Category: Points of Information
Very brief descriptions, with appropriate links, of current or recent news items.
An analysis of the survey data produced by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) has uncovered literally millions of black hole candidates as well as a thousand of the brightest galaxies yet found.
An analysis of the survey data produced by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) has uncovered literally millions of black hole candidates as well as a thousand of the brightest galaxies yet found.
Curiosity heads east 52 feet on the first leg of its exploration of Gale Crater.The journey begins: Curiosity heads east 52 feet on the first leg of its exploration of Gale Crater.
The journey begins: Curiosity heads east 52 feet on the first leg of its exploration of Gale Crater.
A scale that can measure the weight of a single molecule.
A scale that can measure the weight of a single molecule.
Nine substances that only exist in science fiction.
Nine substances that only exist in science fiction.
Until some engineer invents them, that is.
What every home needs: A home-built fire-breathing flying dragon.
What every home needs: A home-built fire-breathing flying dragon.
The ex-Marine, arrested and placed in a psychiatric ward because government officials didn’t like his Facebook postings, has announced he is suing the officials involved.
Go for it: Brandon Raub, the ex-Marine who was arrested and placed in a psychiatric ward because government officials didn’t like his Facebook postings, has announced he is suing the officials involved.
A solar system with two suns.
Planets without end: A solar system with two suns.
Kepler had previously found two planets orbiting two different binary stars. Here, the space telescope has found a binary star which has its own solar system of two planets.
Russian officials today announced that they will hold additional open cosmonaut recruitment drives, similar to the first held earlier this year, but with revisions.
Russian officials today announced that they will hold additional open cosmonaut recruitment drives, similar to the first held earlier this year, but with revisions.
It appears that the first drive was too short, only six weeks long, and did not get them as many applicants as they would have liked.
Bigelow Aerospace has expanded its workforce as well doubled its factory space in response to the commercial contracts NASA recently awarded.
The competition heats up: Bigelow Aerospace has expanded its workforce as well doubled its factory space in response to the commercial contracts NASA recently awarded.
The company just opened a 185,000-square-foot addition, bringing its North Las Vegas plant up to about 350,000 square feet. It slashed its work force from 150 before the recession to 50 during the downturn; now, it’s looking to jump back up to 90 workers by Christmas. It’s hiring structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, as well as chemists, molecular biologists and workers who craft composite spacecraft parts.
Hat tip to Clark Lindsey at NewSpace Watch.
A special Iowahawk guest commentary by Barack Obama, stargazer-in-chief.
A special Iowahawk guest commentary by Barack Obama, stargazer-in-chief.
Neil’s passing gives all of us all pause to consider deeper questions. What does it mean for the future of space exploration? How proud would Neil have been to have a famous historic president refer to him by first name? And, most importantly, how did his death inspire that historic president to make ever more gigantic leaps for mankind?
The commentary might be satire written by Dave Burge, but the photo at the link is real, our President’s idea of honoring Neil Armstrong, with a photo of himself.
Not the same kind of photo legacy that Neil Armstrong left us.
The photo legacy of Neil Armstrong.
Russian authorities struggle to contain the spread of African swine fever, a deadly virus that attacks pigs.
Russian authorities struggle to contain the spread of African swine fever, a deadly virus that attacks pigs.
Russian authorities have incinerated tens of thousands of pigs and closed roads in the past few weeks, in an attempt to contain an emerging outbreak of African swine fever, a viral disease so lethal to the animals that it has been likened to Ebola. The spread of the disease comes with a heavy economic toll — last year, the Russian Federation lost 300,000 of the country’s 19 million pigs to swine fever, at an estimated cost of about 7.6 billion roubles (US$240 million).
Images from Curiosity have spotted some unexpected geology in Gale Crater.
Images from Curiosity have spotted some unexpected geology in Gale Crater.
A mosaic of high-definition images of Mount Sharp, the central peak dominating the landing site at Gale Crater, reveals tilted strata never before seen on Mars. The strata dip downwards at an angle close to that of the slope of the foothills of the 18,000-ft. tall mountain within which they are formed.
“The cool thing is the cameras have discovered something we were unaware of,” says mission chief scientist John Grotzinger. “This thing jumped out at us as being very different to what we expected,” he adds. Lying in the low-lying foothills beyond the dune field between the rover and the base of Mount Sharp, the inclined layers are a “spectacular feature” that could not be seen from orbit.
I think there are two reasons these tilted layers are puzzling scientists.
» Read more
Robot cavers in space.
Two more evangelical colleges have joined the lawsuit against the Obama administrations’ contraceptive drug mandate under Obamacare.
We’ve only just begun: Two more evangelical colleges have joined the lawsuit against the Obama administrations’ contraceptive drug mandate under Obamacare.
Why a New York Times’ science columnist is bad for science.
Why a New York Times’ science columnist is bad for science.
An aide to Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren threatened and pushed a reporter this weekend, knocking his video camera to the ground.
Leftwing civility: An aide to Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren threatened and pushed a reporter this weekend, knocking his video camera to the ground.
I like the aide’s comment at the end of the video: “You’re messing with the wrong people.” Video below the fold.
» Read more
Orbital Sciences gets ready for its first cargo mission to ISS.
The competition heats up: Orbital Sciences gets ready for its first cargo mission to ISS.
The article gives details about the status of Cygnus and Antares, including mentioning that the first test of Antares is now set for late October.
On the air
Tomorrow, Monday, August 27 at 7:30 pm (Eastern), I will be joining David Livingston of the Space Show and the One Giant Leap Foundataion on the John Batchelor Show to talk about Neil Armstrong and his life and impact on history. If you can’t listen live, the podcast of the show will be available here one hour later.