NPR News: The Voyager Golden Record Finally Finds An Earthly Audience

The Voyager Golden Record Finally Finds An Earthly Audience
For 40 years, the record's interstellar message to extraterrestrials remained mostly unheard by human audiences — until a Kickstarter campaign brought a new vinyl box set to the public.

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NPR News: What Would Aliens Make Of NASA's Voyager?

What Would Aliens Make Of NASA's Voyager?
Forty years ago, NASA sent two spacecraft into space with images and recordings from Earth. To test whether aliens would be able to hear them, scientists ran the messages by animals, as proxies.

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NPR News: Flee A Cataclysm, Or Cling To A Doomed Home? Why People Stay May Surprise You

Flee A Cataclysm, Or Cling To A Doomed Home? Why People Stay May Surprise You
"You must leave now," thousands of Americans from Puerto Rico to Oregon to Florida, Montana, Texas and beyond were told, as floods, fire and wind threatened their lives. Some said no.

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Portrait of NGC 281

Look through the cosmic cloud cataloged as NGC 281 and you might miss the stars of open cluster IC 1590. Still, formed within the nebula that cluster's young, massive stars ultimately power the pervasive nebular glow. The eye-catching shapes looming in this portrait of NGC 281 are sculpted columns and dense dust globules seen in silhouette, eroded by intense, energetic winds and radiation from the hot cluster stars. If they survive long enough, the dusty structures could also be sites of future star formation. Playfully called the Pacman Nebula because of its overall shape, NGC 281 is about 10,000 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia. This sharp composite image was made through narrow-band filters, combining emission from the nebula's hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen atoms in green, red, and blue hues. It spans over 80 light-years at the estimated distance of NGC 281. via NASA http://ift.tt/2ycIMsT

NPR News: Can Consciousness In Brain-Injured Patients Be Restored?

Can Consciousness In Brain-Injured Patients Be Restored?
Facing unresponsive brain-injury victims is a real-world example of the fact that we are locked out of the minds of others — but new research shows promise in restoring consciousness, says Alva Noë.

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NPR News: Animals, Plants Rafted Across The Pacific After Japan's 2011 Earthquake

Animals, Plants Rafted Across The Pacific After Japan's 2011 Earthquake
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Greg Ruiz, a marine ecologist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, about nearly 300 Japanese marine coastal species that traveled across the Pacific Ocean.

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NPR News: Can Consciousness In Brain-Injured Patients Be Restored?

Can Consciousness In Brain-Injured Patients Be Restored?
Facing unresponsive brain-injury victims is a real-world example of the fact that we are locked out of the minds of others — but new research shows promise in restoring consciousness, says Alva Noë.

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NASA Invites Media to 'Rocket Day' for Space Launch System

Media are invited to learn about NASA’s deep space exploration plans and view hardware for the world’s most powerful rocket, NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS), at the agency’s Rocket Day, Wednesday, Oct. 11, at NASA locations in Mississippi and Louisiana.

September 29, 2017
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NPR News: An Absent EPA Climate Report, And A Tale Of Two Flooded Superfund Sites

An Absent EPA Climate Report, And A Tale Of Two Flooded Superfund Sites
A 2014 EPA climate report warned that Superfund site cleanup and monitoring processes needed updates to prepare for more severe floods. That report is no longer located on the current agency website.

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NASA Opens Media Accreditation for November Space Station Cargo

Media accreditation is open for the launch of the eighth Orbital ATK cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

September 29, 2017
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NPR News: The Pitfalls Of Social Media Advertising

The Pitfalls Of Social Media Advertising
Many companies are investing money in social media to advertise new products. But they could be paying a hidden price for those ads.

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NPR News: Breakthrough Pain Treatment Or Snake Oil? You Decide.

Breakthrough Pain Treatment Or Snake Oil? You Decide.
A painkiller cream is based on sound scientific reasoning, but hasn't undergone tests to prove it works. You can buy it on the Internet, but should you?

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South Carolina Students to Speak with NASA Astronaut on Space Station

Students at Laing Middle School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, near Charleston, will speak with a NASA astronaut living, working and doing research aboard the International Space Station at 11:30 a.m. EDT Monday, Oct. 2.

September 28, 2017
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Briefing, NASA Television Coverage Set for Upcoming US Spacewalks

Three American astronauts aboard the International Space Station will embark on a trio of spacewalks in October to perform station maintenance. NASA Television and the agency’s website will provide live coverage of the spacewalks, as well as a briefing to discuss the work to be performed.

September 28, 2017
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NPR News: A Failure Of Intelligence Testing, With Chimpanzees

A Failure Of Intelligence Testing, With Chimpanzees
Apes' intelligence tests vary so much from kids' that comparative results may be invalid. Anthropologist Barbara J. King conveys new insights from psychology.

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NPR News: A Failure Of Intelligence Testing, With Chimpanzees

A Failure Of Intelligence Testing, With Chimpanzees
Apes' intelligence tests vary so much from kids' that comparative results may be invalid. Anthropologist Barbara J. King conveys new insights from psychology.

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NPR News: Gravitational Wave Detector In Italy Saw Wave Pass Through Earth In August

Gravitational Wave Detector In Italy Saw Wave Pass Through Earth In August
The wave was generated by the merging of two spinning black holes, and took nearly 2 billion years to reach Earth. It is the fourth gravitational wave detection announced so far.

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NPR News: When Two Black Holes Dance, Space Quivers

When Two Black Holes Dance, Space Quivers
Just as two kids jumping on a trampoline around each other send waves rippling outwards on the fabric, black holes distort space as they orbit around each other, says astrophysicist Marcelo Gleiser.

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NPR News: Debt-Laden FEMA Is Slow To Act On Program That Buys Flooded Houses

Debt-Laden FEMA Is Slow To Act On Program That Buys Flooded Houses
With the help of federal flood insurance, many homeowners will rebuild after disasters. Some properties already have flooded many times. It'd be cheaper to buy owners out, but that's not happening.

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NPR News: Guggenheim Pulls Animal Art From Upcoming Chinese Exhibition

Guggenheim Pulls Animal Art From Upcoming Chinese Exhibition
The Guggenheim Museum in New York City announced late Monday night that it would be withdrawing three works from an upcoming exhibition of contemporary Chinese art over protests from animal rights groups.

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NPR News: U.K. Researchers Look To Revive Forgotten English Words

U.K. Researchers Look To Revive Forgotten English Words
Researchers at University of York in the United Kingdom have uncovered 30 words they think need to be used more regularly in the English language, including nickum — a cheating, dishonest person. Lead linguist Dominic Watt runs through the list.

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NPR News: Australia Says It Is Launching Its Own Space Agency

Australia Says It Is Launching Its Own Space Agency
Scientists and opposition politicians say Australia is lagging behind in the space industry. The country has been involved in the field for decades and was one of the first to launch a satellite.

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NPR News: 1 in 5 Teens Report They've Been Diagnosed With A Concussion

1 in 5 Teens Report They've Been Diagnosed With A Concussion
Doctors know that concussions can cause serious health impacts. Now, new research shows that rates in adolescents, especially those involved in contact sports, may be pretty high.

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NPR News: 1 in 5 Teens Report They've Been Diagnosed With A Concussion

1 in 5 Teens Report They've Been Diagnosed With A Concussion
Doctors know that concussions can cause serious health impacts. Now, new research shows that rates in adolescents, especially those involved in contact sports, may be pretty high.

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NPR News: Why 'Why Buddhism Is True' Is True

Why 'Why Buddhism Is True' Is True
In his new book, Robert Wright explores Buddhism's take on our suffering, our anxiety and our general dis-ease — where he sees it lining up with scientific fields, says blogger Adam Frank.

