"Professor Goddard does not know the relation between action and reaction and the need to have something better than a vacuum against which to react. He seems to lack the basic knowledge ladled out daily in high schools."
--1921 New York Times editorial about Robert Goddard's revolutionary rocket work.

"Correction: It is now definitely established that a rocket can function in a vacuum. The 'Times' regrets the error."
NY Times, July 1969.

— New York Times

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Will sucking carbon from air ever really help tackle climate change?

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 9:02am
The direct air capture industry got a boost last week with the opening of Mammoth, the largest plant yet for sucking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, but questions remain about whether the technology can scale up
Categories: Astronomy

NASA details plan to build a levitating robot train on the moon

Space.com - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 9:00am
NASA's plan to build a train track on the moon is part of the agency's Innovative Advanced Concepts program, which aims to develop "science fiction-like" projects for future space exploration.
Categories: Astronomy

Don Pettit, NASA’s Oldest Active Astronaut, Is Going Back to Space

Scientific American.com - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 9:00am

Veteran spacefarer Don Pettit is set to launch this summer on a half-year mission to the International Space Station to perform novel science experiments, snap unique orbital photos, and much more

Categories: Astronomy

How NASA's Ingenuity helicopter opened the Mars skies to exploration

Space.com - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 8:49am
The Ingenuity Mars helicopter's flying days may be over, but its influence will be felt far into the future.
Categories: Astronomy

Around half the world could lose easily accessible groundwater by 2050

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 8:00am
In coming decades, major groundwater sources may become economically unfeasible — this could raise food prices and shift diets, among other impacts
Categories: Astronomy

Around half the world could lose easily accessible groundwater by 2050

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 8:00am
In coming decades, major groundwater sources may become economically unfeasible — this could raise food prices and shift diets, among other impacts
Categories: Astronomy

Frozen human brain tissue can now be revived without damage

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 7:07am
Using a new approach, scientists have successfully frozen and thawed brain organoids and cubes of brain tissue from someone with epilepsy, which could enable better research into neurological conditions
Categories: Astronomy

Frozen human brain tissue can now be revived without damage

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 7:07am
Using a new approach, scientists have successfully frozen and thawed brain organoids and cubes of brain tissue from someone with epilepsy, which could enable better research into neurological conditions
Categories: Astronomy

The Immune System May Struggle to Handle Hotter Summer Temperatures

Scientific American.com - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 6:45am

Heat seems to trigger a sweep of changes in immune system molecules, although researchers disagree on what they might mean

Categories: Astronomy

Artemis 2 astronauts simulated a day in the life on their moon mission. Here's what they learned (exclusive)

Space.com - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 6:00am
How do you get ready for flying to the moon? The Artemis 2 astronauts practiced a day in space ahead of their historic liftoff in 2025 to see what living in the Orion spacecraft is like.
Categories: Astronomy

The New ‘Dream Chaser’ Spacecraft Prepares to Visit the International Space Station

Scientific American.com - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 6:00am

Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser is set to make its inaugural trip to orbit to deliver supplies to the International Space Station

Categories: Astronomy

SOHO’s view of the 11 May 2024 solar storm

ESO Top News - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 6:00am
Video: 00:00:29

Over the weekend of 10–12 May 2024, Earth was struck by the largest solar storm in more than a decade. While many of us enjoyed colourful auroras lighting up Earth’s protective atmosphere, spacecraft had to endure being buffeted by incredibly strong solar winds and electromagnetic radiation.  

Positioned between the Sun and Earth, the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) caught the entire solar outburst on camera. The Sun can be seen spewing out clouds of particles, with an extremely large burst sent to Earth on 11 May. The bright spots on the left and right are Jupiter and Venus. 

This video was taken by SOHO’s LASCO instrument, a coronagraph made up of a telescope with a disc blocking the centre of view. By blocking out the direct light coming from the Sun, the instrument can see light from the surrounding corona.  

SOHO is not the only ESA spacecraft studying solar activity and space weather. ESA’s Directorates of Science, Human and Robotic Exploration, Earth Observation, Operations, and Technology, Engineering and Quality all have missions and/or other activities directly connected with this topic. Together, they form the ESA Heliophysics observatory or more musically, ESA’s Heliophysics Orchestra.  

Categories: Astronomy

Binoculars: A Great First Telescope

NASA - Breaking News - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 6:00am

3 min read

Binoculars: A Great First Telescope A pair of good binoculars can show craters on the Moon around 6 miles (10 km) across and larger. How large is that? It would take you about two hours to hike across a similar-sized crater on Earth. The “Can You See the Flag On the Moon?” handout showcases the levels of detail that different instruments can typically observe on the Moon. Jay Tanner

Do you want to peer deeper into the night sky? Are you feeling the urge to buy a telescope? There are so many options for budding astronomers that choosing one can be overwhelming. A first telescope should be easy to use and provide good quality views while being affordable. As it turns out, those requirements make the first telescope of choice for many stargazers something unexpected: a good pair of binoculars!

