Algal Apocalypse
Algal Apocalypse Another big problem for Earth could come from a tiny source, according to Caltech geobiologist Joe Kirschvink. He raises the possibility that diatoms — a type of microscopic algae that...
View ArticleComet Collision
Comet Collision Some of that uncertainty comes from asteroids’ sometimes forgotten cousins, comets. (Comets are made up of ice and dust, while asteroids are made up of rock and metals.) Hartley 2 came...
View ArticleOrbital Obliteration
Orbital Obliteration Changes in how the planets circle the sun could also knock out Earth. Jupiter is the most massive planet in the sun’s posse. As such, it tugs at the orbits of the other planets....
View ArticleAsteroid Accident
Asteroid Accident Asteroids typically top the list of extraterrestrial objects that could hit Earth. A 9-mile wide asteroid that crashed into what is now Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula was partly...
View ArticleSuicidal Supernova
Suicidal Supernova Supernovas are among the most powerful explosions in the universe and can rival the strength of a few octillion nuclear warheads, according to NASA. These super-booms come in two...
View ArticleKiller Contagion
Killer Contagion Lately, there's been a lot of movie-fueled worry surrounding the possibility of a devastating global pandemic. Currently science is contributing to these fears in the form of a highly...
View ArticleSupervolcano
2012 is sure to be filled with too many end-of-the-world jokes, and probably a fair amount of genuine fear as well. But you might be wondering, assuming the Mayans were wrong and doomsday isn't on Dec....
View ArticleSolar Slaughter
Solar Slaughter Even if the Earth dodges Mercury, the blue planet eventually will be turned into an oven by the sun, says NASA planetologist Chris McKay. As the sun burns, the hydrogen in its core...
View ArticleThat's Got to Hurt
That's Got to Hurt Let’s say you wanted to see a black hole up close but then you got too near and fell in. That sucks. Just what will happen to your body as you dive into the abyss? Until recently,...
View ArticleGravitational Waves
Gravitational Waves Black hole mergers are expected to be some of the most energetic events in the universe. These powerful collisions should produce ripples in the fabric of space-time, which would...
View ArticleLong Valley Observatory
Long Valley Observatory It is easy to forget that North America hosts two major caldera volcanoes - the Yellowstone and Long Valley in California. The Long Valley area, in fact, has seen more recent...
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The Accretion Disk
The Accretion Disk Material that falls into a black hole usually doesn’t go directly in. Instead, gas and dust form an accretion disk that spirals around the black hole like water circling a drain....
View ArticleSpace-Time Gordian Knot
Space-Time Gordian Knot In the last year, powerful computer simulations have brought the area around a black hole into focus. Theoretical physicist Kip Thorne and his colleagues have modeled the...
View ArticleYellowstone Volcano Observatory
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, run by the USGS and University of Utah, is the only observatory tasked with watching a single volcano - the Yellowstone caldera....
View ArticleBlack Hole Dead Ahead
This month, researchers are inaugurating the Event Horizon Telescope, a project that will try to take the first detailed pictures of the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy. This...
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A New Window
A New Window In the next few years, astronomers hope to detect the effects of merging black holes. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is a group of facilities working...
View ArticleCentral Black Hole
Central Black Hole Researchers have long studied the enormous black hole at the center of our galaxy, whose mass is more than 2 million times our sun. As seen in the above simulation, an unlucky cloud...
View ArticleDouble Black Hole
Double Black Hole The behavior of space-time around a black hole becomes extremely complex when considering two merging black holes. Researchers think this type of event is common, occurring when two...
View ArticleSpace Station Freedom
Space Station Freedom Before the ISS, the U.S. considered a smaller international space station to be built in partnership with Japan, Canada, and nine European nations. First announced in President...
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Inflatable Station
Inflatable Station Goodyear helped design this space station concept in 1961. After launch, it would have inflated like a giant rubber wheel, providing pressurized compartments for living and working...
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