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Cassinis Last Ring Portrait at Saturn

How should Cassini say farewell to Saturn? Three days before plunging into Saturn's sunny side, the robotic Cassini spacecraft swooped far behind Saturn's night side with cameras blazing. Thirty-six of these images have been merged -- by an alert and adept citizen scientist -- into a last full-ring portrait of Cassini's home planet for the past 13 years. The Sun is just above the frame, causing Saturn to cast a dark shadow onto its enormous rings. This shadow position cannot be imaged from Earth and will not be visible again until another Earth-launched spaceship visits the ringed giant. Data and images from Cassini's mission-ending dive into Saturn's atmosphere on September 15 continue to be analyzed. via NASA http://ift.tt/2wMUGtg

Vice President Pence Visits NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center

Vice President Mike Pence offered his thanks Monday to employees working on NASA’s human spaceflight programs during a tour of the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

September 26, 2017
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NPR News: Thousands Flee Bali's Mount Agung After Volcano Threat Level Is Raised

Thousands Flee Bali's Mount Agung After Volcano Threat Level Is Raised
Authorities say the mountain, which last erupted 54 years ago, is poised to go at any time.

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NPR News: Puerto Rico's Arecibo Radio Telescope Suffers Hurricane Damage

Puerto Rico's Arecibo Radio Telescope Suffers Hurricane Damage
Early reports that a secondary dish at the observatory was destroyed by Maria turn out not to be correct, according to a group that helps run the facility.

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NPR News: Astronomers Search For Giant Planet On Outer Edges Of Solar System

Astronomers Search For Giant Planet On Outer Edges Of Solar System
Astronomers are continuing their search for a giant planet they believe is lurking at the outer reaches of the solar system.

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NPR News: Is Curiosity A Positive Or Negative Feeling?

Is Curiosity A Positive Or Negative Feeling?
Not all feelings of curiosity are the same. A study finds that one factor affecting the balance of negative and positive when it comes curiosity is time, says psychologist Tania Lombrozo.

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NPR News: Pregnant Women Should Still Get The Flu Vaccine, Doctors Advise

Pregnant Women Should Still Get The Flu Vaccine, Doctors Advise
Researchers and physicians say a study suggesting a link between the flu vaccine and miscarriage in a limited population is cause for more research, not a reason to change vaccination recommendations.

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NPR News: Pregnant Women Should Still Get The Flu Vaccine, Doctors Advise

Pregnant Women Should Still Get The Flu Vaccine, Doctors Advise
Researchers and physicians say a study suggesting a link between the flu vaccine and miscarriage in a limited population is cause for more research, not a reason to change vaccination recommendations.

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NPR News: This Test Can Determine Whether You've Outgrown A Food Allergy

This Test Can Determine Whether You've Outgrown A Food Allergy
Food allergies are tricky to diagnose, and many kids can outgrow them, too. A test called an oral food challenge is the gold standard to rule out an allergy. It's performed under medical supervision.

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Massive Shell Expelling Star G79 29 0 46

Stars this volatile are quite rare. Captured in the midst of dust clouds and visible to the right and above center is massive G79.29+0.46, one of less than 100 luminous blue variable stars (LBVs) currently known in our Galaxy. LBVs expel shells of gas and may lose even the mass of Jupiter over 100 years. The star, itself bright and blue, is shrouded in dust and so not seen in visible light. The dying star appears green and surrounded by red shells, though, in this mapped-color infrared picture combining images from NASA's Spitzer Space Observatory and NASA's Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer. G79.29+0.46 is located in the star-forming Cygnus X region of our Galaxy. Why G79.29+0.46 is so volatile, how long it will remain in the LBV phase, and when it will explode in a supernova is not known. via NASA http://ift.tt/2fIuXau

NPR News: Transgender Hockey Player Postpones Hormone Treatment To Keep Playing

Transgender Hockey Player Postpones Hormone Treatment To Keep Playing
Sports leagues have struggled with how to define gender when it comes to deciding who can play. Pro hockey player Harrison Browne has decided to postpone hormone therapy for one more year on the ice.

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How to Identify that Light in the Sky

What is that light in the sky? Perhaps one of humanity's more common questions, an answer may result from a few quick observations. For example -- is it moving or blinking? If so, and if you live near a city, the answer is typically an airplane, since planes are so numerous and so few stars and satellites are bright enough to be seen over the din of artificial city lights. If not, and if you live far from a city, that bright light is likely a planet such as Venus or Mars -- the former of which is constrained to appear near the horizon just before dawn or after dusk. Sometimes the low apparent motion of a distant airplane near the horizon makes it hard to tell from a bright planet, but even this can usually be discerned by the plane's motion over a few minutes. Still unsure? The featured chart gives a sometimes-humorous but mostly-accurate assessment. Dedicated sky enthusiasts will likely note -- and are encouraged to provide -- polite corrections. via NASA http://ift.tt/2xAZSQ5

Vice President Pence to Visit NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center for Update on 21st Century Space Exploration

Vice President Mike Pence will visit NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, on Monday, Sept. 25.

September 24, 2017
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NPR News: How Many Viruses Can Live In Semen? More Than You Might Think

How Many Viruses Can Live In Semen? More Than You Might Think
According to a new report, semen can be a hotbed for viruses.

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NPR News: Simulating The Bodily Pain Of Future Climate Change

Simulating The Bodily Pain Of Future Climate Change
People can't simulate realistic, internal sensations, like temperature change or pain — which is a reason why more people aren't terrified by climate change, says guest blogger Lisa Feldman Barrett.

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A Conjunction of Comets

A conjunction of comets is captured in this pretty star field from the morning of September 17. Discovered in July by a robotic sky survey searching for supernovae, comet C/2017 O1 ASASSN is at the lower left. The visible greenish glow of its coma is produced by the fluorescence of diatomic carbon molecules in sunlight. Nearing its closest approach to the Sun, the binocular comet was only about 7.2 light-minutes from Earth. In the same telescopic field of view is the long-tailed, outbound comet C/2015 ER61 PanSTARRS at the upper right, almost 14 light-minutes away. Many light-years distant, the starry background includes faint, dusty nebulae of the Milky Way. The well-known Pleiades star cluster lies just off the top right of the frame. via NASA http://ift.tt/2hkU6fa

NPR News: An Accident On The Moon, Young Lawyers To The Rescue

An Accident On The Moon, Young Lawyers To The Rescue
Each year, law students argue hypothetical, futuristic case that takes place in space. This year, it's about who pays when two machines collide on the moon.

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NPR News: Study Suggests Neanderthals Enjoyed Long Childhoods

Study Suggests Neanderthals Enjoyed Long Childhoods
The study of a 49,000-year-old skeleton of a Neanderthal boy discovered in Spain indicates that he may have matured at about the same rate as children of modern homo sapiens.

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NPR News: Ruling Finds Solar Panels From China Hurt U.S. Maker

Ruling Finds Solar Panels From China Hurt U.S. Maker
Installing solar panels on your home could become more expensive, depending on how President Trump responds to a decision Friday by the U.S. International Trade Commission.

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NPR News: Arkansas Defies Monsanto, Moves To Ban Rogue Weedkiller

Arkansas Defies Monsanto, Moves To Ban Rogue Weedkiller
Arkansas regulators are on a collision course with Monsanto, voting to ban use during the growing season of a drift-prone herbicide that Monsanto says is farmers' best hope for weed-free fields.

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NPR News: Arkansas Poised To Ban Most Use Of Monsanto Herbicide

Arkansas Poised To Ban Most Use Of Monsanto Herbicide
Regulators in Arkansas have voted to ban summertime use of a weedkiller that's blamed for damaging millions of acres of crops and wild vegetation. Monsanto is fighting the measure.

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NPR News: (Legally) Selling Weed While Black

(Legally) Selling Weed While Black
As Oakland's legal cannabis industry grows, the biggest players seem to have two things in common: They're white, and they have lots of money.

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NPR News: Do Letters Show You How They Sound?

Do Letters Show You How They Sound?
It is a principle of most modern thought about language that the relation between signs and meanings is arbitrary. But a new study finds a connection between sounds and ink on "paper," says Alva Noë.

