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Can Science and Culture Coexist on Mauna Kea? Dozen ‘Protector’ Protestors Arrested This Week for Obstruction

Medicine & Technology Apr 03, 2015

With the construction of the $1.4 billion dollar endeavor of the Thirty Meter Telescope beginning this week, news arrives from the Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii, as a dozen protestors were arrested for obstructing construction crews on their way to the summit. Astronomers anticipating the Thirty Meter Telescope believe that the largest telescope ever built will give us new insights never-before-seen into space, however, locals in Hawaii are not convinced that the $1.4 billion investment is worth compromising their lands.

Ghosts of Quasars Past—Hubble Telescope Reveals Phantom of Eight Galaxies

Apr 03, 2015

In a new series of images captured by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, researchers with the US space agency discovered an eery green hue spiraling and braiding shapes around eight active galaxies. And while the wisps of glowing structures “don’t fit a single pattern”, lead researcher of the study, Bill Keel believes that the bright green lights may reveal the high energy at the core of these eight galaxies.

NASA's Exploration Vehicle of Choice for Saturn Moon–A Submarine

Apr 02, 2015

Saturn is the second largest planet in our solar system and has developed quite a reputation because of its impressive ring system, but it also has 62 moons. The largest moon, Titan, is the only one that actually has its very own atmosphere. NASA now has plans to take a closer look at what is going on down on Titan, but not by using a spacecraft. Instead it will use a submarine.

The Hunt is On for Exomoons That May Harbor Life

Apr 02, 2015

The search for life doesn't end at our solar system and it is not limited to just planets. Scientists are now searching for moons orbiting alien planets in other systems that could harbor extraterrestrial life.

NASA Set to Extend Mercury Mission for Another Month

Mar 30, 2015

The Mercury probe sent by NASA to study the planet closest to the sun isn't ready to finish its groundbreaking work just yet so NASA is taking steps to extend it's mission for at least another month.

US and Russia Begin Planning the Next Space Station

Mar 29, 2015

While the United States and Russia relations may be at their lowest point in decades, the space agencies are working together better than they ever have before. NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos today announced plans to build a new space station for when the International Space Station is retired in 2024.

Can People Really Live Forever in Space? New NASA Study Looks to Answer that Question

Mar 27, 2015

While you might think that NASA and other space agencies have made great strides in investigating the final frontiers of space, it turns out that there are far too many limitations for what humans are able to do. Astronauts and cosmonauts train for the better part of the lives, learning technical information and perfecting the physical attributes needed to live in space. But when it comes down to mission time, they only have a few months in space—at best. Considering that new missions to Mars will look towards taking human journeys far deeper into space than anyone has been before, NASA’s new experiment is looking into how long exposure to zero-gravity will affect humans. And they’re using a familiar method of testing their hypotheses—twins.

Opportunity Sets Marathon Record on Mars

Mar 26, 2015

It seems NASA's Opportunity Rover isn't just content with exceeding its originally designated lifespan by over a decade, it has not set another new record that the space agency's other rovers will have a tough time beating.

Curiosity Finds Live-Supporting Nitrogen on Mars

Mar 25, 2015

Curiosity Finds Live-Supporting Nitrogen on Mars

To Corned Beef and Beyond, A Sandwiches Trip into Space

Mar 25, 2015

Fifty years ago, on March 23, 1965, an astronaut onboard the Gemini 3 probe took with him something that nobody at NASA ever would have expected - a corned beef sandwich.

Space Twin Experiment Set to Answer NASA's Biggest Question

Mar 23, 2015

While NASA already knows many of the affects on the human body while in space, when astronaut Scott Kelly launches for the beginning of his year long mission at the International Space Station, he has one long-range goal on his mind.

Supernovae Dust ‘Goldmine’ Found at the Center of the Milky Way

Mar 22, 2015

One of the largest questions to date has been what building materials were present at the formation of our Milky Way galaxy? Astronomers have long theorized that the building material may have come from the death of supermassive stars, however, the galaxy-building dust is thought to burn up in a supernova like that. But now researchers are saying that may not be the case at all. In a new study published this week in the journal Science Express, researchers with Cornell University have made the first direct discovery of dust used to build the cosmos at the center of the Milky Way, and they believe it may have resulted from an ancient supernova.

Scientists Believe Ceres Might Have A Volcano

Mar 19, 2015

Since the arrival of the Dawn spacecraft, scientists have been hard at work beginning their studies of the planet that was never meant to be. When it first started its approach, the scientific community was abuzz as the first pictures showed bright spots on the surface. Now, scientists believe that these bright spots could possibly be volcanoes of ice.

NASA Orbiter Detects Ultraviolet Auroras on Mars

Mar 19, 2015

It's only been a day since skywatchers around the world were treated to a particularly energetic display of auroras because of an intense geomagnetic storm, but researchers have announced that NASA's MAVEN mission has observed auroras on Mars as well, only they are in energetic ultraviolet wavelengths instead of visible light.