Post #4 and #5 will be coming tonight!
Thursday, 20 March 2014
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
Waves have been detected on Titan's surface
Researchers believe they have detected
the first liquid waves on the surface of another world. Cameras have shown isolated ripples in a sea called "Pugna Mare" on the surface of Saturn's moon, Titan. However these seas aren't filled with water but with various hydrocarbons like methane and ethane. On Titan they exist in their liquid state, where the surface temperature averages about -180C
Scientists view Titan as kind of like a looking-glass version of Earth with a substantial atmosphere and a seasonal cycle. Wind and rain shape the surface to form river channels, seas, dunes and shorelines. You could say that it's like our moon combined with some features from Earth.
The vast majority of Titan's lakes and seas are concentrated around the north polar region. Just one of these bodies of liquid - Ligeia Mare - is estimated to contain about 9,000 cubic km of mostly liquid methane, equating to about 40 times the proven reserves of oil and gas on Earth.
- It is the only moon in the Solar System with clouds and a substantial atmosphere
- Titan is Saturn's largest moon and the second biggest in the Solar System
- Wind and rain create similar features to those found on Earth, such as dunes, lakes and rivers
- But on Titan it rains liquid methane, filling the rivers, lakes and seas with hydrocarbons (molecules made up of just hydrogen and oxygen)
Monday, 17 March 2014
Channel 4 - Live in Space
As promised - this is the 2nd post in my #WeekofScience series. Last night Channel 4 - with Dermot O'Leary broadcast live from Houston's Mission Control linking live to the ISS (International Space Station). Astronauts on-board the ISS showed the nation around the football-pitch sized orbiting laboratory to give us an insight into how it works. Throughout the show in 102 minutes they completed a lap of the planet- showing us some incredible live images of the Earth from the Cupola Module of the ISS. One of the astronauts, Mike landed back on Earth after a six months stint aboard the ISS, we were shown the footage of his re-entry into the atmosphere. Here are some pictures from the ISS.
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| This has to be one of the coolest 'selfies' out there! This is one of the Astronauts on a Christmas Eve space walk |
Saturday, 15 March 2014
Robert Goddard - One Man and His Rocket
On 16th March 1926 Robert Goddard launched the first ever liquid-fueled rocket in Auburn, Mass. The rocket reached an altitude of 41 ft, lasted 2 seconds and averaged about 60mph.
Goddard wrote in his autobiography about an inspiration that came to him as a boy while up in a cherry tree pruning branches: "I imagined how wonderful it would be to make some device which had even the possibility of ascending to Mars. I was a different boy when I descended the tree from when I ascended, for existence at last seemed very purposive."
In 1907, while a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, Goddard experimented on a rocket powered by gunpowder in the basement of the physics building. Clouds of smoke caused a lot of commotion and the faculty, rather than expel him, took an interest in his work.
By 1914, Goddard already had received two U.S. patents: one for a rocket using liquid fuel and the other for a two- or three-stage rocket using solid fuel. Until that time, propulsion was provided by various types of gunpowder, widely available in the 1920's.
Goddard began teaching physics in 1914 at Clark University in Worcester and was named director of the Physical Laboratory in 1923. His thoughts on space flight started to emerge in 1915, when he theorized that a rocket would work in a vacuum, and didn't need to push against air in order to fly. This meant that in the vacuum of space, rocket engines would be able to produce thrust.
Goddard's discoveries were given very little attention by the U.S. government. A modest man, Goddard paid for the rocket experiments from his own savings. Funding from the Smithsonian Institution allowed Goddard to continue his rocket research and develop the mathematical theories of rocket propulsion. In 1920, the Smithsonian published his original paper, "A Method for Reaching Extreme Altitudes," in which he included a small section stressing that rockets could be used to send payloads to the Moon.
Unfortunately, the press got wind of this and the next day, the New York Times wrote a scathing editorial denouncing his theories as folly. Goddard was ridiculed and made to look like a fool. He responded to a reporter's question by stating, "Every vision is a joke until the first man accomplishes it; once realized, it becomes commonplace."
In 1930, Goddard and a small crew of workers moved to New Mexico to continue his research in seclusion. Goddard died on Aug. 10, 1945, holding 214 patents in rocketry but having received little attention for his propulsion research.