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NPR News: Gassy Cows Warm The Planet. Scientists Think They Know How To Squelch Those Belches

Gassy Cows Warm The Planet. Scientists Think They Know How To Squelch Those Belches
Researchers have won a prize for discovering that a cow's genetics determine which microbes populate its gut. Some of those microbes produce the greenhouse gas methane that ends up in the atmosphere.

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NPR News: Gassy Cows Warm The Planet. Scientists Think They Know How To Squelch Those Belches

Gassy Cows Warm The Planet. Scientists Think They Know How To Squelch Those Belches
Researchers have won a prize for discovering that a cow's genetics determine which microbes populate its gut. Some of those microbes produce the greenhouse gas methane that ends up in the atmosphere.

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NPR News: How Prepared Is The U.S. For Earthquakes?

How Prepared Is The U.S. For Earthquakes?
Mexico has had an earthquake early-warning system for decades, and other countries that get earthquakes — Japan, Taiwan — have them, too. The U.S. does not. NPR's Kelly McEvers talks to seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, who spent years working with the U.S. Geological Survey to create a system.

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Students at National Air and Space Museum to Speak with Space Station Astronaut

Students at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington will speak with a NASA astronaut living, working and doing research aboard the International Space Station at 12:25 a.m. EDT Wednesday, Sept. 27, as part of a “STEM in 30” broadcast.

September 21, 2017
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NPR News: Are We About To See A Black Hole?

Are We About To See A Black Hole?
A project called the Event Horizon Telescope is analyzing data taken earlier this year using interferometry — and we may be remarkably close to "seeing" a black hole, says astrophysicist Adam Frank.

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NPR News: Shellfish Surprise: Common 'Herbivore' Dinosaur Found To Snack OnCrustaceans

Shellfish Surprise: Common 'Herbivore' Dinosaur Found To Snack OnCrustaceans
"I immediately said, 'Oh, no, no, it can't be crustaceans.' That was my knee jerk reaction," a paleontologist said. The prehistoric snacking was likely intentional and linked to mating behaviors.

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NPR News: Shellfish Surprise: Common 'Herbivore' Dinosaur Found To Snack OnCrustaceans

Shellfish Surprise: Common 'Herbivore' Dinosaur Found To Snack OnCrustaceans
"I immediately said, 'Oh, no, no, it can't be crustaceans.' That was my knee jerk reaction," a paleontologist said. The prehistoric snacking was likely intentional and linked to mating behaviors.

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NPR News: Researchers Examine Links Between Academic Performance And Food Stamps

Researchers Examine Links Between Academic Performance And Food Stamps
South Carolina researchers have drawn a connection between low-income students' poor performance on math tests and the time of month when their families run low on food stamps.

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NPR News: Mexico City Doomed By Its Geology To More Earthquakes

Mexico City Doomed By Its Geology To More Earthquakes
The problem is that just to the west, a huge slab of the Earth's crust called the Cocos Plate is grinding relentlessly toward North America. And it's running under another slab to the north.

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NPR News: Geologically Speaking, Mexico City Is Not Built In A Very Good Place

Geologically Speaking, Mexico City Is Not Built In A Very Good Place
Mexico City has the misfortune of being situated where two massive tectonic plates grind into each other. The geological situation is made worse by the kind of soil the city is built on.

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Media Invited to View NASA Spacecraft That Will Touch Our Sun

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will be humanity’s first-ever mission to explore the Sun’s outer atmosphere. Media are invited to see the spacecraft and learn about the mission from noon to 2 p.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 25, at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, where the probe is being built.

September 20, 2017
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NPR News: Editing Embryo DNA Yields Clues About Early Human Development

Editing Embryo DNA Yields Clues About Early Human Development
Researchers disabled a gene that they think helps determine which human embryos will develop normally. The technique they used is controversial because it could be used to change babies' DNA.

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NPR News: Editing Embryo DNA Yields Clues About Early Human Development

Editing Embryo DNA Yields Clues About Early Human Development
Researchers disabled a gene that they think helps determine which human embryos will develop normally. The technique they used is controversial because it could be used to change babies' DNA.

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NPR News: Cassini's Spectacular Legacy — And Nod To The Future

Cassini's Spectacular Legacy — And Nod To The Future
Following on Cassini's discoveries, NASA aims to probe Jupiter's Europa for potential life. With every new world we discover, we should look back at our own planet with awe, says Marcelo Gleiser.

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NPR News: Bemoaning Budget Cuts, Health Care Navigators Say Feds Don't Get It

Bemoaning Budget Cuts, Health Care Navigators Say Feds Don't Get It
The federal government has sharply cut funding to groups that help people enroll in health plans. But the groups say federal officials don't understand how much help and follow-up some people need.

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The Big Corona

Most photographs don't adequately portray the magnificence of the Sun's corona. Seeing the corona first-hand during a total solar eclipse is unparalleled. The human eye can adapt to see coronal features and extent that average cameras usually cannot. Welcome, however, to the digital age. The featured picture is a combination of forty exposures from one thousandth of a second to two seconds that, together, were digitally combined and processed to highlight faint features of the total solar eclipse that occurred in August of 2017. Clearly visible are intricate layers and glowing caustics of an ever changing mixture of hot gas and magnetic fields in the Sun's corona. Looping prominences appear bright pink just past the Sun's limb. Faint details on the night side of the New Moon can even be made out, illuminated by sunlight reflected from the dayside of the Full Earth. via NASA http://ift.tt/2hbq0KU

NPR News: Once Teased For Her Love Of Bugs, 8-Year-Old Co-Authors Scientific Paper

Once Teased For Her Love Of Bugs, 8-Year-Old Co-Authors Scientific Paper
Sophia Spencer was extremely fond of bugs, especially grasshoppers. Her peers didn't always appreciate her interest. Entomologists on Twitter, on the other hand, were huge fans of her passion.

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NPR News: A Girl's Love For Bugs Goes Viral

A Girl's Love For Bugs Goes Viral
Canadian Sophia Spencer, 8, loves bugs. A tweet her mom sent out about that made headlines and led to a paper the girl co-authored in a science journal.

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NPR News: Guess What's Showing Up In Our Shellfish? One Word: Plastics

Guess What's Showing Up In Our Shellfish? One Word: Plastics
Scientists predict that plastic in the ocean will eventually outweigh the fish there. Where is it all coming from? And is it making our food unsafe? Researchers are trying to find the answers.

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NPR News: The Science And Art Of Mapping Animal Movements

The Science And Art Of Mapping Animal Movements
Technology allows mapping of wildlife movements with new precision — and a fresh approach to conservation — as evidenced by Where the Animal Go, released Tuesday in the U.S., says Barbara J. King.

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Veil Nebula: Wisps of an Exploded Star

Wisps like this are all that remain visible of a Milky Way star. About 7,000 years ago that star exploded in a supernova leaving the Veil Nebula. At the time, the expanding cloud was likely as bright as a crescent Moon, remaining visible for weeks to people living at the dawn of recorded history. Today, the resulting supernova remnant, also known as the Cygnus Loop, has faded and is now visible only through a small telescope directed toward the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus). The remaining Veil Nebula is physically huge, however, and even though it lies about 1,400 light-years distant, it covers over five times the size of the full Moon. The featured picture is a Hubble Space Telescope mosaic of six images together covering a span of only about two light years, a small part of the expansive supernova remnant. In images of the complete Veil Nebula, even studious readers might not be able to identify the featured filaments. via NASA http://ift.tt/2fckF5B

NPR News: We Shouldn't Stick Our Heads In The Sand, But We Do It Anyway

We Shouldn't Stick Our Heads In The Sand, But We Do It Anyway
Ignorance is bliss, but knowledge is power...right?

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NPR News: Fuel Shortages And The North Korean Economy, Explained

Fuel Shortages And The North Korean Economy, Explained
A recent tweet by President Trump about long gas lines in North Korea reopens questions about what's going on in the country's opaque economy after several rounds of economic sanctions.

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NPR News: University Studied How Men With Shaved Heads Are Perceived

University Studied How Men With Shaved Heads Are Perceived
A study from the University of Pennsylvania examines how people view men with shaved heads. Turns out, people see men with shaved heads as more dominant than guys with thinning hair or thick hair.

