in the center of a very small galaxy, which could help scientists better understand how these kinds of galaxies — called "ultracompact dwarfs" — form.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2N2mNbN

Red Planet Survival Ain't Easy in 'Surviving Mars' Game

Mark Watney, who struggled to stay alive in "The Martian" film, was right: It is really, really hard to survive on the Red Planet.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2OPWyFV

After the Cryptocurrency Boom: Hard Lessons for New Investors


By NATHANIEL POPPER and SU-HYUN LEE from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2LcR6uy

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Uber’s Vision of Self-Driving Cars Begins to Blur


By MIKE ISAAC, DAISUKE WAKABAYASHI and KATE CONGER from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2BlsxMt

Will We Ever Stop Using Rockets to Get to Space?

On March 16, 1926 in Auburn, Massachusetts, American engineer Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket. The flight lasted a mere 2.5 seconds and ended anticlimactically 181 feet away in a snow-covered cabbage field.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PnrnTE

Space Force Talk Drawing Attention to the Need for International Norms

The announcement by Vice President Mike Pence last week that the Pentagon will stand up a Space Force suddenly has drawn attention to the issue of international space security.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PmBoAr

This NASA Video of the Moon's Lunar Landmarks Is Simply Amazing

A new NASA video tour of the moon captures breathtaking views of the lunar surface.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Mr1Vip

'Hard-Rock Excavation' Begins for Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile

The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) has now entered the "hard-rock excavation" phase, which will make way for the huge structure's foundations, leaders of the $1 billion project announced on Tuesday (Aug. 14).

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MHle6p

Saturday, August 18, 2018

This Week's Top Space Stories!

Space Force continues to get hyped up, astronomers have found metals in the atmosphere of an "ultrahot Jupiter," and there are new rules for tiny satellites — it's Space.com's best news stories of the week.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2sd6VvC

Get an Up-Close Look at Boeing's New CST-100 Starliner Spaceship (Photos)

Boeing recently gave journalists a behind-the-scenes look at the company's new Starliner capsule, which could start carrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station as early as next year.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2L4fsXp

Melting Permafrost Below Arctic Lakes Is Even More Dangerous to the Climate, NASA Warns

Scientists have worried for years now that climate change will free carbon trapped in frozen soil in the Arctic, triggering faster climate change — but now they believe abrupt thawing below lakes is even more dangerous.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MXSumL

Exos Aerospace Reschedules First Suborbital Launch

Exos Aerospace, a Texas company developing a reusable suborbital rocket, now plans to carry out a first flight of its vehicle in late August as it sets its sights on a follow-on orbital vehicle.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Pkjr5t

Photo Tour: Inside Boeing's CST-100 Starliner Hangar for Commercial Spaceship Flights

Take a look inside the CST-100 Starliner hangar, where Boeing is building the private space capsules that will fly NASA astronauts and more into space!

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Bok3UW

'Foreign Object' on Mars Spotted by Curiosity Rover Is Just a Rock (Photo)

On Monday (Aug. 13), Curiosity photographed an odd, flat object that mission team members initially thought might have fallen off the car-size robot. But the "debris" turned out to be a Red Planet rock.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2OFE3Uw

Friday, August 17, 2018

Water on Mars: Exploration & Evidence

Mars has water trapped in the polar ice caps. More water may lie just beneath the surface. A new study suggests that water also flows on the surface.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wBfVg2

NASA Solar Probe Hits 1st Deep-Space Milestones On Its Way to the Sun

The Parker Solar Probe, which launched early Sunday morning (Aug. 12) from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, is notching flight milestones according to plan, NASA officials said today (Aug. 17).

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MTuh0B

Here's the 1st 'Star Wars Resistance' Trailer! (And Its Release Date)

Meet the pilots of the resistance.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MU5CJm

New NASA Images Show California's Largest Wildfire from Space. Canadian Blazes, Too

The Mendocino Complex Fire, the largest blaze in California's history, releases clouds of smoke in new photos from NASA, and fires blazing over Canada are visible from a million miles away in space.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2PgwIfr

15,000 Galaxies Shine in This 1 Photo from the Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope has been at work for almost three decades, but it's still learning new skills — like how to squeeze an incredible 15,000 galaxies into a single image.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BkHLBd

Part 2: Animal Mutilations — More Strange, Bloodless Cattle Mutilations in Argentina

“Veterinarians have come to the mutilation site and no one can tell me how or with what something like this can be done. No traces of blood and the missing parts cannot be found.” - Norberto Bieri, cattle rancher in Colonia Duran, Santa Fe Province, Argentina   Click here to subscribe and get instant access …

from Earthfiles https://ift.tt/2MutTJ4

Give Your Old Computer New Life


By J. D. BIERSDORFER from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2Mw29Un

'Space Heroes' Trading Card Game Sets Up Space Race Between Players

Do you hold the cards to win a space race? That is the challenge laid out by "Space Heroes: Journey to Space."

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2MQGQd8

NASA's Opportunity Rover on Mars Still Silent 2 Months into Epic Dust Storm

Opportunity has been silent since June 10, when a monster Red Planet dust storm began blocking sunlight from reaching the solar-powered rover. But Opportunity's handlers still hope to get a ping once the dust has cleared.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2L1RKuS

Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico to Get a $5.8 Million Antenna Upgrade

Puerto Rico's Arecibo Observatory, the second-largest radio telescope in the world, is about to get a major upgrade.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2BmHe1O

Arecibo Observatory: Watching for Asteroids, Waiting for E.T.

Arecibo Observatory has been used to send a SETI message as well as for scanning the skies for approaching asteroids.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2tccI1w

Rocket On! These Cool Student Experiments Just Launched to Space

Dozens of students got to see their experiments travel from school to space. A sounding rocket soared from a NASA rocket facility in Virginia Tuesday (Aug. 14), carrying several student experiments under the RockSat-X program.

from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Msywn5

The Week in Tech: When In Doubt, Never Tweet


By SHEERA FRENKEL from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2vRLQrH

How Fake Reviews Hurt Us and Amazon

By BY SHIRA OVIDE from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2ISExt7