When American rocket scientists began to earnestly prepare for space exploration, they discovered it was almost impossible to build a rocket or launch a satellite without acknowledging the work of Goddard, as he paced the way for bigger and better rockets that would be able to function in space.
He is now known as the father of modern rocketry, Goddard's significant achievements in rocket propulsion have contributed immensely to the scientific exploration of space. Goddard didn't live to see the age of space flight, but his foundation of rocket research became the fundamental principles of rocket propulsion, eventually this allowed the US to go on and win the space race.
A day after Apollo 11 set off for the Moon, in July of 1969, the New York Times printed a correction to its 1920 editorial section, stating that "it is now definitely established that a rocket can function in a vacuum as well as in an atmosphere. The Times regrets the error."
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., a major space science laboratory, was named in his honour.
Goddard wrote in his autobiography about an inspiration that came to him as a boy while up in a cherry tree pruning branches: "I imagined how wonderful it would be to make some device which had even the possibility of ascending to Mars. I was a different boy when I descended the tree from when I ascended, for existence at last seemed very purposive."
In 1907, while a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, Goddard experimented on a rocket powered by gunpowder in the basement of the physics building. Clouds of smoke caused a lot of commotion and the faculty, rather than expel him, took an interest in his work.
By 1914, Goddard already had received two U.S. patents: one for a rocket using liquid fuel and the other for a two- or three-stage rocket using solid fuel. Until that time, propulsion was provided by various types of gunpowder, widely available in the 1920's.
Goddard began teaching physics in 1914 at Clark University in Worcester and was named director of the Physical Laboratory in 1923. His thoughts on space flight started to emerge in 1915, when he theorized that a rocket would work in a vacuum, and didn't need to push against air in order to fly. This meant that in the vacuum of space, rocket engines would be able to produce thrust.
Goddard's discoveries were given very little attention by the U.S. government. A modest man, Goddard paid for the rocket experiments from his own savings. Funding from the Smithsonian Institution allowed Goddard to continue his rocket research and develop the mathematical theories of rocket propulsion. In 1920, the Smithsonian published his original paper, "A Method for Reaching Extreme Altitudes," in which he included a small section stressing that rockets could be used to send payloads to the Moon.
Unfortunately, the press got wind of this and the next day, the New York Times wrote a scathing editorial denouncing his theories as folly. Goddard was ridiculed and made to look like a fool. He responded to a reporter's question by stating, "Every vision is a joke until the first man accomplishes it; once realized, it becomes commonplace."
In 1930, Goddard and a small crew of workers moved to New Mexico to continue his research in seclusion. Goddard died on Aug. 10, 1945, holding 214 patents in rocketry but having received little attention for his propulsion research. When American rocket scientists began to earnestly prepare for space exploration, they discovered it was almost impossible to build a rocket or launch a satellite without acknowledging the work of Goddard, as he paced the way for bigger and better rockets that would be able to function in space.
He is now known as the father of modern rocketry, Goddard's significant achievements in rocket propulsion have contributed immensely to the scientific exploration of space. Goddard didn't live to see the age of space flight, but his foundation of rocket research became the fundamental principles of rocket propulsion, eventually this allowed the US to go on and win the space race.
A day after Apollo 11 set off for the Moon, in July of 1969, the New York Times printed a correction to its 1920 editorial section, stating that "it is now definitely established that a rocket can function in a vacuum as well as in an atmosphere. The Times regrets the error."
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., a major space science laboratory, was named in his honour.
Friday, 14 March 2014
Tim Peake's Mission Needs a Name
The European Space Agency is asking
people to choose a name for British astronaut Tim Peake's next mission. Any person within Europe can take part and the winning entry needs to be snappy and it will be the official mission name, incorporated into the logo.
Major Tim Peake is due to go to the ISS towards the end of 2015 and will spend six months carrying out scientific experiments in a zero gravity environment. This actually happens each time a European astronaut goes into orbit. They encourage names that reflect an astronaut's nationality are encouraged, but they should also have a wider European flavour, and be easy to pronounce.
Tim Peake also wants to prioritise getting other people involved and engaged in the mission similar to how Chris Hadfield, former Commander of the ISS did during his stay aboard the ISS.
Major Tim Peake is due to go to the ISS towards the end of 2015 and will spend six months carrying out scientific experiments in a zero gravity environment. This actually happens each time a European astronaut goes into orbit. They encourage names that reflect an astronaut's nationality are encouraged, but they should also have a wider European flavour, and be easy to pronounce.