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NPR News: Xanax Or Zoloft For Moms-To-Be: A New Study Assesses Safety

Xanax Or Zoloft For Moms-To-Be: A New Study Assesses Safety
Is it OK to take antidepressants or anxiety medicine during pregnancy? Recent research suggests women who need treatment can take these drugs. Doctors recommend the lowest effective dose.

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NPR News: Xanax Or Zoloft For Moms-To-Be: A New Study Assesses Safety

Xanax Or Zoloft For Moms-To-Be: A New Study Assesses Safety
Is it OK to take antidepressants or anxiety medicine during pregnancy? Recent research suggests women who need treatment can take these drugs. Doctors recommend the lowest effective dose.

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Orion above Easter Island

Why were the statues on Easter Island built? No one is sure. What is sure is that over 800 large stone statues exist there. The Easter Island statues, stand, on the average, over twice as tall as a person and have over 200 times as much mass. Few specifics are known about the history or meaning of the unusual rock sculptures, but many believe that they were created about 700 years ago in the images of local leaders of a lost civilization. Featured here, one of the ancient Moai sculptures was imaged in 2016 before the constellation of Orion, including the famous line of three belt stars and brilliant stars Betelgeuse (far left in red) and Rigel (upper center). The stone giant appears, however, to be inspecting the brightest star in the night sky (far right): Sirius. via NASA http://ift.tt/2yg6rWb

NPR News: Scientists Work To Grow Food In Space

Scientists Work To Grow Food In Space
NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Gene Giacomelli of the University of Arizona about working with NASA to develop a kind of greenhouse where astronauts can grow crops while in space.

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NPR News: Researchers Look To Improve Weather Forecasting After Irma

Researchers Look To Improve Weather Forecasting After Irma
In coastal Georgia, Hurricane Irma caused far more flooding than expected. Researchers are looking at ways their mistakes there could improve future predictions elsewhere.

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NPR News: Museums Engage In Informative Twitter Debate

Museums Engage In Informative Twitter Debate
Two museums in the U.K. argued on Twitter about who has better exhibits in a very informative fashion.

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Bright Spiral Galaxy M81

One of the brightest galaxies in planet Earth's sky is similar in size to our Milky Way Galaxy: big, beautiful M81. This grand spiral galaxy can be found toward the northern constellation of the Great Bear (Ursa Major). This superbly detailed view reveals M81's bright yellow nucleus, blue spiral arms, and sweeping cosmic dust lanes with a scale comparable to the Milky Way. Hinting at a disorderly past, a remarkable dust lane actually runs straight through the disk, to the left of the galactic center, contrary to M81's other prominent spiral features. The errant dust lane may be the lingering result of a close encounter between M81 and its smaller companion galaxy, M82. Scrutiny of variable stars in M81 has yielded one of the best determined distances for an external galaxy -- 11.8 million light-years. via NASA http://ift.tt/2x9X8bS

NPR News: U.S. Still Out of Paris Climate Agreement After Conflicting Reports

U.S. Still Out of Paris Climate Agreement After Conflicting Reports
The White House has reaffirmed its position on the climate pact "unless we can re-enter on terms that are more favorable to our country," despite reports from AFP and the WSJ that the U.S. would stay.

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NPR News: Tackle Negative Thinking Head-On To Boost Diversity In Biomedicine

Tackle Negative Thinking Head-On To Boost Diversity In Biomedicine
One California university is trying a new strategy to help minority students perform better in STEM classes and develop the mental resilience to face future challenges.

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NPR News: After Hurricane Katrina, Many People Found New Strength

After Hurricane Katrina, Many People Found New Strength
A long-term study of people who survived Hurricane Katrina found that most were doing well, and some feel the experience transformed them. But others remain haunted by anxiety and depression.

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NPR News: Cassini Spacecraft Burns Up Like A Meteor In Dramatic End To Saturn Mission

Cassini Spacecraft Burns Up Like A Meteor In Dramatic End To Saturn Mission
The Cassini spacecraft, which launched almost 20 years ago, ended its mission early Friday morning when it dove directly into Saturn's atmosphere, burning up like a meteor.

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NASA Awards Contract for Architectural, Engineering Support Services

NASA selected AECOM Technical Services, Inc. of San Francisco to provide architectural and engineering services to the Facilities Engineering branch at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.

September 15, 2017
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NASA Awards Contract for Ground Processing of Spaceflight Cargo

NASA has awarded a contract to Leidos Innovations Corporation in Houston to provide pressurized cargo packing and unpacking for the International Space Station Program.

September 15, 2017
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NPR News: Ig Nobels Awarded For Research Into Big Ears, Feline Fluidity

Ig Nobels Awarded For Research Into Big Ears, Feline Fluidity
The annual awards for research "that makes you laugh, then think" also singled out scientists who determined that having contact with a crocodile influences a person's willingness to gamble.

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NPR News: Ig Nobels Awarded For Research Into Big Ears, Feline Fluidity

Ig Nobels Awarded For Research Into Big Ears, Feline Fluidity
The annual awards for research "that makes you laugh, then think" also singled out scientists who determined that having contact with a crocodile influences a person's willingness to gamble.

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NPR News: Crashing Cassini

Crashing Cassini
It's always best to go out with a bang.

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NPR News: Paul Knoepfler: What Are The Unintended Consequences Of Human Gene Editing?

Paul Knoepfler: What Are The Unintended Consequences Of Human Gene Editing?
New gene editing tools hold a great deal of promise, but biologist Paul Knoepfler says we should be cautious. He warns altering DNA can have dire consequences, including a new form of eugenics.

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NPR News: Juan Enriquez: What Can Happen If Humans Control The Future Of Evolution?

Juan Enriquez: What Can Happen If Humans Control The Future Of Evolution?
From genetically modified animals and crops, we can already manipulate DNA. But futurist Juan Enriquez argues soon we can take full control of human evolution to create a better life for all of us.

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NPR News: Sam Harris: What Happens When Humans Develop Super Intelligent AI?

Sam Harris: What Happens When Humans Develop Super Intelligent AI?
Does superhuman artificial intelligence sound like science fiction? Not for Sam Harris. He says it's not a question of if but when — with potentially destructive consequences.

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NASA’s Cassini Spacecraft Ends Its Historic Exploration of Saturn

A thrilling epoch in the exploration of our solar system came to a close today, as NASA's Cassini spacecraft made a fateful plunge into the atmosphere of Saturn, ending its 13-year tour of the ringed planet.

September 15, 2017
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NPR News: Cassini's Saturn Mission Goes Out In A Blaze Of Glory

Cassini's Saturn Mission Goes Out In A Blaze Of Glory
The NASA probe that's spent the past 13 years making countless discoveries about the ringed planet and its moons was taken out of orbit and sent plunging into Saturn's atmosphere.

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NPR News: Cassini Plunges To Saturn

Cassini Plunges To Saturn
The Cassini mission to Saturn ends on Friday. Scientists will steer the spacecraft into Saturn's atmosphere and watch it burn up.

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100 Steps Forward

A beautiful conjunction of Venus and Moon, human, sand, and Milky Way is depicted in this night skyscape from planet Earth. The scene is a panorama of 6 photos taken in a moment near the end of a journey. In the foreground, footsteps along the wind-rippled dunes are close to the Huacachina oasis in the southwestern desert of Peru. An engaging perspective on the world at night, the stunning final image was also chosen as a winner in The World at Night's 2017 International Earth and Sky Photo Contest. via NASA http://ift.tt/2wYuhaU

NPR News: Good News For Snow Leopards, Bad News For Ash Trees

Good News For Snow Leopards, Bad News For Ash Trees
Snow leopards are no longer on the verge of extinction, a new assessment found. However, the situation is looking dire for five species of ash trees, now listed as "Critically Endangered."

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Minnesota Students to Speak with NASA Astronaut on International Space Station

Less than a week after arriving on the International Space Station, Expedition 53 Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei will speak with students from the Pine River-Backus Schools in Pine River, Minnesota.

September 14, 2017
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NPR News: Good News For Snow Leopards, Bad News For Ash Trees

Good News For Snow Leopards, Bad News For Ash Trees
Snow leopards are no longer on the verge of extinction, a new assessment found. However, the situation is looking dire for five species of ash trees, now listed as "Critically Endangered."

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NPR News: Cassini Spacecraft Set To Complete 13-Year Saturn Mission

Cassini Spacecraft Set To Complete 13-Year Saturn Mission
The Cassini spacecraft completes its 13-year Saturn mission Friday by plunging into Saturn's atmosphere, incinerating itself in the process. Astrophysicist Jonathan Lunine tells NPR's Ailsa Chang what the Cassini mission accomplished and why it's destined for such a grand finale.

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NPR News: California Lawmakers To Vote On 100 Percent Clean Energy Mandate

California Lawmakers To Vote On 100 Percent Clean Energy Mandate
To some, it's a chance for the state to cement its environmental leadership as the Trump administration rolls back Obama-era climate change programs.

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NPR News: It's Like An 'Electric-Fence Sensation,' Says Scientist Who Let An Eel Shock His Arm

It's Like An 'Electric-Fence Sensation,' Says Scientist Who Let An Eel Shock His Arm
A neurobiologist noticed something strange whenever he tried to fish out electric eels in his lab using a net with a metal rim and handle. So he decided to roll up his sleeves and investigate.

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NPR News: Efforts To Prevent Misuse Of Biomedical Research Fall Short

Efforts To Prevent Misuse Of Biomedical Research Fall Short
The National Academies of Sciences says not enough has been done to keep legitimate research on pathogens and toxins from being misappropriated and turned into biological weapons.

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NPR News: Efforts To Prevent Misuse Of Biomedical Research Fall Short

Efforts To Prevent Misuse Of Biomedical Research Fall Short
The National Academies of Sciences says not enough has been done to keep legitimate research on pathogens and toxins from being misappropriated and turned into biological weapons.

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NPR News: If You Think Everyone Else Has More Friends, You're Not Alone

If You Think Everyone Else Has More Friends, You're Not Alone
Many first-year college students think their peers have more friends than they do, a study finds. But that can actually help motivate students to make new connections.

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NPR News: If You Think Everyone Else Has More Friends, You're Not Alone

If You Think Everyone Else Has More Friends, You're Not Alone
Many first-year college students think their peers have more friends than they do, a study finds. But that can actually help motivate students to make new connections.

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NPR News: What Should We Make Of Trump's Speech Patterns — And Our Responses To Them?

What Should We Make Of Trump's Speech Patterns — And Our Responses To Them?
Yes, President Trump's words tend to be simple and oft-repeated. The real question, says anthropologist Barbara J. King, may be what happens when we adopt them.

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NPR News: VIDEO: Snot Otters Get A Second Chance In Ohio

VIDEO: Snot Otters Get A Second Chance In Ohio
North America's largest amphibian, the Hellbender salamander, is in trouble. They are endangered in several states. A team in Ohio is trying to save them before it's too late.

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NPR News: Air Pollution From Industry Plagues Houston In Harvey's Wake

Air Pollution From Industry Plagues Houston In Harvey's Wake
Flooding in Houston and utility outages led to belches of fumes from refineries and other industrial sites. Residents of a region already struggling with air pollution wonder: Is it safe to breathe?

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NPR News: Montanans Pitch In To Bring Clean Air To Smoky Classrooms

Montanans Pitch In To Bring Clean Air To Smoky Classrooms
Montana has recently pushed all their young students indoors because of the unprecedented level of smoke from wildfires. Some community groups are now collaborating to clean up that indoor air.

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NPR News: Is The Apocalypse Coming? No, It Isn't!

Is The Apocalypse Coming? No, It Isn't!
Biblical literalists affirm in The Sign that Sept. 23 is the day the end comes as prophesied in Revelation. Fortunately, the film doesn't only present this version of the story, says Marcelo Gleiser.

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NPR News: Saturn's Strangest Sights, As Captured By A Doomed Spacecraft

Saturn's Strangest Sights, As Captured By A Doomed Spacecraft
NASA's Cassini spacecraft will crash into Saturn on Friday, but we'll always have the shots it took of icy volcanoes, hexagonal storms, ethane lakes and ripples in Saturn's rings.

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Cassini Spacecraft Makes Its Final Approach to Saturn

NASA's Cassini spacecraft is on final approach to Saturn, following confirmation by mission navigators that it is on course to dive into the planet’s atmosphere on Friday, Sept. 15.

September 13, 2017
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NPR News: Lessons From The Stars: How To Live On A Climate-Changed World

Lessons From The Stars: How To Live On A Climate-Changed World
Classification of planets offers a way to see how Anthropocenes — and a successful route through them — might be part of a continuum of planetary evolution, says astrophysicist Adam Frank.

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NPR News: How The Minimum Wage Affects Restaurant Hygiene

How The Minimum Wage Affects Restaurant Hygiene
An analysis of Seattle restaurants shows that as the city dramatically raised the minimum wage for restaurant employees and other workers, restaurants responded by lowering hygiene standards.

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NGC 6334: The Cats Paw Nebula

Nebulas are perhaps as famous for being identified with familiar shapes as perhaps cats are for getting into trouble. Still, no known cat could have created the vast Cat's Paw Nebula visible in Scorpius. At 5,500 light years distant, Cat's Paw is an emission nebula with a red color that originates from an abundance of ionized hydrogen atoms. Alternatively known as the Bear Claw Nebula or NGC 6334, stars nearly ten times the mass of our Sun have been born there in only the past few million years. Pictured here is a deep field image of the Cat's Paw Nebula in light emitted by hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. via NASA http://ift.tt/2wUOfn6

Three New Crew Members Arrive at International Space Station

After a six-hour flight, NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei, Joe Acaba and Alexander Misurkin of Roscosmos arrived at the International Space Station at 10:57 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept. 12, where they will continue important scientific research.

September 13, 2017
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NPR News: With Power Out, Many Florida Gas Stations Remain Closed

With Power Out, Many Florida Gas Stations Remain Closed
A lot of people evacuated Florida in anticipation of Hurricane Irma. Now they desperately want to come home, but the lack of fuel is making that tough.

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NPR News: Pet-Store Puppies Linked To Campylobacter Outbreak In People

Pet-Store Puppies Linked To Campylobacter Outbreak In People
Adorable fuzzy puppies aren't usually thought of as disease vectors. But they come with germs, too. It's not clear pet-store puppies caused dozens of humans to get sick with Campylobacter.

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NPR News: Hurricane Irma Blasts Into The Record Books With Lasting Intensity

Hurricane Irma Blasts Into The Record Books With Lasting Intensity
Hurricane Irma was the longest-lasting powerful hurricane or typhoon ever recorded, worldwide. It kept 185-mph winds for 37 hours — longer than any storm on record.

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NPR News: Is One Drink OK For Pregnant Women? Around The Globe, The Answer Is No

Is One Drink OK For Pregnant Women? Around The Globe, The Answer Is No
Researchers set out to answer this question: Is there a safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy? Turns out, that's a hard question to answer. The advice remains: Don't risk it.

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NPR News: Is One Drink OK For Pregnant Women? Around The Globe, The Answer Is No

Is One Drink OK For Pregnant Women? Around The Globe, The Answer Is No
Researchers set out to answer this question: Is there a safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy? Turns out, that's a hard question to answer. The advice remains: Don't risk it.

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NPR News: Why We Can't Shake Life's 'Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda' Moments

Why We Can't Shake Life's 'Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda' Moments
Amy Summerville runs the Regret Lab at Miami University in Ohio. She says regret is pervasive — but it doesn't always have to be a negative emotion.

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NPR News: Coffee, Bees and Climate Change Are Linked In Ways You May Not Have Expected

Coffee, Bees and Climate Change Are Linked In Ways You May Not Have Expected
A new study projects that by 2050, climate change could reduce the amount of ground usable to grow coffee in Latin America by up to 88 percent. Bees play a key role in increasing coffee yields.

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U.S. Cargo Ship Set to Depart from International Space Station

After delivering more than 6,400 pounds of cargo, a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft will depart the International Space Station on Sunday, Sept. 17. NASA Television and the agency’s website will provide live coverage of Dragon's departure beginning at 4:30 a.m. EDT.

September 11, 2017
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NPR News: Manatees Rescued After Irma Leaves Them High And Dry In Sarasota Bay

Manatees Rescued After Irma Leaves Them High And Dry In Sarasota Bay
When the approaching storm sucked the water out of the shallow bay in Florida, it left a pair of manatees stuck on the bottom. Good Samaritans and Manatee County sheriff's deputies helped out.

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NPR News: R&D Costs For Cancer Drugs Are Likely Much Less Than Industry Claims, Study Finds

R&D Costs For Cancer Drugs Are Likely Much Less Than Industry Claims, Study Finds
Industry says it costs about $2.7 billion to bring a cancer drug to market. But oncologists who ran the numbers put the average closer to $650 million. Drugs are priced way too high, the doctors say.

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NPR News: R&D Costs For Cancer Drugs Are Likely Much Less Than Industry Claims, Study Finds

R&D Costs For Cancer Drugs Are Likely Much Less Than Industry Claims, Study Finds
Industry says it costs about $2.7 billion to bring a cancer drug to market. But oncologists who ran the numbers put the average closer to $650 million. Drugs are priced way too high, the doctors say.

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NPR News: Cassini Spacecraft Prepares For A Fiery Farewell In Saturn's Atmosphere

Cassini Spacecraft Prepares For A Fiery Farewell In Saturn's Atmosphere
NASA's probe has spent the past 13 years orbiting Saturn, making a number of important discoveries along the way. On Friday, it will hurl itself into the planet's atmosphere and disintegrate.

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NPR News: Yes, Some Questions Are Better Than Others

Yes, Some Questions Are Better Than Others
In the child's world of Twenty Questions, it's pretty easy to evaluate what makes a good question. But producing good questions in the real world can be a more complicated affair, says Tania Lombrozo.

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NPR News: Is All That Wildfire Smoke Damaging My Lungs?

Is All That Wildfire Smoke Damaging My Lungs?
Forest fires have brought a smoky haze to the West, along with stinging eyes, sore throats and headaches to people far from flames. Unseen particles of ash are also making it hard for some to breathe.

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NPR News: So Your Kitchen Sponge Is A Bacteria Hotbed. Here's What To Do

So Your Kitchen Sponge Is A Bacteria Hotbed. Here's What To Do
For the first time, scientists have carefully analyzed all the critters in a kitchen sponge. There turns out to be a huge number. Despite recent news reports, there is something you can do about it.

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NPR News: So Your Kitchen Sponge Is A Bacteria Hotbed. Here's What To Do

So Your Kitchen Sponge Is A Bacteria Hotbed. Here's What To Do
For the first time, scientists have carefully analyzed all the critters in a kitchen sponge. There turns out to be a huge number. Despite recent news reports, there is something you can do about it.

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NPR News: Riding Out Irma On Florida's Space Coast — And Keeping On Eye On The Spacecraft

Riding Out Irma On Florida's Space Coast — And Keeping On Eye On The Spacecraft
At the Kennedy Space Center, riding out a hurricane means something a little different. You have to keep the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle happy.

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NPR News: Update From The National Hurricane Center

Update From The National Hurricane Center
We have an update from the National Hurricane Center in Miami as Hurricane Irma passes over the Florida Keys.

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NPR News: 'Big Chicken': The Medical Mystery That Traced Back To Slaughterhouse Workers

'Big Chicken': The Medical Mystery That Traced Back To Slaughterhouse Workers
In the 1950s, the poultry industry began dunking birds in antibiotic baths. It was supposed to keep meat fresher and healthier. That's not what happened, as Maryn McKenna recounts in her new book.

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NPR News: Drug For 'Neglected' Chagas Disease Gains FDA Approval Amid Price Worries

Drug For 'Neglected' Chagas Disease Gains FDA Approval Amid Price Worries
U.S. doctors treating Chagas disease have long wanted FDA approval for a treatment that's widely used in Latin America. But when Martin Shkreli took interest, those doctors panicked — then mobilized.

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NPR News: Drug For 'Neglected' Chagas Disease Gains FDA Approval Amid Price Worries

Drug For 'Neglected' Chagas Disease Gains FDA Approval Amid Price Worries
U.S. doctors treating Chagas disease have long wanted FDA approval for a treatment that's widely used in Latin America. But when Martin Shkreli took interest, those doctors panicked — then mobilized.

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NPR News: How Climate Change Exacerbates Hurricanes

How Climate Change Exacerbates Hurricanes
As Irma approaches the U.S. and Jose spins in the Atlantic, many are wondering what hurricanes' connection to climate change might be.

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NPR News: For Teens Knee-Deep In Negativity, Reframing Thoughts Can Help

For Teens Knee-Deep In Negativity, Reframing Thoughts Can Help
Irritation and gloom may seem like the default mode for teenagers, but parents can help them gain a more realistic and resilient way of thinking. A clinical psychologist explains how.

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Calm Waters and Geomagnetic Storm

Very recognizable stars of the northern sky are a backdrop for calm waters in this moonlit sea and skyscape off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Taken on September 7, the photo also records a colorful display of northern lights or aurora borealis triggered by a severe geomagnetic storm. Visible crossing the Sun, the giant solar active region responsible, AR 2673, is much larger than planet Earth. It has produced the strongest flare of the current solar cycle and and the Earth-directed coronal mass ejection in the last few days. via NASA http://ift.tt/2gRH9cN

NPR News: Florida Suffers Growing Gasoline Shortage As Residents Prepare For Irma

Florida Suffers Growing Gasoline Shortage As Residents Prepare For Irma
Refineries were already affected by Hurricane Harvey. Now comes Irma, which is causing huge gasoline shortages in southern Florida. One firm estimates that 30 to 40 percent of Florida gas stations are out of fuel, and the twin storms are affecting gas prices all over the country.

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NPR News: What Goes Into Hurricane Forecasting? Satellites, Supercomputers And More

What Goes Into Hurricane Forecasting? Satellites, Supercomputers And More
The latest hurricane models are using lightning-fast supercomputers to crunch ever-more data. And they're getting better.

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NPR News: Hurricanes: A Science Primer

Hurricanes: A Science Primer
We know how damaging and costly, in many ways, such natural phenomenon can be — but the devastation is not surprising, once you know how much energy is involved, says astrophysicist Marcelo Gleiser.

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NPR News: Hurricanes Are Sweeping The Atlantic. What's The Role Of Climate Change?

Hurricanes Are Sweeping The Atlantic. What's The Role Of Climate Change?
Warmer waters and air are playing a role in this year's monster storms.

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NPR News: Study Looks At How People Think About Free Speech

Study Looks At How People Think About Free Speech
Some new research says that many people use free speech arguments only when convenient, and as a cover for their own feelings.

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The Great Gig in the Sky

There were no crowds on the beach at Phillips Lake, Oregon on August 21. But a few had come there to stand, for a moment, in the dark shadow of the Moon. From the beach, this unscripted mosaic photo records their much anticipated solar eclipse. In two vertical panels it catches the last few seconds of totality and the first instant of 3rd contact, just as the eclipse ends and sunlight faintly returns. Across the US those gathered along the path of totality also took pictures and shared their moment. And like those at Phillips Lake they may treasure the experience more than any planned or unplanned photograph of the total eclipse of the Sun. via NASA http://ift.tt/2vND1kt

NPR News: Democracy By Sneeze: When Wild Dogs Must Decide, They Vote With Their Noses

Democracy By Sneeze: When Wild Dogs Must Decide, They Vote With Their Noses
When it might be time to move, African wild dogs take a poll with an odd electoral instrument: sneezing. The more sneezes, the more likely it is the pack will move, according to a new study.

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NPR News: Democracy By Sneeze: When Wild Dogs Must Decide, They Vote With Their Noses

Democracy By Sneeze: When Wild Dogs Must Decide, They Vote With Their Noses
When it might be time to move, African wild dogs take a poll with an odd electoral instrument: sneezing. The more sneezes, the more likely it is the pack will move, according to a new study.

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NPR News: Powerful Storms Raise Questions About The Science Of Hurricanes

Powerful Storms Raise Questions About The Science Of Hurricanes
NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Phil Klotzbach, a research scientist at Colorado State University, about the science of hurricanes and what makes Hurricane Irma so unusual.

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NPR News: 'All My Penguins' Tells Tales Of Love And Friendship At Chicago Zoo

'All My Penguins' Tells Tales Of Love And Friendship At Chicago Zoo
A new penguin blog from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago tells tales of love and friendship. The soapy blog recounts the escapades of the zoo's new African penguin colony.

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NPR News: Biologist Jonathan Losos Explores 'Convergent Evolution' In 'Improbable Destinies'

Biologist Jonathan Losos Explores 'Convergent Evolution' In 'Improbable Destinies'
NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Jonathan Losos, author of the new book, Improbable Destinies: Fate, Chance, and the Future of Evolution, which explores the growing understanding of "convergent evolution."

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NPR News: Nashville Begins Tearing Down Some Homes To Prevent Future Flooding

Nashville Begins Tearing Down Some Homes To Prevent Future Flooding
Nashville, Tenn., has found a way to make sure some homes never flood again. It's tearing them down.

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NPR News: A Pioneer Of Food Activism Steps Down, Looks Back

A Pioneer Of Food Activism Steps Down, Looks Back
Michael Jacobson invented a new style of food activism. For four decades, he led the fight against "junk food." He's now stepping down as president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

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NASA Television Coverage Set for Next International Space Station Crew Launch

Two NASA astronauts are among the three crew members poised to launch for a five-month stay aboard the International Space Station, and NASA Television will provide extensive coverage of their prelaunch activities, launch and their arrival on their orbital outpost.

September 07, 2017
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NPR News: Here's How Big North Korea's Latest Nuclear Test Actually Was

Here's How Big North Korea's Latest Nuclear Test Actually Was
Seismic and satellite data reveal the test was a whopper, further bolstering the North's claim that it tested a hydrogen bomb.

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Virginia Officials, Hidden Figures Author Join NASA in Honoring Legacy of Famed Mathematician; Live on NASA Television

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, and author Margot Lee-Shetterly are among the dignitaries honoring Katherine Johnson, former NASA employee and central character of the book and movie Hidden Figures, at 1 p.m. Sept. 22 at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

September 07, 2017
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NPR News: Why Do Parrots (And People) Eat Clay?

Why Do Parrots (And People) Eat Clay?
Several species of parrots in Southeastern Peru regularly gather at a cliff face in the Amazon basin to eat clay. So do other animals, including humans.

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NPR News: Why Do Parrots (And People) Eat Clay?

Why Do Parrots (And People) Eat Clay?
Several species of parrots in Southeastern Peru regularly gather at a cliff face in the Amazon basin to eat clay. So do other animals, including humans.

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The Flash Spectrum of the Sun

In clear Madras, Oregon skies, this colorful eclipse composite captured the elusive chromospheric or flash spectrum of the Sun. Only three exposures, made on August 21 with telephoto lens and diffraction grating, are aligned in the frame. Directly imaged at the far left, the Sun's diamond ring-like appearance at the beginning and end of totality brackets a silhouette of the lunar disk at maximum eclipse. Spread by the diffraction grating into the spectrum of colors toward the right, the Sun's photospheric spectrum traces the two continuous streaks. They correspond to the diamond ring glimpses of the Sun's normally overwhelming disk. But individual eclipse images also appear at each wavelength of light emitted by atoms along the thin, fleeting arcs of the solar chromosphere. The brightest images, or strongest chromospheric emission, are due to Hydrogen atoms. Red hydrogen alpha emission is at the far right with blue and purple hydrogen series emission to the left. In between, the brightest yellow emission is caused by atoms of Helium, an element only first discovered in the flash spectrum of the Sun. via NASA http://ift.tt/2gLHEEU

NASA Awards Research, Engineering, Mission Integration Services Contract

NASA has selected 16 companies to provide a diverse range of competitive task-order contracts for serving the research and engineering products and services needs of the International Space Station.

September 06, 2017
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NPR News: Here's What You Need To Know About Hurricane Irma

Here's What You Need To Know About Hurricane Irma
As the powerful storm approaches the U.S., here are some of the basics about the dangers it poses.

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South Carolina Students to Speak with NASA Astronaut on Space Station

Students at Laing Middle School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, which is near Charleston, will speak with a NASA astronaut living, working and doing research aboard the International Space Station at 10:20 a.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 8.

September 06, 2017
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NASA Astronauts Back From Space, Available To Talk With Media

NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer, who returned to Earth on Sept. 2 after spending months aboard the International Space Station, will take part in a news conference to discuss their mission at 11 a.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 11. The hour-long event will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

September 06, 2017
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NPR News: Climate, Power, Money And Sorrow: Lessons Of Hurricane Harvey

Climate, Power, Money And Sorrow: Lessons Of Hurricane Harvey
Through the power of Katrina, Sandy and, now, Harvey, we get a view into how a changing climate may play out in the real world — beyond arguments and abstractions, says astrophysicist Adam Frank.

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The Climber and the Eclipse

What should you do if your rock climbing picture is photobombed by a total eclipse of the Sun? Rejoice -- because your planning paid off. After months of considering different venues, and a week of scouting different locations in Oregon's Smith Rock State Park, a group of photographers and rock climbers led by Ted Hesser, Martina Tibell, and Michael Shainblum settled on picturesque 100-meter tall Monkey Face tower as the dramatic foreground for their images of the pending total solar eclipse. Tension mounted as the eclipse time approached, planned juxtapositions were scrutinized, and the placement of rock climber Tommy Smith was adjusted. Right on schedule, though, the Moon moved in front of the Sun, and Smith moved in front of the Moon, just as planned. The solar eclipse image displayed here actually shows a diamond ring, an eclipse phase when a bit of the distant Sun is still visible beyond the Moon's surface. via NASA http://ift.tt/2vIebmd

NPR News: Western Wildfires Endanger Beloved Sites At National Parks

Western Wildfires Endanger Beloved Sites At National Parks
A 20-square-mile blaze burned the historic Sperry Chalet in Glacier National Park last week. In California's Sierra National Forest, an ancient grove of sequoias was scorched, but the trees survived.

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NPR News: In A Case That Is 'Almost Impossible,' Girl Dies Of Malaria In Italy

In A Case That Is 'Almost Impossible,' Girl Dies Of Malaria In Italy
"It's a mystery," said one health official. Italy has been declared malaria-free since 1970.

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NPR News: The Army, The Inventor And The Surprising Uses Of A Batman Machine

The Army, The Inventor And The Surprising Uses Of A Batman Machine
The Army wanted a new, small device that could pull a person rapidly up a rope. The invention they eventually got has uses far beyond the military.

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NPR News: In Texas, Concerns About Damage To Flooded Toxic Waste Sites

In Texas, Concerns About Damage To Flooded Toxic Waste Sites
Environmental officials are inspecting toxic waste sites in southeast Texas that were flooded and potentially damaged last week.

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President Trump Welcomes Home Record-breaking NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson

NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer received a special welcome as they were flying home to Houston Sunday evening. President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Whitson and Fischer on a NASA plane following Whitson’s record-breaking mission to the International Space Station.

September 04, 2017
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NPR News: So You Want To Buy An Electric Car? It Requires Some Planning

So You Want To Buy An Electric Car? It Requires Some Planning
With new models aimed at the mass market going on sale this fall, Americans will hear a lot more about electric cars. Here's what you should know if you're on the market for one.

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NPR News: Trump Picks Oklahoma Congressman To Head NASA

Trump Picks Oklahoma Congressman To Head NASA
Rep. Jim Bridenstine is a fighter pilot who wants Americans to return to the moon but doesn't believe that humans are causing climate change.

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NPR News: Trump Picks Oklahoma Congressman To Head NASA

Trump Picks Oklahoma Congressman To Head NASA
Rep. Jim Bridenstine is a fighter pilot who wants Americans to return to the moon but doesn't believe that humans are causing climate change.

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NPR News: Trump's Nominee To Be USDA's Chief Scientist Is Not A Scientist

Trump's Nominee To Be USDA's Chief Scientist Is Not A Scientist
Sam Clovis has a doctorate in public administration, is skeptical that humans have a role in climate change and pushed theories suggesting former President Barack Obama was born in Kenya.

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NPR News: Coca-Cola Offers A Sweet Quest: A Million Bucks To Replace Sugar

Coca-Cola Offers A Sweet Quest: A Million Bucks To Replace Sugar
The company is holding a contest to find a new and natural, low-calorie sweetener. The challenge comes at a time when many Americans are cutting back on sugar due to obesity and diabetes risks.

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NPR News: Get Off The Couch Baby Boomers, Or You May Not Be Able To Later

Get Off The Couch Baby Boomers, Or You May Not Be Able To Later
If you sit too much during middle age — at work and at home — your ability to exercise or even walk in late decades is at risk, a study hints. And, of course, your risk of heart disease climbs, too.

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NPR News: Get Off The Couch Baby Boomers, Or You May Not Be Able To Later

Get Off The Couch Baby Boomers, Or You May Not Be Able To Later
If you sit too much during middle age — at work and at home — your ability to exercise or even walk in late decades is at risk, a study hints. And, of course, your risk of heart disease climbs, too.

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Saturns Rings from the Inside Out

What do Saturn's rings look like from Saturn? Images from the robotic spacecraft Cassini are providing humanity with this unprecedented vantage point as it nears the completion of its mission. Previous to Cassini's Grand Finale orbits, all images of Saturn's majestic ring system were taken from outside of the rings looking in. Pictured in the inset is the remarkable video, while the spacecraft's positions are depicted in the surrounding animation. Details of the complex rings are evident as the short time-lapse sequence begins, while the paper-thin thickness of the rings becomes apparent near the video's end. The featured images were taken on August 20. Cassini has only a few more orbits around Saturn left before it is directed to dive into the giant planet on September 15. via NASA http://ift.tt/2gtDrSt

NPR News: Fall Weather Headed Your Way? Time For Flu Shots

Fall Weather Headed Your Way? Time For Flu Shots
The American Academy of Pediatrics reminds us that shots — not a nasal spray — are the most effective way to protect kids 6 months and older against the flu.

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NPR News: 'American Space Ninja' Back On Earth After Record-Breaking Flight

'American Space Ninja' Back On Earth After Record-Breaking Flight
Peggy Whitson smashed multiple records after spending a total of 665 days in orbit over the course of her career.

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NPR News: Here Are The Facts About North Korea's Nuclear Test

Here Are The Facts About North Korea's Nuclear Test
North Korea has claimed to have tested a hydrogen bomb, which is far more powerful than an atomic bomb. Experts think they may have pulled it off.

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NPR News: Explaining North Korea's Claim Of A Hydrogen Bomb Test

Explaining North Korea's Claim Of A Hydrogen Bomb Test
North Korea claimed to have tested a hydrogen bomb, which is far more powerful than an atomic bomb.

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NPR News: The Bumblebee Hunter

The Bumblebee Hunter
The Franklin bumblebee is so small and hard to track that it's not clear if it's gone extinct. We tag along as one man makes his annual trek to try to find it.

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NPR News: Pets Deserve Evidence-Based Medicine, Too, Says The SkeptVet

Pets Deserve Evidence-Based Medicine, Too, Says The SkeptVet
Veterinarian Brennen McKenzie writes The SkeptVet, a blog that pushes for evidence-based medicine instead of relying otradition, anecdotes or pseudoscience in the treatment of cats and dogs.

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NPR News: Has Salt Gotten An Unfair Shake?

Has Salt Gotten An Unfair Shake?
For years, we've been told that less salt is better. But some scientists say that the world's universal seasoning has been maligned and that moderate salt intake is healthier for many people.

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NPR News: Has Salt Gotten An Unfair Shake?

Has Salt Gotten An Unfair Shake?
For years, we've been told that less salt is better. But some scientists say that the world's universal seasoning has been maligned and that moderate salt intake is healthier for many people.

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A Waterspout in Florida

What's happening over the water? Pictured here is one of the better images yet recorded of a waterspout, a type of tornado that occurs over water. Waterspouts are spinning columns of rising moist air that typically form over warm water. Waterspouts can be as dangerous as tornadoes and can feature wind speeds over 200 kilometers per hour. Some waterspouts form away from thunderstorms and even during relatively fair weather. Waterspouts may be relatively transparent and initially visible only by an unusual pattern they create on the water. The featured image was taken in 2013 July near Tampa Bay, Florida. The Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida is arguably the most active area in the world for waterspouts, with hundreds forming each year. Some people speculate that waterspouts are responsible for some of the losses recorded in the Bermuda Triangle. via NASA http://ift.tt/2xFhdVC

Three International Space Station Crewmates Safely Return to Earth

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who set multiple U.S. space records during her mission aboard the International Space Station, along with crewmates Jack Fischer of NASA and Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin of Roscosmos, safely landed on Earth at 9:21 p.m. EDT Saturday (7:21 a.m. Kazakhstan time, Sunday, Sept. 3), southeast of the remote town of Dzhezkazga

September 03, 2017
from NASA http://ift.tt/2gAiqt6
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NPR News: Houston Shelter Offers Respite For Pets And Their Owners Displaced By Harvey

Houston Shelter Offers Respite For Pets And Their Owners Displaced By Harvey
Before a convention center opened its doors and volunteer care to pets, their owners had to make a tough choice: Take shelter or stay with animals in floodwaters. But anxiety looms around what's next.

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NPR News: A Bipartisan Bill Helped Save Pets From Harvey, And Maybe Their Humans Too

A Bipartisan Bill Helped Save Pets From Harvey, And Maybe Their Humans Too
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, many people who lost their homes to flooding were able to save their pets. NPR's Scott Simon reflects on the importance of those relationships.

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NPR News: Early Data From Harvey Shows Epic Flooding

Early Data From Harvey Shows Epic Flooding
Government flood maps may need to be withdrawn following Harvey. That, in turn, could have implications for insurers.

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NASA Statement on Nomination for Agency Administrator

The following is a statement from acting NASA Administrator Robert Lightfoot on Friday’s announcement of the intended nomination by President Donald Trump of U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine to serve as the 13th NASA administrator:

September 02, 2017
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NPR News: Countries Pledge To Recover Dwindling Pacific Bluefin Tuna Population

Countries Pledge To Recover Dwindling Pacific Bluefin Tuna Population
The long-term agreement would aid fish stocks that have fallen to just 2.6 percent of their historic size. The news comes at a time when Atlantic bluefin populations are also rebounding.

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NPR News: Texas Expedites Help From Out-Of-State Health Care Providers

Texas Expedites Help From Out-Of-State Health Care Providers
As the medical and mental health needs of people affected by Harvey become apparent, Texas has made it easier for out-of-state health workers to come lend a hand.

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NPR News: The Divisive Diet of Honeybees: Why Some Will Never Be Royals

The Divisive Diet of Honeybees: Why Some Will Never Be Royals
That stings! A new study suggests that fragments of plant genetic material in the pollen-rich diets of worker bee larvae ensures that they never grow up to be queens.

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NPR News: The LSU Tigers' New Tiger Makes His Debut

The LSU Tigers' New Tiger Makes His Debut
Louisiana State University's live tiger mascot is an institution. Recently, the school got a new tiger — just in time for football season.

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