Binoculars are an excellent first instrument because they are generally easy to use and more versatile than most telescopes. Binoculars can be used for activities like stargazing and birdwatching and work great in the field at a star party, along the hiking trail, and anywhere else where you can see the sky. Binoculars also travel well, since they easily fit into carry-on luggage – a difficult feat for most telescopes! A good pair of binoculars, ranging in specifications from 7×35 to 10×50, will give you great views of the Moon, large open star clusters like the Pleiades (M45), and, from dark skies, larger bright galaxies like the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and large nebulae like the Orion Nebula (M42). While you likely won’t be able to see Saturn’s rings, as you practice your observing skills you may be able to spot Jupiter’s moons, along with some globular clusters and fainter nebulae from dark sites, too.

The two most popular types of binocular designs are shown here: roof-prism binoculars (left) and porro-prism binoculars (right). Roof prisms tend to be more compact, lighter, and a bit more portable, while porro-prisms tend to be heavier but often offer wider views and greater magnification. What should you choose? Many birders and frequent fliers often choose roof-prism models for their portability. Many observers who prefer to observe fainter deep-sky objects or who use a tripod with their observing choose larger porro-prism designs. There is no right answer, so if you can, try out both designs and see which works better for you. Astronomical Society of the Pacific

What do the numbers on those binocular specs actually mean? The first number is the magnification, while the second number is the size in millimeters (mm) of the lenses. So, a 7×35 pair of binoculars means that they will magnify 7 times using lenses 35 mm in diameter. It can be tempting to get the biggest binoculars you can find but try not to get anything much more powerful than a 10×50 pair at first. Larger binoculars with more power often have narrower fields of vision and are heavier; while technically more powerful, they are also more difficult to hold steadily in your hands and “jiggle” quite a bit unless you buy much more expensive binoculars with image stabilization or mount them to a tripod.

Would it surprise you that amazing views of some astronomical objects can be found not just from giant telescopes, but also from seemingly humble binoculars? Binoculars are able to show a much larger field of view of the sky compared to most telescopes. For example, most telescopes are unable to keep the entirety of the Pleiades or Andromeda Galaxy entirely inside the view of most eyepieces. Binoculars are also a great investment for more advanced observing, as later on they are useful for tracking down objects to then observe in more detail with a telescope.

If you are able to do so, real-world advice and experience is still the best for something you will be spending a lot of time with! Going to an in-person star party hosted by a local astronomy club is a great way to get familiar with telescopes and binoculars of all kinds – just ask permission before taking a closer look! You can find clubs and star parties near you on the Night Sky Network’s Clubs & Events page at bit.ly/nsnclubsandevents and inspire your binocular stargazing sessions with NASA’s latest discoveries!

Originally posted by Dave Prosper: November 2022

Last Updated by Kat Troche: April 2024

Categories: NASA

A Citrus-Scented Cannabis Compound Reduces Anxiety for Weed Users

Scientific American.com - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 5:30am

New research into weed reveals how a lemon-scented terpene can ease anxiety without reducing the high.

Categories: Astronomy

Why did hominins like us evolve at all?

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 5:00am
Animal life on Earth existed for over half a billion years before hominins hit the scene – a complex combination of environmental changes, innovations in technology and competition may have led to us
Categories: Astronomy

Why did hominins like us evolve at all?

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 5:00am
Animal life on Earth existed for over half a billion years before hominins hit the scene – a complex combination of environmental changes, innovations in technology and competition may have led to us
Categories: Astronomy

Huge jellyfish invasion could disrupt Arctic ecosystems as waters warm

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 4:01am
The Arctic could see a surge of jellyfish as climate change leads to warmer waters and less ice – a process known as “jellification”
Categories: Astronomy

Huge jellyfish invasion could disrupt Arctic ecosystems as waters warm

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 4:01am
The Arctic could see a surge of jellyfish as climate change leads to warmer waters and less ice – a process known as “jellification”
Categories: Astronomy

The Galaxy, the Jet, and a Famous Black Hole

APOD - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 12:00am

The Galaxy, the Jet, and a Famous Black Hole


Categories: Astronomy, NASA

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APOD - Wed, 05/15/2024 - 12:00am

What would it look like to circle a black hole?


Categories: Astronomy, NASA