by Wei Lifigures by Catherine Ding The universe is massive, with an estimated 70 quintillion planets—that is 70 followed by an additional 18 zeros. In the Milky Way alone, where we reside, there are billions of planets. With these huge numbers, Earth seems very insignificant in the grand scheme of things. This raises the question: are we truly alone in this vast space of the … Continue reading Finding Life in Space: Why are we so special?
Jupiter’s moon Europa might not need the sun’s rays to glow. If so, its color will shed light on the chemistry of the ocean world. Continue reading Europa’s Glowing Ice Could Shine Light on the Moon’s Subterranean Secrets
A team of international astronomers have identified the smallest free-floating “rogue” planet observed to date. Continue reading Going Rogue in Space
Researchers create a melanin particle containing selenium, providing even more protection from harsh UV rays. These nanoparticles can be incorporated into clothing – providing astronauts a very lightweight alternative to lead shielding. Continue reading Artificial Sunscreen Protects Cells from X-ray Radiation
by Kerry McGowen Have you ever wondered how scientists hunt for alien life on other planets? What are they looking for? Before jumping straight into the search for aliens, scientists look for planets that could support alien life in the first place. However, this is no easy task. In the Milky Way alone, which is the galaxy to which our eight-planet solar system belongs, there … Continue reading Atmospheric Gases on Other Planets Could Help us Find Alien Life
Scientists have recently shaken up our perception of Mars. A NASA team has directly shown that Mars is seismically active – much more than scientists expected, too. Continue reading NASA has Detected Marsquakes, Proving the Red Planet is Seismically Active
by Matthew Smith figures by Bradley Wierbowski Step aside, NASA. The 20th century model of space exploration is running out of fuel, and private companies are now leading the race for human expansion across the galaxy. Elon Musk, Richard Branson, and Jeff Bezos are three of the billionaires leading this extraterrestrial adventure with their respective companies, SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin. Bezos, the founder … Continue reading Commercialized Space and You
If you’ve ever watched a rocket launch, you can imagine a familiar picture. The rocket moves slowly upward as it gives off a large gush of smoke. As the rocket speeds up and shoots through the atmosphere, flames trail behind it. Eventually, a part of the rocket falls off, falling back towards the earth. This part of the rocket is called the booster. The booster … Continue reading Recycled Rockets? Company Pioneers the First Reusable Rocket