Tim Peake also wants to prioritise getting other people involved and engaged in the mission similar to how Chris Hadfield, former Commander of the ISS did during his stay aboard the ISS.
Tuesday, 25 February 2014
Water found on alien worlds
The Hubble space telescope has recently detected water in the atmospheres of five distant planets. The planets are all massive Jupiter-sized bodies that orbit close to their host stars. But their extremely high temperature means that the chances of life, or at least life as we know it, is low.
However this research does open a whole number of doors into our investigation of different atmospheres of various exoplanets beyond our solar system, and ones that could potentially . The compositions of the atmosphere can be determined by the wavelengths of light that the host star transmits and the wavelengths that are partially absorbed. This study also revealed a layer of haze or dust around the planets.
However this research does open a whole number of doors into our investigation of different atmospheres of various exoplanets beyond our solar system, and ones that could potentially . The compositions of the atmosphere can be determined by the wavelengths of light that the host star transmits and the wavelengths that are partially absorbed. This study also revealed a layer of haze or dust around the planets.
Monday, 17 February 2014
The Science of Curling
Team GB are in action at the Sochi Olympics against China at the moment, but how does curling actually work?
Players push 18kg granite 'stones' some 30m across the ice towards the target. The ice is 'pebbled' by spraying the ice with water to form bumps as it freezes. The stone has a handle on so players can tweak the stones angle, meaning that it spins as it travels towards the target. The path of the stone curves to the right with a clockwise spin and left for an anticlockwise spin. But how do you win at curling?
Whilst it may look odd, sweeping ahead of the stone is essential. The action reduces the friction by increasing the temperature and softening the ice, allowing the stone to travel longer. Hopefully to knock out the opponent's stone.
China actually won against Team GB 7-6, which, thanks to Denmark puts us into the play-offs tomorrow - COME ON TEAM GB! :)
China actually won against Team GB 7-6, which, thanks to Denmark puts us into the play-offs tomorrow - COME ON TEAM GB! :)
Thursday, 23 January 2014
How far into space have radiowaves travelled?
We've been broadcasting our existence into deep space via 'radio leakage' for more than 100 years, Travelling at the speed of light: 3 x10^8 that encompasses a sphere that spans more than 200 light years across and dozens of planetary systems the signals in theory have reached extreme deep space, but any artificial intelligence would need antennae to receive the signal hundreds of kilometres across to pick up the signals.
How will we have changed 1,000 years from now?
With technology and knowledge of how the human genome works ever increasing, we could actually speed up the past of evolution with radical results.
Disease Resistant: Genes which offer protection from many big killers such as Malaria and HIV will probably become more dominant, and the cures and treatment will become more effective.
Super- intelligent: If we could work out the genetic basis of intelligence we could start screening fertilised eggs in order to make brainier babies.
Ginger: Natural selection actually dictates that Natural selection dictates that all the survivors would be ginger.
Better- Looking: It's fairly normal to get with a partner that is good looking, so the child then has 'good looking' genes so over time these genes become more prominent, kind of like selective breeding, where the genes become more dominant throughout the generations.
A life in silicon? : If some scientists are right, it could be possible to transfer human intelligence to machines by using a variety of scanners to produce far more detailed images of the brain than ever before!
Obsolescence of humans: Once artificial intelligence has been created, who knows what could happen to humans? Machine intelligence could mean that humans become obsolete.
We could become superhuman
Disease Resistant: Genes which offer protection from many big killers such as Malaria and HIV will probably become more dominant, and the cures and treatment will become more effective.
Super- intelligent: If we could work out the genetic basis of intelligence we could start screening fertilised eggs in order to make brainier babies.
Ginger: Natural selection actually dictates that Natural selection dictates that all the survivors would be ginger.
Better- Looking: It's fairly normal to get with a partner that is good looking, so the child then has 'good looking' genes so over time these genes become more prominent, kind of like selective breeding, where the genes become more dominant throughout the generations.
Man and Machine Merge
A life in silicon? : If some scientists are right, it could be possible to transfer human intelligence to machines by using a variety of scanners to produce far more detailed images of the brain than ever before!
Obsolescence of humans: Once artificial intelligence has been created, who knows what could happen to humans? Machine intelligence could mean that humans become obsolete.
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