Image of sun-approaching comet ISON

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In this Hubble composite image taken in April 2013, the sun-approaching Comet ISON floats against a seemingly infinite backdrop of numerous galaxies and a handful of foreground stars.

via Science Daily

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Scientists discover surprising importance of 'I Love Q' for understanding neutron stars

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Scientists can learn a tremendous amount about neutron stars and quark stars without understanding their internal structure in detail, according to two Montana State University scientists who published their findings in the July 26 issue of "Science."



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NASA's IRIS telescope offers first glimpse of sun's mysterious atmosphere

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The moment when a telescope first opens its doors represents the culmination of years of work and planning -- while simultaneously laying the groundwork for a wealth of research and answers yet to come. It is a moment of excitement and perhaps even a little uncertainty. On July 17, 2013, the international team of scientists and engineers who supported and built NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, or IRIS, all lived through that moment. As the spacecraft orbited around Earth, the door of the telescope opened to view the mysterious lowest layers of the sun's atmosphere and the results thus far are nothing short of amazing. The data is crisp and clear, showing unprecedented detail of this little-observed region.

via Science Daily

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NASA's Van Allen Probes discover particle accelerator in the heart of Earth’s radiation belts

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Scientists have discovered a massive particle accelerator in the heart of one of the harshest regions of near-Earth space, a region of super-energetic, charged particles surrounding the globe called the Van Allen radiation belts. Scientists knew that something in space accelerated particles in the radiation belts to more than 99 percent the speed of light but they didn't know what that something was. New results from NASA's Van Allen Probes now show that the acceleration energy comes from within the belts themselves. Particles inside the belts are sped up by local kicks of energy, buffeting the particles to ever faster speeds, much like a perfectly timed push on a moving swing.

via Science Daily

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Bad night's sleep? The moon could be to blame

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Many people complain about poor sleep around the full moon, and now a report offers some of the first convincing scientific evidence to suggest that this really is true. The findings add to evidence that humans -- despite the comforts of our civilized world -- still respond to the geophysical rhythms of the moon, driven by a circalunar clock.

via Science Daily

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NASA Mission Discovers Particle Accelerator in Heart of Van Allen Radiation Belts

Using data from a NASA satellite, scientists have discovered a massive particle accelerator in the heart of one of the harshest regions of near-Earth space, a region of super-energetic, charged particles surrounding the globe and known as the Van Allen radiation belts.

via NASA Breaking News

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2013/july/nasa-mission-discovers-particle-accelerator-in-heart-of-van-allen-radiation-belts

IRIS Mission Gets First Look at Sun's Mysterious Interface Region

NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) spacecraft has captured its first observations of a region of the sun that is now possible to observe in detail: the lowest layers of the sun's atmosphere.

via NASA Breaking News

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2013/july/iris-mission-gets-first-look-at-suns-mysterious-interface-region

Galaxies, Comets, and Stars! Oh My!

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In this Hubble Space Telescope composite image taken in April 2013, the sun-approaching Comet ISON floats against a seemingly infinite backdrop of numerous galaxies and a handful of foreground stars. The icy visitor, with its long gossamer tail, appears to be swimming like a tadpole through a deep pond of celestial wonders.

via HubbleSite NewsCenter -- Latest News Releases

http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2013/31/

Physicists publish solution to the quantum measurement problem

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(Phys.org) —Quantum mechanics is a highly successful theory, but its interpretation has still not been settled. In their recent opus magnum, Theo Nieuwenhuizen (Institute of Physics, UvA) and colleagues claim to have found a solution to the so-called quantum measurement problem.



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What if quantum physics worked on a macroscopic level?

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Quantum physics concerns a world of infinitely small things. But for years, researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, have been attempting to observe the properties of quantum physics on a larger scale, even macroscopic. In January 2011, they managed to entangle crystals, therefore surpassing the atomic dimension. Now, Professor Nicolas Gisin's team has successfully entangled two optic fibers, populated by 500 photons. Unlike previous experiments which were carried out with the fiber optics of one photon, this new feat (which has been published in Nature Physics) begins to answer a fundamental question: can quantum properties survive on a macroscopic level?



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Carina Nebula Dust Pillar Custom Invitation

Carina Nebula Dust Pillar Custom Invitation

Like a scene from a desert dreamscape, ephemeral stars peek through the pastel curtains of dust over deep ocher brown pillar formations in the Carina Nebula, as captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.

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Welcome to the Space Wallclock

Welcome to the Space Wallclock

Waiting for clearance in geostationary orbit to leave the home planet and explore new worlds in outer space. Digital artwork by Liz Molnar. Planets, stars, space clouds, lights were made with basic Photoshop effects and brushes, planets' surfaces created from photos.

via Zazzle Outer Space market place

In Transit Birthday Card

In Transit Birthday Card

A birthday card for sci-fi fans.Having exited the wormhole at Sigma Lotan the astrogation team has set course for the Nokalor system. A digital rendering of a spacecraft in flight. The background fractal image is primarily blue on black.

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Carina Nebula Star-Forming Region Detail Personalized Invite

Carina Nebula Star-Forming Region Detail Personalized Invite

A section of the star-forming region of the Carina Nebula referred to as the Mystic Mountain.A lovely combination of delicate tans, peaches, teals and lavenders, reminiscent of desert formations.

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Funny Astronaut Greetings Card

Funny Astronaut Greetings Card

Funny astronaut greetings card. Perfect for space lovers or for a friend getting a new job. For more designs by TookiesTs click on store.

via Zazzle Outer Space market place

Direct nitrogen fixation for low cost energy conversion

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Researchers have announced a simple, low-cost and eco-friendly method of creating nitrogen-doped graphene nanoplatelets (NGnPs), which could be used in dye-sensitized solar cells and fuel cells The work could be a step towards replacing conventional platinum (Pt)-based catalysts for energy conversion.

via Science Daily

'International beam team' solves Martian meteorite-age puzzle

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By directing energy beams at tiny crystals found in a Martian meteorite, geologists have proven that the most common group of meteorites from Mars is almost four billion years younger than many scientists had believed -- resolving a long-standing puzzle in Martian science and painting a much clearer picture of the Red Planet's evolution that can now be compared to that of habitable Earth.

via Science Daily

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Shedding new light on the brightest objects in the universe

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Astrophysicists have documented the immense power of quasar radiation, reaching out for many thousands of light years to the limits of the quasar's galaxy.

via Science Daily

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Recent findings on makeup of universe may spawn new research

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(Phys.org) —New areas of extragalactic study may emerge from research by University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) astrophysicists using data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory to conclude that baryons making up all visible matter – once thought to be missing from clusters – are present in the expected ratios in large, luminous clusters.



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