Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Science!’ Category

You’ve Reached Artemis, Please Hold…

Posted in Entertainment, Science!, tagged , , , , , , , on February 4, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Sadly, NASA’s Artemis mission launch has run into some issues (hydrogen leaks bad!) and will be delayed until at least March.

NASA Conducts Artemis II Fuel Test, Eyes March for Launch Opportunity

That said, safer is better, so you do what you need to do, NASA. (Maybe rehiring some of the folks who were let go last year might help? Just saying.)

What do we hope to see when the mission does launch? This site has a nice explainer.

The flight path of Artemis 2, step by step

And for more on the long-term goals, see this in-depth article: How Artemis will land humans on the Moon.

As we wait to hear more from the launchpad, here’s something fun I ran across the other day that may help keep you entertained:

We asked former astronauts about their favorite space movies, and this is what they said

I mean, I’m more The Martian and Galaxy Quest than 2001, but that’s me. So many good movies! 

* * *

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

If We Look

Posted in Other, Science!, tagged , , , , , , , on February 1, 2026| 8 Comments »

We’ve lived in this house for years but this morning I discovered something new. Some confluence of sun angle, time of day and positioning meant that the lampshade in the kitchen reflected a rainbow-colored series of textured light onto the ceiling. It was both joyful and unexpected, reminding me that there is beauty everywhere. 

If I look.

Speaking of reflected light, there’s a full moon tonight.

Tonight’s moon is known by many names, including the Wolf Moon, Cold Moon, and Snow Moon. We may finally have clear skies tonight, too, and I’m looking forward to looking up. 

Snow Moon: Full Moon in February 2026

February’s Full Snow Moon reaches peak illumination at 5:09 P.M. EST on Sunday, February 1. Step outside after dusk to see the Full Moon in all of its glory!

Since we’re here, I’ll share a link that led to a flurry of conversation in my family. 

1969 Apollo 11 First steps on the Moon (16mm footage)

On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin aboard touched down on the surface of the Moon 4 days, 6 hours, and 45 minutes after having launched from Cape Canaveral.  At 02:56:15 GMT, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on another celestial body.

My parents were remembering where they were when it happened (at the next-door neighbor’s in Michigan, because they didn’t have a television), and what it felt like to watch the landing. Uplifting.

And looking ahead, NASA’s first crewed mission around the moon in over half a century will be happening soon.

Something to look forward to!

* * *

Photo by Pascal Debrunner on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

Faster Than a Slow Thing

Posted in Science!, Writing, tagged , , , , on January 27, 2026| Leave a Comment »

I’m work work working away here, but of course crossing things off my to do list is never as fast as I’d like. Which is why it was somewhat reassuring to come across The World’s Longest Running Lab Experiment.

The World’s Longest-Running Lab Experiment Is Almost 100 Years Old

The world’s longest-running lab experiment is an ongoing work in sheer scientific patience. It has been running continuously for nearly a century, under the close supervision of several custodians and many spectators – and it’s ever so slowly drip, drip, dripping away.

If you’ve ever wondered about the viscosity of pitch (noun, not verb) or are just curious, read the article above or watch for the next drop. Should only be a few years. A decade at most!

Given this I know I, for one, will be heading back to my to do list feeling just that little bit faster!

* * *

Photo by Morgane Le Breton on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

A Hot Second in a Cold Place

Posted in Science!, tagged , , , , on January 24, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Like many of you, we caught some of the winter weather that’s making such a splash this weekend. I feel for those who are digging out from the snow and sleet and ice many got, but for us it was a little snow and a lot of cold.

We hit -34C last night, which is (checks notes) really really cold! Which made today the perfect day to post this quick @ScienceandtheCity video on how space would feel, temperature wise.

Would space feel cold without a suit?

Yes. The answer is yes.

* * *

Photo by Foad Roshan on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

Size of Life

Posted in Science!, tagged , , , , , on January 7, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Another entertaining project from Neal.fun:

Size of Life

(Although the image of a person next to that Titanoboa is more than a little scary. At least we could have taken that angry turkey Velociraptor!)

* * *

Photo by Patricia Serna on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

Brighter Days Ahead

Posted in Other, Science!, tagged , , , , , on December 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »

It’s that time again! 

Winter solstice is nearly upon the Northern Hemisphere. Here’s what to know about the shortest day of the year

Yes, the darkest day of the year is here, but that means brighter days are ahead.

Sunday is the shortest day of the year north of the equator, where the solstice marks the start of astronomical winter.

That’s right, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, today is the shortest day of the year. (And if you’d like a quick reminder of the astronomy of it all, this one’s helpful: December Solstice 2025.)

So light a candle (physical or metaphorical, your choice!), and look ahead to a brighter future.

* * *

Photo by Eugene T on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

Look What We Did!

Posted in Science!, tagged , , , , , , , on December 14, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Last month marked 25 years of humanity’s continuous presence in orbit around this fair planet.  

25 years, one website: ISS in Real Time captures quarter-century on space station

Two NASA contractors, working only during their off hours, have built a portal into all of those resources to uniquely represent the 25-year history of ISS occupancy.

ISS in Real Time, by Ben Feist and David Charney, went live on Monday (October 27), ahead of the November 2 anniversary. In its own way, the new website may be as impressive a software engineering accomplishment as the station is an aerospace engineering marvel.

It’s a good story about persistence and creativity, and it’s great to have all of this history and knowledge in one place. 

It’s also easy to get bogged down in the trials of life and forget what’s good. But really? Our adventures in space are pretty incredible. For most of our species’ existence we’ve looked up at the stars and dreamed. And now?

Look! Look what we did!

* * *

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

See Better, Be Better

Posted in Other, Science!, tagged , , , , , on December 4, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Why do we need heroes? To be better versions of ourselves.

Scientists Discover That People Act Way Better When Batman Is Present

After making a guy dressed as Batman stand around in a subway car, a team of researchers found that the behavior of people around him suddenly improved the moment he showed up.

I call this the “see better, be better” school of human behavior. And I like it!

* * *

Photo by Etodayn on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

Say Hello!

Posted in Science!, tagged , , , , , on November 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »

We Earthlings are in the middle of the Leonid meteor shower. It takes place this year from November 6th through the 30th, but will peak overnight tonight. Even better, the moon is only 9% full, so the only competition will be from human light sources. 

Leonid meteor shower: All you need to know in 2025

The Leonid meteor shower is back! Leonid meteors are already flying. The peak is on the morning of November 17.

Love this animation!

Meteor Showers 2025 – 2026 – American Meteor Society

So tonight, if you find yourself in a place with clear skies, look up. 

The Universe is saying hello.

* * *

Photo by Paul on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

Yours in Syzygy

Posted in Science!, tagged , , , on November 5, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Tonight, friends, we have yet another supermoon, the brightest of the year. This month is the Beaver Moon. 

The biggest, brightest Supermoon of 2025 rises Tuesday night – The Weather Network

Overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, November 4-5, the Sun, Earth, and Moon will align in syzygy, with the Earth-facing side of the Moon fully illuminated by the Sun.

So last night, tonight, and tomorrow all showcase the moon at its best. I don’t know about you, but I do not get tired of that big bright ball in the sky getting even bigger and brighter.

If you don’t either, look up!

* * *

Photo by Rosie Steggles on Unsplash

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »